The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-14
PAID PENALTY ON GALLONS.
POWELL AND GoDDING HANGED
FOR MURDER or VICKERs.

Godding's Neck Was Broken ana
Powell Was Clicked to Death.
Hanging Was Private-Both Men
Protested Their Innocence TO the
Last-The Crime WINS Committed
ms the Result of Dispute over
TwentV-Sevcn Cents.
Valdosta, Ga Dec. 13-Jim Goddlng
and Wash Powell were hanged here at II
o'clock to-day. They were pronounced
dead in fifteen minutes and the bodies
were taken down ten minutes later
They made no statement upon the gall
lows and denied their guilt TO the end
The two men were placed upon the scat
fold together, their hands bound. Sheriff
Passmore adjusted the black cap and tied
the rope about their necks. As quick as
that was done. he said: II am ready
boys, goodbye" and kicked the trigger
with his foot. The two bodies shot through
the air seven feet and swung perfectly
still until they were cut down.
Goddings neck was broken and Powell
was choked TO death. Several negro min
listers were with the doomed men all the
morning and efforts were made again To
get a confession from them, but they de-
MED all knowledge of the Vicker's murder
In spite of their denials, both white and
black people believe them guilty
Probably a thousand people were about
the jail this morning. but the hanging
was strictly private.
story Of the Crime.
The crime for which Jim Coddinr ana
Wash Powell paid the penalty to-day was
committed in the Mineola district ON the
night Of Sept Q. II was the murder Of
Henry Vickers, a prominent young white
man OF than neighborhood, who ran a lit
tie country store.
The murderers disposed OF the body bv
throwing 1t In a well and then went on
their way. The crime was committed IN
the early hours Of the night, Just a little
after dark, and, according TO the confess
sion Of one Of the negroes It was over a
matter OF " cents which was charged
upoh wicker book. The negroes went
there to do some trading and at the
nrst opportunity one OF them struck Vick-
ers with weight, knocking MIN down.
Ihen they shot him, cut his throat and
threw the body into a well.
Evidences Of the tragedy were dfscoy-
ereu early the next morning by two little
negroes. who went to the house TO wait
upon the young man, he living alone and
having the boys 10 come to his house sun
day mornings 10 polish his shoes and serve
him In other ways. The boys gave the
alarm and a search was made for the
body. II was finally found In the well and
brought to the top. The news Of the
tragedy infiamed the citizens of the COM
munity, and a race conflict was threaten
ed until the negroes showed sincerity in
desiring the guilty. ones brought to JUS
tice. 1t may be said here that the col
ored people worked faithfully to unravei
the mystery Of Vickers' death, and 1t was
upon the evidence of colored people that
Godding and Powell were found guilty and
sentenced to death for the crime.
The case against the two negroes was
They Would Not Confess.
tried before Judge Gambler just twenty
days ago, and both were convicted. Since
their conviction. the two negroes have
both protested Innocence, Powell stating
that he swore to a lie on the stand be-
cause he was Told that his liberty would
be given him, II Godding was convicted.
Every effort has been made by negro min
listers and others TO get the negroes 70
confess the killing, but they have per-
sisted TO the end that they were both in
nocent 1t has been believed that others
were implicated in the killing, and the
better class of negroes have been trying
10 get at the truth of 1t TO prevent a clash
in future between the races over the mat
ter. All of the threats of eternal punish
ment were fruitless, however, TO get the
confession. The negroes have been pray
ing and singing in their cells and have
asked the negro ministers to pray with
them.