The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-19
WITHOUT A CULVER
GEORGE MITCHELL HEARD HIS
DEATH SENTENCE PRONOUNCED.
TO BE HANGED ON AUG. 2.
WAS BRUTAL AND THE YER
DICT JUST.

Mitchell, when Asked if He Had
Death should Not BE Pronounced
Upon Him, Answered That He Was
Innocent and Had Not Had a
Chance to Show It-Unconcerne
white Judge Read the Sentence OF
Death-MOtion for "a New Trial will
Be Filed if Counsel Comes to be-
Iieve Mitchell's Story-COmpoSure
Vanished mt the Jail.
Unless motion for new trial is filed
in the meantime, George Mitchell, the
negro convicted in the Superior Court of
criminal assault, will die on the gallows
on the morning of Aug 2. The death SEN
tence was imposed by Judg Falliegant,
shortly after court convened yesterday.
Mitchell was brought into the court
room in charge Of a bailiff and directed
by the court to stand up to receive his
sentence. He is a negro of middle age
and OF very ordinary physical appear
ance. Neither in his face nor manner of
conversation is there any Indication of
even average intelligence; he shows on
the contrary physical indications of be-
ing the brutal and desperate negro that he
was painted by the testimony of the
witnesses at his trial.
At the command of the court he stood
up without a tremor Judge Falligant
asked him if he had anything to say why
sentence of death should not be pronounce
ed on him.
I'm not guilty. was the answer. Il
wasn't there; when 1 was tried L was
not able to get my witnesses"
You have been found guilty" rejoined
the court, "by a jury after fair and
impartial trial. You had the benefit of
able and eloquent counsel and every OPP
portunity to get these witnesses of whom
you speak. The evidence against you
was clear and convincing, and the jury
found you guilty of rape. Your crime
was a brutal and horrible one and the
verdict of the jury was demanded by the
evidence. 1t becomes my duty to impose
the sentence fixed by the law" Judge
Falligant then read the formal death
sentence. 1t directed that Mitchell be
removed from the Court House TO the
jail, and there kept safely confined until
Aug. 2, when he is to be hanged. The
execution is to take place in private, and,
as the law directs. between 10 o'clock in
the morning and 4 o'clock in the after
noon.
There was no greater display of emo
ton on the part Of Mitchell during the
time that sentence was being pronounced
or just afterwards than there had been
at his trial, when the verdict of guilty
was returned by the jury. His counsel
Mr.. w. N. Clarke, stated that he had not
determined whether he would file mo-
tion for a new trial He would first hold
conversation with the men whom Mitchell
says saw him in the city on the day and
at the time the crime was committed,
and by whom the defendant says he will
be able to prove alibi. Mr.. Clarke
coeid rot ind these alleged witnesses be-
fore the last trial of the case. If he
is convinced by their statements that
his client is innocent of the crime with
which he is charged and for which he
has now been sentenced to die, Mr. Clarke
viii file motion for new trial.
The condemned man was seen at the
county jail during the day, by Morning
News reporter, and talked without hesi-
fancy. He in no way appeared like the
prisoner who had heard the death sem
tence passed only a few hours before.
There was tremor in his voice, and he
had 10 support himself by holding to the
prison bars as ne talked. Mitchell con-
tinued to deny his guilt, although he did
II IN ndlI-n6dTleQ
He was not very emphatic in any of his
statements, and appeared to realize, for
the first time, the enornlity of his crime,
and of the. penalty that he must pay. AS
the trap door was described to the man
he trembled like an aspen leaf and at
one time seemed as if he was ready to
make clean beast of everything that
he had done. He checked himself, how
ever, and said that the women who tden-
uhed him were mistaken.
When told that he has but little chance
to get a new trial Mitchell stated that
he will at once make preparations for
death. He has never prayed, according
TO his story, and hardly knows how 10
begin. Realizing that he has not a great
while to live. and that every moment is
precious, Mitchell promised to raise his
voice to God for the first time last night.
While the other prisoners were sleep
ing he fell on his knees, and his lips
moved in silent prayer for several min
utes 1t was his first effort and the I'M
fortunate man seemed greatly relieved
when he arose and. dropped into his ham
mock. In few moments he was sound
asleep, with no thought of the past or
terrible future that awaits him. Mitchell
stated in the Afternoon that he will con-
tnue to pray and make peace with his
Maker, and on the eventful day at least
feel as ii he has a chance to enter the
Heavenly Kingdom.
The prisoner whose desires have doomed
MIN is an ignorant man and not until he
was shown the death trap did he display
any feeling or concern. He did not appear
TO realize or care what was happening
and from his actions and manner he did
not consider the death which awaits him
snxrfar a. fro to- axf