The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1905-02-17
His Neck Was Not Broken and
He Strangled to Death.
Killed n Wbdc Man and Robbed Him
In the Fair Grounds There Of
His Money.
THE STORY OF THE CRIME.

greensboro. KY, Feb. 17.--Roy
Green, colored. was hanged this
morning for the murder of James
Coomes. His neck was not broken,
and Green died in eleven minutes,
OF strangulation.
Green made a confession. and said
that whlskey caused the deed He
was eighteen years old, and was well
educated for a negro. and a good mu-
stefan.
He met death stoically. lie seem
ed never to realize that he was go
ing to die. and up to the last was
composed and cheerful.
He made two confessions before
the day set for his execution, and ex-
onerated anyone else from compile
ity.
Green's crime was committed for
the purpose of robbery. James
Coomes, the victim, came to Owens
boro from Webster County, KY, for
the purpose of seeking a location.
Two days afterward he fell in with
Green. and inquired the direction of
a place to which he desired TO go.
Green offered to conduct him, and
did so. The errand finished. Green
waited for Coomes, and the latter
being intoxicated was led to the fair
grounds, where he fell asleep. Green
had seen him display money, and led
him to the secluded spot with the in
tentlon of killing him. Selecting as
his weapon a piece of board about
four feet long. he struck Coomes,
crushing his skull with the first blow.
He then continued his work until he
was sure that his victim was dead.
At the first blow a long splinter was
broken from the board, and the muir
derer drove this through Coomes'
throat. and fastened ii to wall with
a nail. He then rifed Coomes' peck
cts, securing about $40, after which
ne returned TO the city. Meeting
friend he asked for assistance in
cleaning his clothing, explaining the
blood and dust on them by saying
that he had had a fight with man
at the fair grounds over game of
cards, and displaying the money said
that he had won 1t from the man
with whom he had the fight Green
then exchanged clothes with his
brother, and that night left the city.
The body was discovered the next
day. Monday. August, /, by Joe
Chamberlain and George White.
White claimed to have seen the body
on the afternoon of the day before,
and the two men told conflicting
stories. They were held by the cor
oner,. but Immediately afterward the
evidence of Green's guilt burst on
the authorities, and the search for
him began. IL was learned that he
went to Evansville. Ind, where he
remained for two days, On Angus
~ he was captured in Louisville aud
brought to greensboro, On account
of fear of mob violence an examining
trial was held on the train, at which
Green confessed his crime. He was
taken to Henderson for safe keeping,
and was brought back in September
for trial. lie was ably defended, and
pleading that his confession was eX-
torted by fear, made hard fight,
proving an excellent character by
many substantial witnesses, but the
eircumstantial evidence convinced
the jury of his guilt, and In less than
IS minutes the death penalty was ad-
Judged against him. The court OF
appeals affirmed the judgment OF the
lower court, and Governor Beckham
fixed the date of his execution, Green
professed religion several weeks ago
and from that time became a student
of the Bible, besides indueing the
other prisoners in the jail to abstain
from the use of profane Language,
Until the last day he would neither
deny or affirm his guilt in positive
terms, saying that he would not 81
10 heaven with a lie on his lips, and
nothing else would do him any coed
on earth.