The Savannah morning news., 1901-06-15
SYLVANIA'S HANGING
DEATH OF HERRINGTON AND
MEARS AVENGED.
THE FIVE DIED TOGETHER.
EXECUTION WAS VERY QUIETLY
CONDUCTED.

Crime and as Usual All Were
Dropped Worked to a Nicety at
I2i20 y. m. and sixteen Minutes
Thereafter the Last Pulse Had
Ceased TO Flutter-A Large Crowd
in the Town But no Excite ement.
story of the Crime RetoId.
Sylvania. Ga. June H.-At 1929 o'clock
to-day the strong hand OF Sheriff Thomp-
son pulled the trigger beneath the plat
form upon which stood the five men who
murdered Philmore Herrington and Mil
ton Mears. In the twinklng of an eye the
five bodies shot downward. six or more
feet, with dull jerk. 1t was gruesome
sight to see, strong men in the full en-
joyment Of health launched thus into
eternity. but they seemed reconciled to
their end and met death stoically and
without tremor.
They made no confession OF their crime,
either at the jail or upon the gallows,
indeed they would not speak of it again
after they were sentenced to die. They
talked only of the future, and the bright
er prospects. having stirred their sous
for entrance into another world.
The prisoners passed their last night
upon earth quietly and In spiritual medi-
tation. After they had prayed awhile
and sung few hymns. they slept sound
ly until morning. For a breakfast they
ate only biscuit and drank a cup OF
coffee. From that time until they were
carried out they sat or walked in their
dungeon and talked but little.
William Hudson, the largest OF the five,
and man OF bad countenance, was the
most restless Of them all, and paced him
self like a tiger Gagged. He and Arnold
Augustus seemed to feel more strongly
than the others the shadow OF their ap-
preaching fate, and they wore troubled
look, Richard Sanders and Andrew Davis
laughed and chatted and talked with I'M
concern to those outside the cell.
The March to the GaIIows.
At II o'clock the FIVE prisoners, all OF
them dressed in new clothes and looking
neat and clean. we're handcuffed together
and marched out of the jail surrounded
by guards. The Screven Guards under
Capt. Chapman we're drawn up outside.
and the condemned men being placed be-
tween the two platoons of soldiers. the
procession moved onward to the gallows.
Although the execution was to be pri-
vate one. there were at least q thousand
people in town to see the hanging If per-
chance they might perch up on neighbor-
ing roofs, ana at other various points
of vantage. Most OF them got a good
view OF the drop. Only the guards, the
physicians and newspaper men were al
lowed within.
Saw Their Collins Ready.
As they entered the enclosure within
which dangled the five ropes. each with
its ready moose, the doomed men passed
FIVE black collins, placed ore upon the
other by the door, silently waiting for
their occupants When they got upon the
scaffold and the ropes were adjusted
around their necks, the prisoners all
made short statements in which they de-
clared their readiness to go. having made
their peace with God They did not al
lude once to the crime for which they
were about to die. They gave Sheriff
Thompson unstinted praise for the kind
manner in which he had treated them.
and declared that he had left nothing un-
done for their comfort.
Three colored ministers then ascended
the platform and talked and prayed with
the men. Mr.. d. b. C. Nunna!ly. clerk
of the Superior Court. read the death war
rant after which the black caps were
placed over their heads and everything
made ready for the fatal plunge.
satd They Were Ready.
At 1920 Sheriff Thompson shouted.
Boys are you ready?" 1--WE are ready"
came back the muffied response The
sheriff then touched the trigger lightly
and the bodies shot downward Nothing
could have been done more smoothly and
skillfully. 1t was sixteen minutes before
Drs. s. W. Minis and w. r. Lovett. the
attending physicians. pronounced that the
last huttering pulse was gone The bod
les were then cut down and turned over
to the relatives OF the dead men. There
was no excitement among the colored peo-
pie over the execution, and everything
is quiet tonight.
The story of the Crime.
The crime for which Arno.d Augustus.
Richard Sanders, Andrew Davis William
Hudson and Sam Baldwin paid the pen
atty with their lives to-day, was one OF
the most atrocious In the history of Screw
en- county 1t was one afternoon last
August that fillmore Harrington and
Milton Mears. two well known white
farmers. who liver near Mob.ey Pond in
this county, met young negro by the
name of Alexander in the public road.
and had a dispute with him about not
getting his vehicle out OF the highway.
so that they could pass. The negro. too.
was very mad. and made threats against
the life OF Harrington. who was most
prominent in the dispute. Consulting
with his friends. Mr.. Harrington had a
peace warrant Issued for the negro. and
that night, accompanied by Capt. Jesse
7. Wade and Mr.. George Daniels, Her
rington and Mears. the latter being
constable. went to the house of Jesse
Alexander. the boys father. to make the
arrest.
Met With "a Fusiiadc.
When near the house. they left the two
buggies In charge or Mr.. Daniels. and
the three men went on towards the
shanty, The moonlight was struggling
through the trees as they advanced slow
~ up the path Suddenly. without a note
Of warning, a terrific voiley was nred
upon them from a clump OF bushes near
the corner Of the house, and FROM other
pc nts around-a regular fuslade or pls-
to.s. rlnes and shot guns. The three