Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-14
To GUT DOWN
FATHER s
SLAYER
MRS. ETA HALL, OF ADELE,
WISHES TO TAKE PART IN
HANGING HER PARENTS
MURDERER.

NEW YORK, Aug. 1.-THE World prints
the following:
ABEL Ca, Aug. 9-No. the sheriff has
never granted me the privilege OF pulling
the death trap of Boisy Bryant. never
asked that privilege; asked the sheriff
to let me cut him down after he was
hanged, and was granted same. If the
law will allow, will pull the death trap
on him. and think it would be right for me
to do so, but have never asked for that
privilege. MRS. ETA HALL.
Mrs. Hall is the daughter of W. A
Hynds, who was city marshal Of Abel,
a town in Berrien county, Georgia. He
had been particularly active against the
negro gamblers of the town. and was
fatally wounded by Boisy Bryant. an IS
year old negro. whom he was trying to
arrest.
After his conviction and sentence II was
currently reported that Mrs. Hall had
requested of Sheriff Swindle, of Berrien
county, the privilege of pulling the trap
which would launch the soul of the muir
derer into eternity. and that he had grant.
ed the request. 's
In the discussion which followed this
remarkable proposition 1t was developed
that under the laws of Georgia the hang
ing of criminals condemned to death must
be done by the sheriff or a regularly ap-
pointed deputy. and that a woman was
not eligible TO appointment as deputy
sheriff.
Thus Georgia avoided the unique II
somewhat questionable distinction OF hav-
ing a woman hang a man.
At the time the request OF Mrs. Hall
for permission to participate in the exc
cution Of her fathers murderer was made
she is quoted as having said: why
shouldn't / be one of the instruments OF
his death? Did he not kill my father in
~ IL a.. a
his duty in arresting him? / suppose I
am as tender-hearted about most things
as other women are, but in this case II is
different"
Mrs Hall is described as an attractive
looking woman of about twenty-five years
and is a widow. She is usually as mild
hammered as other women, but In connec-
ton with the murder of her father, TO
whom. IL Is said, she was deeply attached,
she is determined. and sees nothing out Of
the way in her participation in the execn-
ton.
The murder for which Boisy Bryant will
die on September 18th was committed in
May. The negro was wanted on a mis-
demeanor charge, and Marshal Hynds I'M
dertook to arrest him. He drew a pistol
and sent a bullet through the narshal's
stomach, the wound resulting in death
four days later.
Bryant took to the woods, but q vigo-
rous hunt was at once instituted, and the
next day he was captured and taken to
Nashville.
When the marshal died there was much
talk Of lynching. and had not Mrs. Hall
been so FRUSTRATED on account Of the trag-
edy that she could not urge on the lynch
ing 1t is probable that summary vengeance
would have been taken on the murderer
at that time.
A special term OF the court was called,
Bryant was placed on trial, convicted and
September II. The execution will be pri-
vate, though the twelve guards who will
be on duty, win at Mrs. Halls request,
be friends of her dead father.
The trial was closely watched by Mrs.
Hall and she is quoted as saying: IT
could hardly keep from trying taking
summary vengeance on that negro. even
in the courthouse"