The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-01-17
To DIE WITH DENIAL
HENRY BROOKS SAYS HE DID NOT
KILL PATROLMAN FENDER.
ON THE EVE OF EXECUTION.
SANG FOR HOURS WITH OTHER
PRISONERS IN THE CORRIDOR.

Condemned Slayer of officer Fender
Made the Final Preparations for
His End-sat i'm His Cell Until Late
Singing From a Gospel Hymnal.
Read Songs by Capdle Light While
other Cells Were in Darkness.
Death Watch Made Up of Two Men
Charged With Murder-BrOOks
Slept in the Cell Adjoining the
One I'm Which He VIII Be Hanged.
Snid He Is Ready to Die and VIII
Not Confess Before Being Hanged.
Henry Brooks, the convicted muir
derer of Patrolman Harry B. Fender,
who will be executed this morning IN
the county Jail. will probably go 20
his doom protesting his innocence of
the crime for which he was convicted.
Late last night Brooks stated that he
has no confession to make, and that
he will have nothing to say before
the adjustment of the black cap.
The prisoner was in his cell adjoin-
ing the one from which he will be
launched into eternity, when he was
seen by a representative of the Morn
ing News. He was about to retire for
the last time, and talked freely about
his Imprisonment and his approaching
end. Brooks declared that he had
made his peace with God, and that
he has no fear of death. He stated
that he will have courage enough to
walk to the fatal cell without aid, and
that he will go to his death without
shudder.
The condemned man said he did not
fire the shot that caused the death
of the patrolman, and he knows moth
ing of the crime. with death before
me 1 could not tell a lie,' said
Brooks, "and as 1 hope to be saved
and live in happiness on the other
side I am innocent of the crime
charged against me. Circumstances
were against me and | have no word
of reproach for the jury that con-
victed me. / do say that / did not
kill Mr.. Fender, and 1 will say the
same thing when the death warrant is
read to me tomorrow morning.
have asked God for mercy, and this
/ could not do with a falsehood on my
lips"
Services for the condemned man
were held at the Jail during the day,
and Brooks did not retire until late. He
spent the greater part of the evening
in singing and the other prisoners on
the floor joined with him He sang
from gospel hymnal and led the
songs, the other prisoners following
him. He sang with much fervor and
his deep bass voice could be heard a
block from the prison. The other cells
on the second floor were in darkness
but the inmates sang Justify and dur
ing the intermissions prayed for
Brooks.
The scene was a, weird one, and the
Pickering candle in the cell occupied
by Brooks cast uncanny shadows on
the walls of the corridor. The candle
was placed in the doorway Of the cell
and by its light Brooks was able to
read the words in the hymnal from
which he was singing. He did not APP
pear in the least degree nervous and
was asleep soon after he laid down.
The death watch on the inside was
made up of two men charged with
murder, and in the other hallway the
turnkey and two other sentries stood
on guard. The alleged murderers who
watched over Brooks during mis- last
sleep on earth were Elijah Shaw, who
shot negro named Johnson, and
Frank Pitts, who killed William New
some on West Broad street. Both of
these men talked to Brooks during the
evening, but to them, too, he denied
firing the shot that killed Patrolman
Fender. Brooks will be hanged short
ly after 10 O'clock