The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-23
FELIX HALL WAS
 DROPPED TWICE The First Effort Did Not Pro-
 duce Death MAINTAINED INNOCENCE While on the scaffod the Negro Stated He Was Henry Jackson-Mr.
 Denegre Writes to the
 Governor.
MAINTAINED INNOCENCE

The negro Felix Hall, alias Henry Jackson, was hanged at the jail yard yes terday morning. When the body ot the negro had been suspended for fifteen min ntes after the drop Hall groaned audioly several times, whereupon the eooy was again raised, placed on the trap door ana the trigger sprung once more the sec ond drop breaking his neck
 Halls case is well known in Birming- ham and in fact throughout the state. He has claimed all the time that the State was hanging the wrong man ana that his real name was Henry Jackson. Even on the seaffod yesterday he repeat ed the assertion that he was innocent
 When he said this some one In the crowd said:
 That's right Henry. I can vouch for it."
 Deputy Sheriff Love who had charge of the hanging ordered the spectator to keep quiet.
 Last Moments.
 Hall spent the last half hour of his life with several colored preachers at the Jail, and to them he said that he was prepared
  against anyone.
 It was nearly half hour from the time of the first drop until the negro was pro- nounced dead.
 Hall was convicted of the murder of Norwood Clarke, a young white man on the Ensley grade about three years ago. After his conviction there was some doubt as to his identity and a reprieve was granted by the governor to give the con- demned man time to bring forward his proof
 Attorney Charles Denegre handled the negro's case, as he was the man appoint ed by Judge Dan A. Greene to defend him at the trial. Judge Greene was put in charge of the investigation by the gover- nor and after careful examination he is now convinced that Hall is the right man.
 Letter to the Governor.
 Attorney Denegre still believes that the negro was innocent and that the wrong man was hanged. He addressed the fol- lowing letter to the governor last night: Hon William D. Jelks, Montgomery, Ala.
 Dear Sir-According to your instruc- tions Henry Jackson was hanged here today Now that the soul or the untortun- ate negro has gone to eternity l wish to let you know that your action in the matter surprises me very much to say the least. When man presumes to held such an exalted position as you occupy and is appealed to on a question of life i even though it be that of a negro, and the appeal Is made by an attorney not 1 paid for his services, it does seem that he would condescend to make an investi- | gaton of the case. l may be in error, but it is my humble judgment that the l executive power of the state of Alabama is vested in the governor and not the trial l judge
 The trial judge is my friend and a man of honor. and l know he did what he considered right and just, but it strikes me his connection with the case should have ended when he signed the bill of exceptions.
 1 This letter is from me to you as man to man. l am no longer writing as the attorney for Henry Jackson. If ever again it becomes necessary for me to ap- peal to the governor of Alabama to in- 1 tervene in behalf of an unfortunate, friendless and penniless soul l sincerely hope that the executive chair will be oc- cupied by man who will not relegate his exalted prerogative to a third party. Very truly yours.
 CHARLES DENEGRE.