The age-herald., 1902-03-29
GALLONS CLAIMS
 WILLIAM HARRIS
Negro Murderer ConfeSses His
 Crime and DleS BraveIy
WARNS ALL HIS FRIENDS
Dragged Little Girls Into Woods and After Assaultlng Her Beat Her
 Brains Out-Admlts Com hitting Other Crimes.

Selma March 2s.-(SpeciaL)-At 11:15 County jail, Sheriff Blackwell pulled back the gallows' lever and the body of Will liam Harris, murderer, shot down to in- stant death. The negro slept well last night and ate a hearty breakfast this morning. Shortly before the services were commenced by the preachers he asked for a cigarette, and 1t was given him. He declared that he was ready, and after the singing of a few songs, prayer and few remarks by the preacher he was lead to the tower of the jail. There he stepped up to the window and spoke to the crowd of about & thousand negroes that had gathered In the streets around the jail. He said:
 Friends and relatives, l want you all to know that I am guilty of the charge that has brought me here today, and all and tc all of my race throughout the United States"
 There was not a tremor In his voice as he spoke, and he could be heard distinct ly by every one present. The black cap was put on and without a word Sheriff Blackwell pulled the lever. The iron door changed back against the wall below and the body shot like a bolt down about seven feet The neck was broken and not a single convulsion stirred the negro's frame. In fifteen minutes he was pro- nounced dead and his body cut down and turned o1 CT to the undertaken for burial.
 The crime for which Harris was hanged was committed last November He dragged a little colored girl about twelve years old into strip of woods across Valley Creek and after attempting to sault her. killed her by beating her brains out with the top of cedar sap bling. He confessed his crime and stated that he had assaulted four women in Will cox County and one other in this city, but had hushed the matter up.
 Enoch Bell, a negro who killed Jerre Haralson, also a negro last fall near Martins in this county was allowed this morning to plead guilty in the Circuit Court and take a sentence of imprison- ment In the penitentiary for life. Bell and his wife had separated and Haral- son was living with the woman. Bell wanted her to come back to him but she refused He accordingly laid in wait for Haralson and getting him down in the woods beat him over the head with an old gun barrel until he was dead.
 River Observer Payne Is in receipt of a telegram from the weather bureau stat Ing that the river will likely reach AS feet at Selma by Sunday night This will put the stream out of It's banks In many places and result in considerable damage in the low lands.
 This morning after an Illness of 12 days with pneumonia MT. Stark Hunter Gay died at his home in this city. Mr Gay was a brother of Dr. S. c. Gay and was a well known and greatly liked citizen. His wife has had her full sorrow during the past few weeks. About month ago her mother died. A few days afterwards her brother followed and now her hus- band has passed Into the great beyond.
 This morning in the Circuit Court the case of Grant Greet charged with the killing of Jerre Troup and Will Collins at Lake Lanier In July 1900 was called and upon an agreement reached with the solic- itor he was allowed to plead guilty of mansaughter and accept a sentence of one year and ony day in the penitentiary. There were two cases but the other case was nolle pressed. On a previous trial a mistrial was the result of the delibera- tiOna of the jlry