The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-10
jim WALKER DIES
ON THE SCAFFOLD
NEGRO WHO MURDERED WILLIAM
D. HILL, A MERCHANT OF OK
MooR-THE CRIMINAL MAKES A
DYING CONFESSION.

Jim Walker Jr., the negro youth con-
vcted of the murder of William d. Hill,
an Oxmoor merchant, was legally hang
ed yesterday morning in the yard of the
county jail, In accordance with the SEN
tence pronounced by Judge Dan A.
Greene of the criminal court some weeks
ago The negro's neck was broken and
he was pronounced dead II minutes after
the drop was sprung.
The negro was awakened at the usual
hour yesterday morning. He ate break
fast especially prepared for him. He af-
forwards thanked the sheriff for it. He
was given. religious advice and consola-
tion by four negro preachers, who re-
NAMED with him until the scaffold was
reached. At one time it appeared the
negro would lose the nerve" with which
he had been sustained the past few days,
but the weakness lasted but a moment or
two, and thereafter he was as cool as any
of the spectators. The trap was sprung
at 1871, and at 10 AZ the announcement
was made by DR.. J. T. Odom that the heart
had ceased to beat. The body was then
turned over to Lige 10y and prepared for
burial.
The following statement copied exactly
as it was written. was read on the stand
by the negro, and is printed at his re-
quest, made Wednesday night to re-
porter of The Age-Herald:
''Jim Walker kill William d. Hall by
shooting him with a gun So sorry that
] did him like l did. Now the Lord have
forgive me for what | have done after
killing him, and taking 22$ and 10 cents
from him. My father is not guilty; he
had nothing to do with it and why |
said he had something to do with it
meant-Cull said my father turn me up
and | am sorry that | taken Mr. Hill's
life. I taken him from his little children
and left them without a father or mother.
l am sorry that j kill him, but the Lord
have forgiven my and | am going home to
rest. The way 4 kill Mr. Hill / am will
ing to die for It. | do hope this will be
a warning to all boys white and black,
and never take that which you cannot
give without 1t is in self-defense.
! did not have no reason to kill Mr..
Hill for Dear ones, you see how / am.
i am here left alone to dangle at the end
of this rope for the crime | have done.
/ have told untruths all the way through
about Mr.. Hills death. So this is all L
will say, l am going to rest, goodbye
to all.
This is the last I want to say is my
father who | said was with me is inno-
cent and is wrongfully being punished,
and | hope that the state will be with
him and release him as | am the guilty
one. He knowed nothing about it. He
was al home on the second Saturday of
April, down with neuralgia. He knowed
nothing about 1t until | told him that
had kill Mr.. Hill in the woods between
his house and the commissary and taken
his money from him, and / said now
father | am going away. l left home and
come to Birmingham where | remained
until 6 o clock the next day; then l taken
train and got off at Maplesville and
walked to Plantersville. There | met my
cousin and went to Dallas county where
l remained until the sheriff arrested me.
/ hope every one will believe me for this
is the truth. Hope you all will remember
my poor old aged father who is innocent
and is serving life imprisonment. Very
truly,
(Signed) Jim WALKER