The Forrest City times., 1902-07-25
PICTURE By PEDRICK

this County. 10 the Rawlison neigh
barb0od. vas indebted to Cy
Tanner, ho vas bis brolher-in-law.
sho lived nearly. in the sum of eighty
Eve cents. and on this day they met as
sas the custom of the darkies in that
immediate vicinity at the little store
II Thsrp Hum phrsys. whtn Tanner
demanded Of Back the money that be
owed him. Black being unable 10 paw,
.aBntr became insisieLt ard abusive,
ahen Back finally told him if he
would not trouble him that he might
. Lave laFge hog that WAS in the pen
shirt that he had. This did not satls-
y Tanner and lie tod Black that he
. as gong home and get his gun and
{ II tie money Was not paid by sun
down that he would Kill him Tanner
+ got bis gun and returned TO the scene.
+ and Black still not having the money
requested that Tanner accompany bin
: 10 Mr. Asltwotth'S where he would get
8. * II. ,.ssy all - Il II. They pro
ceeded TO point just outside of the
store. when Cy Tanner turned upon
Black, aid with an oath, em ptied the
contents Of lis gun into his body, and
thus making good his threat, as the
sun went down the life Of Robert
Black VAS 30 more. Tanner fled from
the county aud Was at large for some
months hen he WIS capture | in Mis-
sisslpi county, this state. lie Was
indicted by tie grand jury at the Sep
I TENDER term, 1901, Of the circuit court.
and Was placed on trial at the follow
ing March term, when lie WAS convict
j ed and sentenced TO be hung on Mag
-, last. The case was appealed to the
supreme and pending the appeal the
supreme court stayed the execution.
Upon the dnai hearing IN the supreme
court tie case was affirmed, aud the
governor fixed the day for execution
for today,
The testimony in the case showed
e0nclusiyely that the killing was not
only premediiated and with malice
diolc'Lought. but that it was cruel,
heatt.ess and colo blooded. The man
Black Was uEaymed, and incable of
+ thinking that Tanner, or anyone,
Would take bis life under such cIcum-
stances And yet while in the act Of
/ paclfying his creditor by every means
al lis command. lie was shot down in
his tracks because lie could not paw at
once and in cash the triliiug sum OF
eighty FIVE cents. There has probabi V
never been "a more unfecling and inhu
man murder committed in the state.
1t showed degree OF deprayity seldom
met with In civilized community.
Tanner was seen in his cell Tues day
morning hy a TIMES man, and in lie
spouse L numerous questions, talked
freely, aud said lie did not fear to die
t He could not see tie gallows. but be
could hear the blows OF the carpenter :
Lam mer, as nail by nail, the engine OF
+ Ceath WAS being erected. He said he
had 10 fear of it, and fully realized
that In three days be would expiate his
crime When asked why he murdered
Black, le replied that II as mad. and
IN passion went and got ny nusket
and shot him.
1 have no hope that my sente ice
viii be committed or that shall in
any other manner be able 10 escape
tLis punishment.
Il have been in Jail since October
! >, 1901. and The officials who have had
Charge Of me have treated me alright.
have nothing to complain o..
Il WAS = years of age the cath of
last May, l Was born on Centennial