The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-15


was a crowd. over the Jail fence on
Salisbury street there could be seen
boys and men on the tops of houses,
while two men up high on telegraph
pole kept the small boys from
climbing this Into the enclosed
space with its high fence back of the
Jail the prisoner and officers passed,
the crowd within the Jail yard press
ing close behind the officers. The
small space within was filled, and up
the narrow steps to the scaffold
ty Sheriff c.. NJ Walters. Deputy
j. P. Stell with Adams, Preachers
Mabry and Carrigan, while there were
also on the scaffold as assistants.
Nathaniel Warren, 7. E. Daniel and
j. 7 HarWood.
Il Did Not Kill"
Just here Adams asked to speak to
Mr.. Elmer Shaffer, one of his attor-
neys. and Mr.. Shaffer went on the
platform of the scaffold, stepping to
one side with Adams, the prisoner
talking to him. When Mr. Shaffer
descended he stated that Adams had
said TO him: please, Mr.. Shaffer, see
that my wife gets my body. AS the
last thing L have to say, l say that
1 did not kill Mary Bridgers and her
daughter. | declare that's the truth.
have no hard feelings against any
body in the world, who had anything
to do with my trial, and 1 feel good
towards all"
Here Rev. Mabry read from the
Psalm, beginning,
Lord, made me to know mine end"
at the completion of which Rev. Car
rigan led in prayer, saying. Father,
| stretch out my hands unto Thee, no
other help l know, thou art my sole
/ am weak and Thou art
mighty. There is one here to be exc
cuted and oh, Lord, receive his
spirit into rest and into the land of
plenty in a place prepared. Grant
Lord. that Thou wilt take him and
give him rest in the paradise of the
saved. Grant Thy blessings to those
who have tried to save him, and to
those in authority. To Thee We COM
mend the soul of this one"
Adams was seated on a chair on
the scaffold as the preachers began
to sing, There's Land that is Fairer
than Day" Just then there was the
loud sound of falling bodies, crum-
bling, and shouts of laughter from
the crowd on Salisbury street, which
could not see into the enclosure. a
brick chimney on a house opposite,
about which chung many boys, had
fallen, and the boys rolled off and into
the yard. The noise without ceased
as the music of the hymn was heard,
and in this singing Adams Joined
heartily, his voice ringing clear and
steady, nearly all WITHIN the enclosure
singing. AS the song progressed
Adams rocked his chair back and
forth, his eyes bright and cleaning.
The singing over the two preachers
and Adams in concert repeated the
Lords prayer. This ended, Rev. Ma
bry said, Good bye. l hope to meet
you in glory. Go there with the truth
0r your lips" Adams nodded and
shook hands with Mabry and Carri-
gan and these left the platform.
Death the End.
This was at 1924 and the rest was
quick Adams rose from his chair
md with steady step, Deputies Walters
and Stell on either side, walked to
The outer edge of the trap, directly
lnder the hanging moose. His hands
we're pinioned behind him, his legs
being tied together at the knees and
ankles. The black cap was adjusted
adams all the while chewing gum,
md the moose fixed, the knot back
IF the right ear. Scarcely had Depu-
les Walters and Stell completed this
when. at 1896, Sheriff Page pulled
he lever, releasing the bar that held
he trap door in place and the body
lrdpped five and q half feet. There
was not a tremor as the mans neck
had been broken in the fall. Six and
4 half minutes after, his pulse had
ceased to beat and he was pronounced
dead by DR.. j. w. MCGEE, Jr. and DIR.
w. c. Horton, who We're in attendance.
Ia -. olaf 10Th
muscular movement below the knees
was noticed. AT 10:46 the body was
aiken down by assistants of Under
.aker Strickland and taken to his
place where preparations were made
for the burial in Mount Hope Gene
.ery, the mans widow seeking funds
from charitable citizens for the fun
aral preparations.
Just as the body was being placed
in the undertaker's wagon at the back
Of the Jail yard, the fire alarm was
heard. and this scattered the big
crowd. Many, however. insistent in
heir curiosity, followed the wagon to
he undertakers so as to eaten
glimpse of the dead man.
In the sheriff's office the formal
signing of the return to the deatn
warrant was done by Sheriff Page, in
this return the names OF the thirty
five witnesses being placed as required
by law The rope was brought from
the scaffold and placed in the iron
safe, and the end of Will Adams on
this earth had come to pass.
The funeral will be held this after
noon at three o'clock from the home
Of Ella Adams, on west South street,
and will be conducted by Rev. IL. Z.
Mabry. The burial will be in Mount
Hone Cnmetery
The Murder Done.
The crime for which Will Adams
was hanged was committed on the %
of January, 1904, in st. Matthew's
township, when a negro woman, Mary
Bridgers and her young daughter,
Lille Bridgers, were killed with an
axe A little son, George Bridgers,
was also wounded, but recovered. The
husband of the woman, Robert
returning to his home from
finally found the bodies with
the aid of friends. Suspicion fell on
viii Adams, who had lately come
into the neighborhood from South
Carolina. He was arrested, and on
evidence was found
guilty of murder in the first degree
early in April. 1904. being sentenced
to be hanged on May Gath, this by
Tu6ua George RI Brown Jr An an