The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-15
Will Adams Declares In
nocence to the End.
HE JOINS IN SINGING
Murder Of Mary Bridgers Avenged by
the Law in Wake County Jail Yard
Yesterday When Doomed Negro
Met His Death With the St0i-
cism of the Indian.

The law violated, and life taken.
Will Adams, the negro convicted OF
the murder of Mary Bridgers, a negro
woman and her young child in Janu-
airy, 1904, yesterday morning paid the
forfeit of his life, and with declara-
ton of innocence on his lips passed
into eternity
Back of the awful horror of death
by judicial order the event was a
simple one The prisoner comes
from his cell, his death warrant is
read to him. the procession with
prisoner and officers leading. passes
from the Jail to the scaffold, up the
narrow steps it goes, the prisoner
calls for his attorney to make last
statement of innocence. the attendant
preacher read the Word. the prison
er unites with them in song ana re-
peats the Lords prayer. good pye
are said, the prisoners limbs are
pinioned, the black cap hides his
face and shuts out life. the moose Is
adjusted the trap is sprung and then
death.
Will Adams went TO his doom I'M
moved so far as the world could see.
The agonized screams of his young
wife as she saw him in his cell, re-
peated as he passed from her sight
going to the scaffold, the spiritual ad-
vice of preachers of his race. the
curious pressing crowd, the shouts OF
the multitude shut out from the maj
act, the last consolation of GOD
word none of these moved him. ana
with the echo of a religious song on
his lips, without murmur or tremOr ne
stepped unaided upon the trap, gaZed
with untroubled eyes at the crowd I'LL
the sight was shut out, and with the
impassiveness of a wooden image
dropped as the trap fell. and with but
a slight twitching at the final end the
breath of life went out into space
and back to the Creator.
About the Jail yard great crowd
had gathered long before ten O'Clock,
while whiting the Jail enclosure were
many officers of the law. and the
thirty-five men granted tickets, these
to act as witnesses. Without the en-
closure the crowd of curious increased
constantly and the murmur of the
voices made its way into the Jail.
gan, TWO colored preachers were of
fering last words of spiritual help.
In the sheriff's office Adams wife.
with but Il few cents in money, TINS
i'm her handkerchief. was making re-
quest that the dead body be turned
over to her, the while presenting a
letter just >-eceiVed from the con-
demned man. asking her to do this
the letter containing a declaration Of
innocence in the words: Mother /
done 20 one harm on the outside
You all won't be ashamed. don't
know a thing about it.
Wido.y Gets Body.
The promise being given to Ella
1T iva q
body. Undertaken G.. A. Strickland
agreed to prepare it for burial. Then
the wife asked for 4 last visit to her
husband, and quietly vent into the
iail AS she turned the corner or
the cell and sew Adams in his new
clothes, she shrieked and screamed
in 4 paroxysen of agony. crying out:
-"Oh, Jesus. I cant bear it. God have
mercy on me-" Her form swayed as
she SCREAMED. and about the floor
rolled the pennies and nickels from
her handkerchief, while the colored
preachers supported her and led her
from the Jail.
The preachers Mabry and Carrigan
returned to Adams. who was asked by
a reporter of this paper if. at this
last moment he had anything to say
In response he answered: II don't
know who killed her. l did not and
am clear OF lIldl ain I1Ol SoiIS ~
God with a lie | am Christian and
hope to be saved up yonder.' Left
with the preachers there was prayer
and song in which Adams joined, till
the sheriff and his deputies brought
the condemned negro in the corridor.
This was at eighteen minutes past ten.
and here il was that Deputy Sherlff
Walters read the death warrant,
clearly and distinctly.
While this was going on ADAMS
stood with his old felt hat on his mead
this in striking contrast with the dark
blue of his new suit. His hands on
his hips, his jaws working as he cheW-
ed piece of gum, he listened calmly,
looking occasionally from the window
at the busy life on Martin street seen
beyond the Federal building. AS the
reading ended he was asked if there
was ANY statement you desire TO
make To this he answered Vacantly,
ANY statement ! have to make?' and
then "All l have to say is what I've
already said" Then as to prayer he
said he wanted this on the .scaffold,
and also some singing.
Out through the cell door the party
passed. Adams with Deputy Sheriff
.Stell by his side leading. AS he ap-
peared at the open door and stepped
out there was a wild screaming and
crying from the court hous steps be-
yond the enclosure, and again the