The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-27
ADAMS IS RESP|TED.
But no lntimatiOn of a
Communication.
Governor Believes in Giving the Poor
est Negro in the State as Much
Justice as the Richest White
Man..

A respite of twenty days was
granted by Governor Glenn yesterday
to Will Adams, the negro convicted of
murder. The Governor said that an
urgent appeal was made to him by
the attorney for Adams, who argued
that he had written to the trial judge,
Hon Fred Moore and had been I'M
able to receive an answer to his let
ter. The application for the respite
was made by W. E. Snow, ESQ.
The Governor said that he respited
Adams because he desired to give the
attorney for the convicted man am
pie time to deliver his arguments for
"A communication and he was willing tf'
hear the cause. This, however, the
Governor said. may not be construed
as the least intimation that Adams
will not be executed Monday, August
Il. 1t would not be fair for the poor
old negro, he said, to be denied the
last possible opportunity of saving his
life which does not conflict with the
law-this being the possibility of the
criminals attorney securing letter
from Judge Moore recommending L
communication.
Adams. it seems. Except for the
clemency of Governor Glenn he would
today have been swung out to his
eternal death at the end of q, muir
der's rope. The gallowS were in read1-
ness, the sheriff was prepared to pun
the trap, but the man, SO far as his
spirit was involved, was not ready for
death. Ministers of the gospel had
labored with him. without final sue.
cess, but possibly not in vain. Rev.
DR. A. H. Moment, Rev. r. S. Steven
son and Father Griffin had visited him,
and carried him the bread and water
of life. Several colored ministers had
also called on him at his cell.
Communication Improbable.
Governor Glenn said that he will
not interfere with the death sentence
unless the prosecuting solicitor anC
trial judge recommend mercy or e
Communication. 1t was said yesterday
(but could not be confirmed, as So
licitor Armistead Jones is out of the
city) that the prosecuting solicitor
had already refused absolutely to in
terfere. and had furthermore stated
that the facts and evidence produced
at the two trials convicted the man
beyond a reasonable doubt,
though the evidence was most
ly circumstantial. 1t is also
understood that former attorney of
Adams had received a letter from
Judge Moore, who declined to recon-
mend a Communication. 1t was said.
too. that the attorney had written to
the trial jury, appealing to them to-
recommend executive clemency, but
that the trial jury had done nothing
in the matter.
MIR. Snow, the attorney for Adams.
would not make a statement yester-
day in regard to the case.
Adams himself refuses to confess.
He declares he is innocent and yet
tells the story that was given out
months ago, that he did not go to
the woman's home, where the crime
was committed. with intent of either
murder or robbery, but that he had
been found there by the woman's
husband, behaving himself Improperly
in the home of the married man,
and that he had been run away by
the enraged negro. He did not know
what happened afterwards. he said,
until after he had been arrested, when
the story of the murder was first told
him.
The Murder
Raleigh was Mortified January 23rd,
last year. by one of the most out
rageous crimes that has ever been
committed in this vicinity. On the
afternoon of January END, Mary
BrldgerS, negro woman, and her
young children had been left at home
by the woman's husband George
BridgerS, a very respectful colored
farmer When he returned home he
found that his family had been set
Upon and terribly mangled by an UNI
known person, and the woman did not
live long after having received her
wounds. Suspicion attached direct
~ to Will Adams, a negro who had