The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-07-30
READY FOR DEATH
GEORGE MITCHELL PREPARING
FOR THE GALLONS.
PRAYS SILENTLY IN HIS CELL.
MITCHELL SAYS HE HAS NO FEARS
OF THE ORDEAL OF HANGING.

Than Two Ycars-Prince Black,
Chaplain TO Condemned Men, Can't
BE Found-Mitcben Has Had No
Minister to Attend Him.
Arrangements are being made by the
Jail officials for the execution of
George Mitchell, the confessed negro
rapist The doomed man will be
swung off between 10 o'clock and
noon Friday. The hanging will, as
usual. be in private. and will be the
first in Chatham county in a little over
two years.
A new piece of rope has been pur-
chased, and is now being stretched on
the lower floor of the jail This is
done by means of a block and tackle,
and a severe pressure is kept on the
hemp for several days. One stretch of
rope is good for three hangings, and
when Mitchell has been hanged there
will be rope enough left for the next
two unfortunates.
The trap doors are tested several
times a day. They were sprung yes
terday and worked to a nicely. The
cause the false doors to drop, and when
the spring is touched Friday morning
Mitchell will fall into the cell below.
While the preparations for death are
being made by the officers, Mitchell 81
lently watches, and PAGES the corridor.
He realizes that his end is almost at
hand, and that there is no earthly hope
hi 10 a
that will encircle his neck, and with
a shudder he hears the heavy trap
doors as they fall at the touch of one
of the turkeys. These preliminaries
the doomed man witnesses without a
comment. He is altogether different
from any other prisoner with the death
sentence hanging over him. There is
no great display of religion, and no
midnight shouting and preaching. In
the past it has been the custom for
condemned men to pray and sing, un-
til the early morning hours, but not
so in the case of Mitchell. After his
fellow prisoners have retired Mitchell
kneels in his cell and silently prays
for hours. More than once he has
fallen asleep on his knees. There is
nothing melodramatic in his devotions,
and unless there is a change in his
manner he will walk to the fatal cell
without the usual gusto.
Although Mitchell has profeSSed re-
pentance. and says that he believes, If
the Bible is true, that he will go to
heaven he has not yet been visited by
a minister of the gospel. Rev. Prince
Black. the colored minister who has
always presided at executions in Chat
ham county, cannot be located by the
jailers. and they are somewhat wor-
ried. They realize that IL will never
do to have a hanging without the min
lister being present to administer to the
unfortunate and offer "a prayer" or
take the last words from the dead
man." Mitchell is very anxious to see
Rev. Black. and the officers are still
making an effort to locate him. In the
event that he is found there will prob
ably be an all night service in the jail
Thursday.
Rev. Black never loses any time in
reaching an unfortunate, when sent for.
and ii is not at all probable that he
has forgotten how to convince the
doomed man that the trap door is all
the barrier to greater and better
world. Isaiah Scott. wife murderer.
was the last man legally executed in
Chatham county. and Rev. Black Of
ficiated upon that occasion. Scott was
punished for his crime on July 81, 1899,
and nothing has been heard of Rev.
Black since that time. He delivered
a prayer as the black cap was adjust
ed on Scott and was within two feet
of the man when he dropped into the
cell below. There were no other exc
cutions booked for this county at that
time and the Jail officials neglected to
take the minister's address.
The rope that strangled the slayer
of Maria Scott was taken down yester-
day and thrown in the Jail basement
1t was covered with dust and cobwebs
and was the last of piece that hang
ed three negroes. For the execution
of Mitchell a new piece of hemp was
purchased. and that which is left will
be kept in the basement until another
dag.
Mitchell talked freely with a Morn.
ing News reporter yesterday, and says
that he is satisfied that he will meet
his Maker. He saw the great beyond
in dream several nights ago, and
there was peace on every side.
What made the strongest impression
on the mind of the condemned man wa:
that not a figure in the beautiful, and
happy, vision was using tobacco
Mitchell has smoked as long back as
he can remember. and he at once de.
cided that II must be sinful to smoke
else those in Heaven would have beer
enjoying a pipe. or cigarette. Wher
Mitchell awoke in the morning he gave
his tobacco and cigarette papers to q
fellow prisoner, and has announced g
determination not TO smoke-at least
not until after his death.
While Mitchell processes to believ,
that he has been saved already, h,
does not seem to realize the enormitN
of the crimes which he committed
With stole composure he admits tina
he ravished two women of his owl
color on Hutchinson's Island. Withou
a CULVER he tells how he struck then
down with an iron rod, and then com
mitted the brutal and fiendish act
With but little more emotion he gazei
almost blankly at the fatal cell anC
declares that when he steps on thu
treacherous doors Friday II will be I,
leave a life Of trouble and worry. fol
one OF everlasting JOY and pleasure
Mitchell has not yet expressed a pref
erence for the hour OF his execution
but he viii probably be hanged yer,
shortly after 10 o'clock.
Henry Brooks, the convicted murder
er OF Patrolman Harry Fender. anS
whose life now hangs IN the balance
appears 10 take a deeper interest II
the preparations than any other pris
oner In the Jail. Mitchell not excepted
Since almost the very hour Of his con
finement Brooks has been almost para
lyzed with fear. and although he q
hoping for the best, he seems 20 think
and apparently has reason 90 believe
that he will meet a similar fate ThOFi