The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-09-04
TWICE A WEEK. 81 80 A YEAR
GREY DIES ON THE GALLOWs.
Murderer of Mr.. Clifford Paws the
Penalty for his Crime in Aiken
Jail Yard

AT twenty minutes past II O'Clock
Friday morning in the Aiken iail
yard, Luke Grey was hanged for the
murder of Mr. Clifford Woodward,
on Friday night. the Sd of February,
and twelve minutes afterwards he was
pronounced dead by Drs. w. G. r.
Turnbull and j. Frampton Wyman.
Grey faced death with remarkable
cooness. and the execution itself was
orderly and successful.
The condemned man spent his last
night on earth very quietly and slept
well. He got up early, ate a hearty
breakfast and talked with his fellow
prisoners. He was let out into the
corridor of the jail and went from
cell to cell. shaking hands with pris-
"nrrS. During the morning he was Wis,
tied by the Rev. T.. p. Mclean, pastor
of the First Baptist Church. and later
by colored minister. They both
prayed with him and he said he was
ready to die.
AT Hip Sheriff Raborn read the
death warrant, and then asked Grey
If he had anythin" to say. He said
he was ready to 90. and the death
march to the scaffnld began. Luke was
in the best of humor. and with Il firm
step he marched to the "allows be-
tween Jailcr Vernon and Deputy
Sheriff Busbee.
Hc took his place under the moose
and the sheriff again asked him if he
had anything to say. he Jail wall
and surrounding buildings were cover
"d with men. and Grey !; ,kcd up and
said: 'fou all think YOU are going to
see something, but YOU are not Just Il
poor negro taking his flight to Heav-
en-. flc told them he hoped to meet
them all III Heaven. and then told the
sheriff that he was ready and said
| goodbye. His arms and legs were
securely tied, and the black cap pull
ed over his head The moose was adj
justcd and twenty minutes past II
the drop fell. When the weight fell
to the ground the negro shot up in the
air. and then dropped few feet
! The neck was broken and the negro
made few movements. In twelve
minutes he was pronounced dead. and
IN Fifteen minutes he was taken down
and turned owe" to Undertaken Stan
ley,
The crime for which Luke Grey was
hanged was committed on the 81 day
Of February this year. Mr.. Clifford
Woodward. il merchant Of Montmor-
cnci. was in his store talking tn n
negro named Bob Caulcv when Grey
entered the store with gun i'm his
hand. He approached Mr.. Woodward
and asked him what he meant by in
Sulting his wife that morning. Mr..
Woodward told the negro he had not
spoken t" his wife. Grey insisted that
he had, and throwing up his gun said
he would shoot Mr.. Woodward =
brains out. Grey walked backward
toward the door. As Grey stepped
ont of the door he raised the gun aud
shot Mr.. Woodward, who fell forward
ont of the store into the street.
The only eyewitness, negro. tcSti-
fled that Mr.. Woodward had absolute
~ II" weapon, and when the people ON
| the street rushed in the scene they
saw II" weapon until they placed Mr..
| Woodward on the counter, and small
pen knife fell ont Of his vest pocket.
1t was not open. Witnesses for the
State testified that shortly before the
shooting Grey. with bis brnthcr-in-law.
Son Oliver. went to the store of Mr..
Gritty Woodward, Il brother Of Cliff
| Woodward. and rndcavorcd to pnr-
chase some shells. They could not
secure them, and they Immediately
proceeded to Cliff Woodward 5 store.
Grey going inside, while Oliver re-
manned outside at the window.