The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-15
ADAMS HANGS TO-DAY.
Still Affirms His Innocence. Is ADDar-
emily Undismayed and Sings With
Fellow Prisoners.

Today the negro Will Adams con-
victed of murder, will be hanged
between the hours of 10 a. m, and
D. m, in fthe yard at the back of the
Wake county Jail. The scaffold Is
there, the rope is in place, and at the
touch of the lever today the soul of
the condemned man will be launched
into eternity.
Adams has thus far maintained, af-
firmed and re-affirmed his innocence,
a last declaration being just at mid
night last night to reporter OF TINS
paper who saw him in his cell. Adams
was sleeping but was aroused Dy
Deputy Sheriff Steil, who with jailor
Parham formed the death watch, the
final night guard of criminals con-
demned to death. Only a few minutes
before Adams had fallen asleep,yet III
a few minutes his big white eyes, ac-
centuated by his black skin and the
inner darkness of his cell. cleaned out
upon the reporter. Being told there
was no chance for life, that his death
was close at hand. when he was ask
ed if he recognized this and had any
thing to say of the murder with which
he was charged he replied:
eyes, I believe what you white folks
saw and that I'm to die and / reck-
on its so. I can't help it, for I've told
the truth all the time. / don't know
who killed that woman, and l am m
nocent. You say | should not die with
a lie going with me, but / am not ~
ing. / did not kill her and l don
know a thing about it. I'm member
of the Christian church and I've toll
the truth
That's all he had to say, and soon
he was on his bunk again, sleeping
soundly. During the early part OF the
night he sang a number of songs with
the other prisoners and talked win
the death watch. He did not seem
worried but rolled out the songs ~
a deep voice. Death on the scaftold
has seemingly no ter-ors Tor hlh'
though he has told the jailer that he
has seen the scaffold through the win
dow.
One request he has made, and that
is that this morning he be given a Dig
eating of sausages as he is fond CT
these and this wish will be gratited.
The new clothes in which he IS 70 De
hanged have been bought, and these
viii be given him this morning about
nine O'Clock all being new, socks,
shoes. underwear, shirt, and a black
suit of clothes. The black cap Is
ready. and the flax rope, bought i'll
Cincinnati. is fixed for its terrible du-
ty.
j The trap is ready, the scaffold be-
ing at the back of the Jail, surrounded
bv n high fence, the only view above
this to be had being en- telegram
pole. Narrow steps lead up to the
scaffold and up this the sheriff, the
prisoner and some spiritual adviser
will 90 today The last words said
Adams face Will be hidden in the
black cap after he has been pInioned'
the moose adjusted, and his position
fixed on the trap door. Then the
sheriff will step back to the lever
handle, one pull at this viii come, and
all vii! soon b. over.
Yesterday Adams was visited by
his wife, who came with Rev II. Z,
Mabry, pastor Of the cOlored Presby-
terrain church. who has frequently
been with Adams. During the day
there were many calls on Sheriff Page
FOR tickets 10 the execution, but the
supply is exhausted. negro from
the country came. who was SO anxious
10 see the scaffold that he offered to
pay Jailer Parham to see it. first
offering five cents and then ten cents.
The crime for which Adams dies is
we'll known. 1t is for the killing of
Mary Bridgers, a negro woman. and
her two children OH the 22nd of jan
uary, 1904, the woman living with
her husband on a farm In St Mat
thews township. Two trials and two
appeals to the Supreme court have all
left him to his fate, and despite sew
eral respites and a close investigation
by Governor Glenn. no reason has
been found TO commute the sentence,
while the trial judge and the solicitor
decline to ask for a change In the
sentence. His last day has passed,
and today Will Adams life pays the
forfeit to the law which has declared
him guilty of triple murder, brutal
and wilfu!.
The hanging today will be the fifth
for Sheriff Page, the list being: Orren
Page, a negro, who murdered a negro
woman, east of Raleigh, hanged in
1898; George Mills. white, for the
murder Of his niece under horrible
circumstances, hanged in 1895; Jim
Booker, a negro, who shot negro
woman, hanged in 1898: Tom Jones.
a negro, who killed his paramour and
burned the house, hanged August 30.