The Newark journal., 1903-06-26
DOUBLE HANGING.
Fred Underwood and George Dur
ham Executed at GAINESVILLE for
Murder of Sheriff Powers.

oH lle IJLu lHSJ. IOE the nuTucT
of Sheriff John III. Powers. Both
men displayed remarkable nerve
and walked upon the seaffold with
out the support of attendants. Tn
derwood made a confession at the
eleventh hour, which probably lost
Durham his life, although the CON
fession was made with the hope
upon Underwood's part of saving
his partner. in crime.
On the day before the execution
Underwood made a confession, in
which he assumed the blame for the
robbery, but stating that John p.
Dunn, who is at large, fired the ia
tai shot at Powers. In his confess
sion Underwood said: Il have been
safe-brcaker and robber all my
life. l have made my living that
way. [ realize the enormity of
crime, the dishonesty, the shame,
and disgrace, but ! was almost
brought up to it. / have taken
many a dollar from rich men, but
they were well able to afford the
loss. They had insurance 10 get it
back, and, anyway, it would not
have hurt them to lose it. They
had millions and had little. |
bad never a desire at any time in
my life to take a human life. 1t
was always my motto and instruc-
tions ever to Kill. ! am very sorry
for this crime and all the rest |
have committed. | think | deserve
only to be hanged, but George Dur
ham ought to have clemency. It is
my honest prayer that the govern
or will show it. | led him into
this business, being old and expo
rienced at it myself. When | say
that Durham is not to blame |
mean it. If | ever told the truth
III my life | am telling it now. If
| had listened to what Durham said,
John Powers would not have been
killed. want it thoroughly under
stood that | am not asking anything
for myself. | ought to be hanged.
But | believe Durham ought to
have clemeney.'
Sheriff Powers was killed on the
night of February 3, 1902, when he
discovered Underwood and his COM
panions in the act of robbing the
Bank of GAINESVILLE. The murder
ers and robbers escaped on freight
train, going to Coal Hill, thence to
Fort Smith and succeeded in get
ting out Of the state. Durham and
Dunn, the latter having received
wound in the bate with Sheriff
Powers, were captured at Wichita,
Kan. Dunn was in the hospital
when arrested \ guard was placed
over him, but soon after he sue
ceeded in eluding the vigilance of
the guard and made his escape a
heavy reward was offered by the
governor of Kansas for his appre-
hension, augmenting the rewards
of $4,000 offered by the governor of
Arkansas, $500 by the Bank of
GAINESVILLE, $500 by the Bankers
Association of Arkansas, and sew
eral other smaller amounts offered
for the arrest and conviction of the
murderers. Dunn was never recap
tured, although his arrest has been
reported several times in variols
parts Of the country. Understood
was captured at Evansville, Ind.
Both men were placed on trial and
convicted December II, 1902. Their
cases were taken to the supreme
court, and the jury verdict was up
held Two other men, Joe Clark
and Jim Wallace, are confined in
Jail at Little Rock, awaiting tr al
for completely in the crime 1t Is
believed Durham's life would have
been spared had not Underwood
made his confession, as his brother
was endeayoring to get his sentence
committed on condition that he
make a complete confession. Both
men embraced the Catholic faith
and stated that they had made their
peace with God.
Charged With Horse Stealing
John Brice and Joe Hayden were
arrested at Hot Springs on the
charge Of stealing two horses in
Perry county, The men had the