The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-17
THREE HANG
 AT DECATUR Negroes Pay Penalty For
 Their Grimes. SMITH, COLLIER, JACKSON Occasion the Cause of No
 Excitement. Moose Slipped on Neck of One of the Condemned Men, and the op- eration in His Case Was
 Repeated.

presence or about one hundred people, Harvey Smith, John Collier and Will Jackson, negroes, were hanged in Mor- gan County's jail this afternoon at 12;55 o'clock by Sheriff Wiggins, for murders committed a few months since.
 Smith and Collier paid the penalty for the murder of Miss Belle Blood- worth, while Jackson gave up his life for killing Sanitary Officer Steele.
 A crowd of several hundred people was about the court house and jail. but Torop D, of Birmingham, under com mand of Capt. Cliff Price, was on hand and not the least excitement took place.
 The Rallows was built in very nar- row place inside the jail. It resem- bled an elevator more than anything else.
 he prisoners, who have been in the county jail at Birmingham for safe keeping, were brought to Decatur on the Decatur accommodation. A special car was attached to the train for the Sheriff. his deputies. the prisoners, the Jefferson County deputies and the mil- itary. A wreck just outside of Birm- ingham made it necessary for the train to go around by Bessemer and 1t was noon when the crowd arrived here. An engine pulled the special car from New Decatur to a side track short dist ance from the jail. A heavy downpour
  CTS and party marched to the jail.
 No Disorder.
 About 300 citizens, mostly boys were around the place where the car stopped and followed the crowd, but there was no disorder whatsoever. The prisoners were carried inside the jail where the gallows had been built. Between eighty-five and 125 people, among them a few negroes, were admitted to the place. The prisoners were talked to by the people and many questions put to them.
 The Sheriff and his deputies went about preparing for the execution. Both Collier and Smith stated that they were innocent, that they did not kill Miss Bloodworth, and did not know anything about 1t. Smith said that he had been lied on, but hc held no malice against anyone. Collier said he was innocent and that an innocent man was to be hanged.
 Jackson said he killed Mir. Steele be- cause he (Steele) was about to kill him He said he was ready and willing tc die.
 Three negro preachers were admitted and they began praying with the con demned men. Boards were placed sc the men could walk to the gallows
 Smith went on first. After his legs were tied he was asked If he had any thing to say, and he replied: T am innocent; l know nothing of the mur- der" Then Jackson went on. He re- piled to the questions put to him that all he wanted to say was that he was ready and willing to die. Collier went on the gallows last: T am innocent, but I am willing to die" he said.
 The black cap was placed on the men and at 1255 the trap was sprung. The bottom of the elevator gallows went down with a loud noise. The body of Smith went to the floor. In few sec onds he was heard crying out T am free; I am free" He was picked up and while still crying out T am free, was carried up stairs again. In a few moments he became unconscious.
 Collier and Jackson hung thirteen and a half minutes before Drs. Sulli- van. Watson and Sherer pronounced them deads
 smiths First Fall.
 When Smith went down the knot be- came unwrapped. A bruise was made around his neck and the fall caused him to shortly lose consciousness. As soon as the gallows could be repaired the limp body was placed on the gall lows, leaning against the side post. The trap was sprung at 1:23 o'clock and he was dead in fourteen minutes.
 All three negroes asked before the execution for proper dlspoSlIlon ot their bodies. Collier requested that he be buried outside of Morgan County.
 The crowds outside the jail were giv- en an opportunity to see the bodies of the negroes after the hanging. The military returned to Birmingham on the accommodation train this afternoon. Not a single thing happened during the execution and barring the miscue in the case of Smith everything went on smoothly Sheriff Wiggins did every thing in his power to conduct the eX- ecution in q proper manner and he was successful.
 Among officers from other counties in attendance at the hanging were Sheriff ORear of Cullman and Deputy Dunlap; Deputies George Cousson, Cole and Mccoy of Birmingham.