The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-07
NO TRC$JBLE fl. HANGING S.-- Luke Sanders; Executed in
 Marion. NEGRO MOB WAS FORMED Preparation of Citizens Caus-.
 ed Blacks to Disperse. The Murderer of Road overseer Null lins, in His Last Statements,
 Made No Reference t.-- to His Crime.
MOB WAS FORMED

Marion, March s-lspeciai.) .)-Luke san- ders, a negro, was hanged in the Perry County jail this morning at 1:o5 for the murder of Road Overseer Mullins. a white man. While there were good grounds to anti cipate an effort to Mberate Sanders last night, the news of the citizen-soldiery preparation for an emergency spread rap idly, and as a result the city had more the appearance of Sunday today than hangmans day. ---=-
 The statement that a negro mob was forming and that it was thwarted by cooler heads was made today by one Of the most respected farmers in the coun- ty who had Luke in his employ ar one time
 The prisoner slept we'll last night until just before day, when he was arousd and began singing and praying. He was given a bountiful breakfast, but did not eat heartily. Early in the day he thanked Sheriff Whitman for his. kindness, and said he had no iil-feeling for any offi- cer. He knew they were performing their duty. Three colored preachers and Dr. Bonar. the Baptist minister, and Mir. McCann, Methodist minister, visited the prisoner early in the morning and prayed and sang with him. Al 1o:45 he talked with The Advertiser correspondent, making the following brief statement: The people know what I am here for. I will soon leave this world and will en- ter the great unknown. Tell all the peo- pie l want to meet them in heaven"
 Hanged in Jail Corridor. The execution took place at u:o6 in the corridor of the jail. When put upon the scaffold, the prisoner showed not the slightest emotion. The moose was adjust ed by Deputy Sheriff Woolle ,s,. hen Sheriff whitman asked if he desired to make statement. Sanders spoke de- liberateiy and without tremor. as fol- lows: F~
 q simply want to bid all farewell Let every body keep quiet one minute. I am preparing to leave this world and expect to make heaven my home. I wish to see all men come to Jesus and be saved. ! come here to die. The ways of God are unknown. Today we live. tomorrow we die. I trust to meet some of you where troubles are no more. I will soon be done with the things of this world"
 He made no reference to his crime. As the cap was pulled over his face, he said to a negro standing near by. Goodbye, West" Then, turning the Sheriff Whit man and ex-Sherin Nelms. 'bade them adieu. Just before the trap fell, he exclaimed: |: Lord Jesus, catch me! Save me, Jesus!"
 Sheriff whitman asked if he were ready, and he cried in q loud tone. Come through"
 The Sheriff pulled the trigger and in fifteen minutes Drs. Shivers and John ston pronounced life extinct.
 When the jail was cleared of white peo- pie, a large number of negroes were al- lowed to view the body as 1t hung Twenty-Five minutes after the fall the body was cut down and turned over to Undertaken Blackburn and carried to the burying grounds, near where the crime was committed for which the prisoner was executed. The father had made preparations for the burial and large numbers of negroes attended the funeral
 The Crime.
 On April IS. 1899, Luke Sanders and his brother were members of a gang of negroes working under the superin- tendenc of Mullins, the murdered man. Some words arose between Mullins and one of the Sanders and the next day the brothers came to their work armed Another difficulty arose between Tom Sanders and Mullins about bringing a pail of water for the workmen. and shots were exchanged, the negro being wound ed The other Sanders then drew his re- volver and emptied it's contents into the body of Mullins.
 The murder caused some excitement in the county and there were vague rumors of lynchings. but none took place. San ders fled to Arkansas. He was captured. however, and brought to Perry County where the last chapter In the story closed with his death today.
 The trial of the Sanders case and the subsequent action of the Supreme Court and the Pardoning Board have made the affair one of general interest throughout the State.
 The Case in the Courts.
 The trial first came up in the Circuit Court of Perry. and Sanders was found guilty of murder in the first degree. and the death sentence was passed on him by Judge Moore.
 The case was appealed to the Supreme Court by Sanders's attorneys. The Su- preme Court confirmed the verdict of the lower court, put me Jusuces uhiteu III a petition to the Governor to commute the sentence.
 Acting on this request Governor Jelks gave Sanders a respite of thirty days and referred the matter to the Pardoning Board.
 The Board took the matter up and re ceived communications from the Judge and Solicitor of Perry County. urging that the sentence be carried out. When the matter came to q vote. two mem- bers of the Board were for hanging the negro and one stood to the Supreme Courts decision. The Governor stood with the majority of the Board