The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-06
CLINICS ID HIS LIFE WITH DESPERATION C. H. Sparks Hanged at the
 0peIika Jail MAKES VICIOUS ATTACK Assaults Deputy With Knife, Inflet- Ing Dangerous Wound, and Is subdued Only With
 fltchforks.
MAKES VICIOUS ATTACK

Opelil<a, March 5-(Speciai.) Charles H. 1 Sparks, the well known negro criminal was hanged here today and the execution took place under unusually tragic cir- cumstances.
 For three years the people of this com munity have believed the negro guilty of 1 the murder of Jack Ingersol at phenix l City, but the man has fought his case so stubbornly through his attorney that the execution of the sentence of the court has been delayed for many months 1 When the negro who has claimed to l be a lawyer from Cincinnati found he had to meet his fate he became desper- i ate
 When Deputy Sheriff Frank Perry en- l tered the prisoners cell this morning to prepare him for the execution the negro made vicious lunge at him with a knife he had procured cutting a great gash in Perry's neck and almost severing the jugiilar vein.
 Prisoner Became Frenzled. The sight of blood seemed to throw the doomed man Into a frenzy. He became like a wild man and for fully half an hour officers strove to calm him. He was In so fierce a passion of desperation, how ever, that 1t was enly with pitchforks that they were finally able to over awe him and get handcuffs on the criminals wrists.
 He resisted death to the last and when the first drop was made from the scaf- fold the attending physicians announced that the neck had not been broken It was necessary to drop the body a second time to produce death.
 The sheriff went to Montgomery Friday with the prisoner under orders of court under the habeas corpus proceedings | brought in the attempt to save the ne- | gro's neck, 1t being claimed that no ne- groes were on the jury which found the
 indictment or the jury which found him guilty. Judge Richardson failed to sustain | the plea and Sheriff Hodge returned to Opelika sthis morning with the prisoner Preparations for the execution had been 1 going on for several days and immediately l on the negro's return he resumed his place l in his cell and further arrangements for the final scene in the terrible act began.
 Story of Crime. It will be remembered that a negro Jack Ingersoll, a hard working negro car penter who lived at Phoenix City, Lee county, Ala, was assassinated while he was eating his supper in his own home The crime created a great sensation among whites as well as among the ne- groes for the murdered man was well | liked. This crime occurred in June, 1901. The shot that did the deadly work was fired through an open window. Officers began work on the case at once and in July following this negro. c. H. Sparks. who was a prominent character around the town. and who claimed to be a Cincin- natl lawyer was arrested together with the wife of 1ngersol. The arrest took place in Georgia.
 At the next term of court for Lee coun- ty the murderer. Sparks, was tried and sentenced to be hung in October, 1901 ' T..a t1a xrrffn # thn tfrdo oro1 negro, was also tried and received a sen tence of life imprisonment, she having turned states evidence.
 The attorney for Sparks took an appeal to the supreme court and the sentence was affirmed The attorney then took the case up again on a technicality and again the higher court sustained the de- cision of the lower court. This made three times the negro was given his death sen- tence.
 In Jail Three Years.
 He has been in jail three years and the fight to save his neck has been waged he- rolcally At the time of the arrest of Sparks public sentiment was high and fears of lynching were felt, but officers were diligent and the negro was landed in Jail safely.
 Much interest has been manifested all along in the case because of the dastard- ly deed and the good character borne by the murdered negro When it was learn ed that the habeas corpus proceedings had been granted by the judge at Mont gomery much surprise was expressed, but many doubted that anything would result from 1t other than has turned out. The last day on earth for Charles H. Sparks, the self-clalmed lawyer from Cincinnati, and the assassin of Jack In- gersol. dawned with dark and lowering clouds and pail fell over the entire scene around the jail. Crowds of curiosity seekers congregated in front of the jail. but no demonstration of any kind was made.
 This is the first hanging to take place In Lee county in many years.
 Scene Before Hanging.
 At about II 80 Sheriff Hodge and his several deputies began to prepare Sparks for the scaffold. The death watch had been set, and 1t was thrilling scene to the deputies, other court officials and the representatives of the press who were present. when the negro murderer made dash at Deputy Frank Perry, who was on the inside of the cell with him, and with knife as sharp as a razor, slash ed deep gash in Perry's throat, almost severing his jugular vein. From this 1t was seen that 1t would not do to take any chances with the criminal, for he was armed With Knife and was desperate. A half hour was spent in trying to sub due the prisoner and then only with ptchforks could be be subdued so as that he could be handcuffed and carried to the scaffold. After a time he was overpower- ed and immediately he was led away to his doom. It was 12:27 before the trap was sprung and the body of Sparks fell with dull thud. The physicians made quick examination and found 1t necessary to pull the body up again and it was given another drop. Even then 1t was thirty minutes before the physicians pro- nounced him dead.
 At least 5000 people had gathered around the jail Large crowds were here from Columbus and Phenix City, coming over on a special train. At one time when if was learned that Sparks had cut the throat of Perry the crowds on the outside became restless and excited. Things were