The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-06
PREACHER WAS MAD
WOULD NOT BAPTIZE PATROLMAN
TENDERS SLAYER.
HAD TOO MANY DEAC0NS.
AND JAIL OFFICERS WOULDN'T
STAND FOR THEM.

Rev. Prince Black said That Water
Was Too Cold Anyway, Aad Left
without Seeing Henry Brooks.
All Arrangements Had Been Made
for the BaptismaI Servfces-When
The Preacher Arrived with Dele
CATION of Assistants the County
Officers RebeIIed-They Were Per-
fectIy Willing to Receive Rev.
Black and One Assistant.
Rev. Prince Black and the Jail Off
Gals had a slight misundersta
yesterday and Henry Brooks, under
death sentence for the n urder of Pa
trolman Harry B. Fender, was not
baptized. The cold weather also had
something 10 co with the postponement
of the services, scheduled TO have taken
place in the morning.
Rev. Black is the colored divine who
devotes a good deal of his time to
comforting condemned men in the
county Jail. He has administered TO
almost every colored man who has
been executed in Chatham county for
ten years. He feels that he
has been called upon by God to do this
sort of work, and he apparently takes
deep interest in visiting unfortunates
whom the mandate of the law has de-
prived of liberty.
Rev. Black has been praying with
Brooks since he was indicted for the
murder of the officer. He was a faith
full worker and Brooks seemed to look
for his visits with a great deal of
pleasure. In anticipation of an hour
Brooks would cheer up, and some time
before the Supreme Court refused to
interfere with the verdict of the jury
he professed repentance. When
the decision of the higher court an
nounced that the verdict of guilty
would have to stand the condemned
man did not falter, but really appeared
to take on new life. Rev. Black had
convinced the patrolman's slayer that
death would be his salvation, and the
prisoner appears to be deeply Impress
ed with the words of comfort extended
by the minister.
After Judge Seabrook had named the
day upon which Brooks will pay the
penalty of his crime, Rev. Black set
about to make preparations for bap-
thing the man. An understanding
was had with the jailor, and it was
agreed that the services should be
conducted yesterday. Jailor Seyden
made preparations for the ar
rival of Rev. Black. and ar
ranged for the baptismal services that
were scheduled to follow. The colored
prisoners confined in the felons' row,
on the second floor. were not given
the freedom of the corridor. They
were to be kept in their cells not
to be permitted to annoy the minister
while he was engaged in the solemn
performance of the sacred duty.
When the preacher arrived with a
half a dozen or more deacons, and as
sistants, the officers on duty were sur
prised. They had rather expected
that he would be accompanied by an
assistant. but it had never dawned
upon them that he proposed bringing
his congregation with him. The off,
GERS felt that the prisoners on the floor
with Brooks could very we'll make up
the congregation, and were not dis
posed to receive the delegation OF
church followers with open arms.
they filed into the Office of the jailor,
each with clerical countenance. and
some with a clerical makeup, it looked
as if a protracted meeting was about
to begin. The county officers had not
anticipated such an affair and no such
programme had been arranged.
Politely, but firmly, Rev. Black, as
COMMUNICATIVE chief of this particu-
larly branch of the Army of the Lord.
was notified that the entire delegation
could not go within the four walls. He
was told that it would not be alto
gether prudent to permit so many per-
sons to go into the prison at the same
time. Rev. Black was offended at the
ruling of the officer on duty. He did
not wish to turn his back on those who
had accompanied him, and for a mo-
ment was puzzled as to what course to
follow. The minister only hesttated
for an instant. He stated that the
change in the weather had been mark
ed, and that it might not be wise I'M
der the circumstances to use cold wa
ter on Brooks. Rev. Black said that
he will baptize the murderer some
other time. He left without seeing