The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-18
PENALTY PAID ON GALLONS.
HERNDoN ANSWERED WITH HIS
LIFE FOR KILLING LOvINGOoD.

Execution Took Place at Washing
ton-Hcrndon Kept His Nerve and
Advised Those Who witnessed His
Execution to Beware-Pulse Ceas-
ed to Beat 10 Minutes After the
Fall of the Trap story of the
Crime for which Herndon Died.
Washington, Ga, Aug. 7.-Diilard Hern-
don was hanged here to-day between
and 2 o'clock. the execution taking place
in a large barn in the rear of the jail,
The prisoner kept his nerve to the last
and walked upon the scaffold without any
visible sign of fear.
He made a short statement, warning
others to beware of his example. He said
he killed Lovingood for money; that he
was seduced by the devil and his mind
was partly unbalanced.
Herndon's neck was broken by the fall.
II was fifteen minutes before his pulse
ceased to beat.
The crime for which billiard Herndon
paid the penalty on the gallows, was COM
mitted on Oct. g. 1899, when he shot John
Jovingood to death with a double-bar-
relied shotgun.
L.ovingood kept store near Pistol.
small place about eighteen miles from
Washington, and was a quiet inoffensive
young man. well liked by every one
Herndon came to Lovingood's store early
that morning. bringing his gun, and Loaf
ed around the store all day. Late in the
afternoon. he purchased some goods, ask
ing Lovingood to change $50 bill for him
Lovingood opened the safe. took out the
money and laid it on the counter.
While he was counting out the change,
Herndon, who was standing directly in
front of him, about three feet away, raised
his gun and deliberately shot LovingoOd
the ball entering his neck and breast
The muzzle of the gun was close 10
the victim that his clothing was burnt
by the discharge.
Lovingood staggered toward side door
about twenty feet away. but before he
reached the door, Herndon shot him
again, slightly wounding him in the
shoulder. The dying man managed to
stagger out of the door and across the
road where he fell unconscious in ditch.
Herpdon then returned to the store and
took from the safe all the money that it
contained, about $26. He then went out
TO where Lovingood lay and began fan
ming him with his hat. Some of the
neighbors coming up about this time,
Herndon told them that an old yellow cat
had knocked the gun off the counter and
caused it to discharge. killing Lovingood.
The dying man regained consciousness
long enough to accuse Herndon of muir
dering him for money, which was siren
uously denied by Herndon. Lovingood
lived for about half hour. Herndon
was allowed to return to his home. about
three miles distant but was arrested that
night making no attempt TO escape or re-
sist When requested to do so, he hand
ed the constable the money and a ring he
had taken from the safe.
Herndon was tried at the November
term of court, and was defended by abe
counsel, who filed a plea of insanity at
the time of the killing. After remaining
out for a week the jury failed to report.
and mistrial was the result.
He was again put on trial at the May
court A verdict of guilty was brought
in and he was sentenced to be hanged
June s. The case was carried to the Su-
preme Court by his attorneys, where the
verdict of the court below was affirmed
They then appeared before the Pardon
Board to ask that his sentence be COM
muted, but in vain.
This is the second execution that has
taken place in Wilkes since the war,
though there have been sixty-one homi-
cides
Herndon was formerly a deacon in the
Baptist Church and leader of the singing,
but for some time he had been a terror TO
his neighborhood. To one unacquainted
with the facts of the case it would seem
a horrible thing TO hang the old, gray
headed, meek-looking man, but the de-
mands of justice have been met