Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1906-11-18
STAYED THE MOOSE
BY WILD FIGHT
Could Not Take Negro Murderer
So From Cell to Gallows. -
HURLED BOTTLES AT JAILER

He Was Finally overpowensd by Mr..
John Barton, Who Acted With Re-
markabIe Bravery-Water Was Re-
sorted to, But In Vain.
Milledgeville, Ga, Nov 17.-Fight-
ing with the desperation of a man
who has nothing to lose, Minis Dev-
ereauX, a negro sentenced to hang
Friday between tn hours of 10 a. m .
and 2 p. m. kept at bay the sheriff
of this county and all available help
for nearly two hours, the execution
not being accomplished until one hour
after the time named in the sentence,
and not until nearly every means had
been exhausted including the pouring
on him for three quarters of an hour
'@of water from the fire hose of this
city.
Minis Devereaux has been what
Sheriff Prosser termed a good prison
er, giving no trouble during his con-
tinement in the county Jail. His
counsel, who were appointed by the
court to defend him, exhausted every
possible means to save him from the
gallows.
AT about 1 o'clock Friday a telegram
from the governor stated he would not
interfere or stay the sentence. Sher-
1H Prosser at about 1:15 o'clock went
into the enclosed hall that is between
the cage cells that comprise the mans
department of the county Jail, opened
the door to Devereaux's cell, the mid
die one of the left, and picking up the
clothes that Devereaux was to be ex-
ecuted in, said: Here, Minis, put
on these clothes" d"
The sheriff had just offered them
to him when Devereaux threw full
bucket Of water into his face, follow
ing it with the bucket, which missed
the sheriff, who stepped to one side.
This was followed by another buck
ct, and glass bottle, and another
bottle, which forced the sheriff out
OF the corridor between the cells, as
the sheriff did not wish to shoot him.
DeVereauX then threw himself on
the floor, making a gurgling noise
and no doubt wishing to give the i'm
preston that he was crazy. He also
soon afterwards cut his throat with
a piece of the glass bottle but did
not cut the large veins. He also
ground glass between his teeth, but it
is not believed he swallowed it.
The retreat of the sheriff left Minis
in possession of his cell and the corri-
dor between the cells. How to get
hold of him was the question, as it
soon developed that he had a large
supply of glass bottles which he
threw with so much force that they
broke against the steel cage with a
report like pistol shot that could be
heard for half a block, Minis soon
showed that it was his purpose to put
up desperate fight. The glass from
the bottles would fly in the faces of
any who approached the side of the
cage. He also took possession of two
large locks to his cell door, heavy
enough to crush down man, and In
his hands a deadly weapon. He
weighed 1870 pounds and was strong
and muscular, The city water works
was then tried and the fire hose at
tached to plug, but he would escape
the water by going from the cell to
the corridor. After quarters
of an hour, with the Jail 4 inches
deep in water, it was given up as
Intellectual
Fortunately the trial of the water
works brought to the Jail Mr.. John A.
Burton, the local superintendent. He
divided the hose, and Devereaux
smashed at him four of his bottles
while the water was on, but the fail
ure of water only made Mr.. Burton
more anxious to secure the man. He
opened the corridor and made feint
as if to enter, causing Devereaux to
let fly at him one of his bottles and
one heavy lock. Both failed to touch
Mr.. Burton, who is a trained athlete
and as brave as men get to be. Bur-
'SAA hNp| hlO CJ Z OA1 tue HSSIOy WdICQ-
ing chance to spring the 16 or 18
feet to the cell door by which Deve-
FeauX was standing Men had been
sent to the blacksmith shop to have
large iron hooks made, hoping they
could be put through the cage to hold !
the prisoner until others could run in
and lay hands on him.
These had not come, but while Mr..
Burton and Devereaux were watching
each other like cats, some one on top |
OF the cage let down a piece Of rope
that for second attracted his atten-
ton. He reached up an arm to
snatch it. In an instant. Mr.. Bur
ton sprung half the distance between
them. Devereaux recovered and let |
drive his heavy lock, which would |
have struck Burton between the eyes
had he not ducked down, never stop
ping his headlong plunge, and be-
fore DevereauX could use another bot |
tie he had him by the throat. Bur |
ton was followed by Jim Ennis and
Brad EchOls. Devereaux was over |
powered, securely tied and brought |
upon the trap.
He asked to pray, and was given |
opportunity. At three minutes to 8 |
o'clock the trap was sprung, his neck |
breaking, dying without struggle, |
thus ending one of the most remark |
able executions ever known in this |
section Of the state.
AttelI Wins Decision.
San Diego, Cal, Nov. 17.-Abe
Attell was given the decision over |
Billy Dacoursev at the end of the 18th |