The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-10-09


Frank Duncan probably had the dis
tinction of having more visitors turned
away from his door yesterday than any
other resident of Birmingham. Scores
of people, many of whom were quite
prominent were refused permission to
see the famous prisoner and Sheriff Bur-
gin adhered strictly to his rule of not
allowing anybody to see Duncan except
deputy sheriffs, police officials and news
paper reporters.
Duncan is closely guarded and two dep
uties have begun a ceaseless vigil from
now until the sentence of the court has
been executed. Deputy Cousson remains
in sight of Duncan from noon until mid
night and Deputy Love occupies a similar
position from midnight until noon. The
sheriff is doing all in his power to make
Duncan as comfortable as possible until
the day of the execution, and the pris-
oner expresses appreciation for the kind
ness shown him.
Maintains Jovial Spirit.
Duncan still maintains his cherry, jo-
vial spirits, and has pleasant word for
all his callers. He Is always ready to
listen and laugh at joke and will in
variably fire one back that is equally as
funny. He is not in the least morose and
one would never gather from his con-
versation that he is to die as soon as
Judge Greene can pass sentence and the
legal lapse of time has expired.
There seems to be considerable differ
hoo 4t,,ao .xrfH hef
allowed. Judge Greene is out of the city,
and this will depend entirely on his con-
struction of the law after he arrives. 1t
Is expected that he will have Duncan
brought before him for sentence Monday.
AS yet Duncan has not employed legal
counsel but 1t is said he will confer with
two prominent lawyers today or tomor-
row, and t may be that final fight will
be made to save his life. Persons inter-
ested in the case have raised the ques-
ton as to whether or not Duncan's case
can be brought again before the SUI
preme court. Lawyers say, however, that
since the supreme court has dismissed his
appeal there is no hope for another hear
ing. Just exactly on what point 1t is
hoped that another hearing can be had
can not be ascertained, and 1t may be
the mere result of street rumor.
Reads All the Papers.
In the meantime Duncan is doing what
he can to keep his mind engaged to pass
away the time until the day of execu-
ton. He reads all the papers very
closely and has taken great interest in
reading the accounts of his escape print
ed in the newspapers printed about that
time
Have you heard whether my wife has
arrived intown?" he asked last night
when one of his acquaintances among the
newspaper men called. His caller was
without information on the subject.
~ see from one of the afternoon pa
pers," said Duncan, that my wife will
be arrested as soon as she arrives
also see that she will not be allowed to
come near the jail. That will do no
good She can't do anything towards
helping me now You see there is no
chance for a man to get out of here
with all these officers about him. l
couldn't get away If had bottle OF nj
tro-glycerin and all the steel saws In
Florida. They have simply got me. and
that's all there is to it.
ut amt right" continued the con-
demned man, ito hang man for
crime he did not commit. AS I told you
before, 1 did not shoot either of those
policemen, and was not there. Miller
told the truth about that, as did sheeny
Bugs. I was in the room over Gelders
when I heard the shooting"
Why He Went to Florida.
Duncan was asked why he did not go
to Canada or some other country outside
of the United tSates. He was then asked
why he chose Florida as retreat.
"Well, did go pretty far up the coun-
try" he smiingly replied, but I never
left the United States. I would not like
to live in Canada, as the weather Is too
severe. I believed then and believe now
that Florida was the safest place to
which 1 could have gone. The people
down there are not SO up-to-date as they
are in other states" He intimated that
there were a lot of '1ong haired rubes'
In the Flower State.
He was then asked about the report
that he had worked In the stables OF
George Vanderbilt at Biltmore, N. c.
mo, I was never there in my life.
I understand, however. that they had me
fully identified up there while l was In
Florida. Now If these people in town
don't believe that I am telling the truth
they could send for Mr.. Vanderbilt and
he would probably tell them"
Duncan laughed heartily at this piece
of grim humor. and said that somebody
would be saying next that he and Van
derbilt had combined their finances.