The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-09
CONDEMNED NEGRO CHEATS GALLONS Booker Glass Killed by Deputy
 in Linden AWFUL STRUGGLE IN JAIL Negro Had Attacked Jsiler and Was Desperately Trying to Take His
 Pistol Away From
 Him.

Selma. January S--(SpeciaL)-Booker Glass, the negro who killed young J. F. Allen near Thomaston in Marengo coun- ty will not be hanged in the jail yard at Linden on Friday, January 19, as deereed by the court.
 His crime has been explated, but 1t was the bullet from a pistol in the hands of a deputy sheriff that saved him from the hangman's moose, the officer shooting to prevent the negro's escape and possibly the shooting of the jailor, John Glass.
 The killing occurred Sunday morning about o'clock in the county jail at Lin- den. John Glass, the jailor, went up the steps in the jail to the door of the cell in which was confined Booker Glass and Cap Dixon, both negroes and both sen- tenced to be hanged on Friday, January 19 for murder As the jailor opened the door Booker Glass sprang out at him. The shackles which had pinoned the legs of the negro together had been filed apart the steel from a pair of shoes having been the implement used. As the door swung open the negro with roar like lion leaped upon the jailor and the latter turned to slam the door but was too late. The negro caught him from behind and then as MT. Glass got out his pistol there came d tussel for the weapon. Mir Glass finally managed to pull the trigger once, his effort being to empty the weapon to insure against the desperate negro getting it from his grasp.
 How He Took Aliens Life.
 Booker Glass is a powerful negro and he had tusseled for the weapon in the grasp of young Allen and secured It before he fired the fatal shot that landed him in jail and would have dropped him from the gallows. This no doubt passed through the mind of the jailor and he held on to the weapon with death-lke grip. although the back of his hand was being ground Into the wall by the negro in order to prevent him from emptying it of the other cartridges.
 The report of the weapon was heard by Deputy Sheriff Newton Grant. He was engaged in shaving in his room in the jail. When he heard the report of the pistol evidently in the building, he laid down his razor and grabbing his pistol rushed up the stairs, the calls of the jailor coming to him as soon as he opened the door of the room and entered the hall. Rushing up the steps MT. Grant called to Booker Glass to desist from his struggle John Glass; the jailor, called him to shoot and shoot quick.
 'I might hit you if I shoot called out the deputy sheriff
 "Take the chance anyway came the answer back
 Fired When Body Turned.
 Just about then the jailor managed to whrl the negro around with supreme effort and MT. Grant fired He was stand ing two or three steps below the negro and the ball from his A struck Booker Glass about the hip bone and ranging up- ward passed a large artery, seyering it, and it is believed lodged in the heart The negro sank to the floor without word and died in a sitting posture. Cap Dixon, the other negro occupying the cell with Booker Glass and also fenced to be hanged at the same time with him, approached MT. Grant as he fired upon Booker Glass and he then fired one shot at Dixon the bullet strik- ing him along the side of the head, in- hcting flesh wound Dixon slunk back into the cell.
 
 stairs. John Glass having released him self from the clasp of the negro and talk ing up his razor began shaving again where he had left off.
 Tin Plates Over Heart. When Booker Glass body was being prepared for burial after the shooting 1t was found that he had taken two tin 1 plates in which his meals had previously i been served and bending them double had placed them inside his clothing over his heart to act as a shield in case he failed in his effort to escape.
 There seems to he sort Of pride among i negroes sentenced to be hanged in Ma i rergo county in escaping death on the i gallows Several have been known to 1 boast hpon being sentenced that they l would never be hanged. One of the Rich ! ardson negroes sentenced for killing Dr. i Fortescue cheated the gallows by hanging himself with a chain and another nearly 1 succeeded But for the prompt and cool action of Deputy sherin Grant it is likely i that Booker Glass would have made his escape. He Is a powerful negro and the hope of freedom lent him superhuman strength.