The Forrest City times., 1906-11-30
DOC ROGERS HUNG
Ascended the Scaffold With out Tremor, and Said He Was Going to
 Heaven.

the negro. Frank tDocsl Rogers, con- yicied of murder at the September term of the St. Francis circuit court was hung.
 The crime for which the negro paid the death penalty was most atro- cious one. He was the father of child by his stepdaughter. When he heard that the child was born. Rogers was working the road. He went 10 his home as quickly as possible and demanded the infant. and when asked what lie meant to do with it, said: "It is mine and l can do what 1 please with it." He snatched the child up and carried it into cotton patch about two hundred yards from his dwelling, where he murdered it. Later in the day he buried the body with his own hands.
 A physician who visited the woman reported to the authorities that some thing was wrong and upon inyestiga- tion the revolting details of the crime were brought out as stated above. The only plea that could be made in the negro's defense was insanity. He was considered little better than brute, and was thought by many to be half witted and irresponsible, un- able really, to understand the awful gravity Of his deed He was negro Of the lowest type.
 The scaffold was built the first of the week by Contractor Monroe, of this city, and the rope with the hang mans moose already tied was received Thursday from Sheriff Ford, Of Ma rianna. It has been in use for thirty years. and has been stretched al many necktie parties in this section of the state. II was the same rope with which Si Tanner was hung at .his place four years ago.
 Jailer swan has kept the prisoner under close surveillance since his con viction. and when Rogers was seen in his cell this morning by the writer he was securely manacled both hand and foot. The negro Lad admitted his guilt on two or three occasions. When asked his age, Rogers said that he was about forty-two years old, but he looked ten years older. When asked if he had anything 10 say for publica- tion, the negro said: Tell them all, am ready to go. feel that l have gotten forgiveness for my crime. Have made my peace with the Lord and expect to make my home in heaven. "
 The negro talked in a rambling sort of fashion, but did not seem in the least perturbed over the prospect of death. Mir. John M. Davis, special deputy, who kept the death watch last night, said the prisoner slept well all night, waking only once about ? o'clock to take a smoke, after which he went 10 sleep again.
 In speaking of the execution this morning, Jailer Swan said that if all the negroes in this county, who were guilty of killing babies could be appre- hended and hung there would not be enough lumber left to build their collins.
 Early this morning the streets be- gan to fill with negroes all anxious to have look al the condemned man, and see the execution. IL seemed like an endless chain as they wended their way to and from the jail. Several white persons also took view of him.
 Religious service were held in the jail on Wednesday by Rev. s. M. Bal lard and k. Carter of the C. NJ. E. Church and Tom Barnes of the Mis- sionary Baptist Church, and again this morning by the first two minis ters.
 At l2:50 the condemned man was led from his cell to the scaffold in the rear of the jail by Sheriff Williams and Deputies Sam Swan and J. T. Johnson. He ascended the scaffold without tremor, and when the al- lotted number had gained admission, Sheriff Williams called upon Rev. Carter to offer prayer, which he did, in beautiful language and most inn pressiye manner.
 Rogers was then led to the door and talked for about eight minutes to the thousand or more persons who had congregated about the scaffold He said he had made his peace with God and warned them that this should be an object lesson to all.
 He said: "I did not kill the infant, but l took it from the house. and when l came home that night buried it. ' He did not say how the infant lost his life, and offered no explana- ti0n. His half hearted denial of the killing, was plainly contradicted by his rambling talk and manner, and the statement that he hoped others wold take this as warning. He then