The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1908-12-03
MURDERER PAYS PENALTY
WILL HERRIN, COLORED, HANG
ED IN SALUDA JAIL.
Condemned Apparently Didn't Realize
the Situation, and Met Death ..
Without Emotion.


Saluda, November 27.-At IL
O'Clock to-day Will Herrin paid with
his life the penalty of the law for
| the murder of Emanuel Carver IN
September. The execution was with
out a hitch. Only a very few min
utes were consumed in preparing the
prisoner for the drop. After ascend
| ing the scaffold, Sheriff Sample ask
ed Herrin if he desired to say any
thing. He merely mumbled word
or two to the effect that he had moth
ing to say. At no time did he seem
to realize what was awaiting him
and he met his fate without the least
emotion. He was pronounced dead
| in 10 minutes after the trap was
sprung and his body was laid in a
cheap coffin furnished by the county
and carried to the poor house Tor cu-
rial.
Rev. D. H. Grassland went to Her
rims cell this morning and conducted
q little service. The condemned man
manifested absolutely no interest In
it. While an effort was made to
shield the execution from the public,
scores from positions Of vantage wit
messed it.
There was large crowd about the
iail and on the streets but the best
Of order prevailed.
Story Of the Crime.
Will Herrin, who was hanged
here to-day, was tried before
Special Judge c. c. Featherstone
at special term of the ses-
sions court in October for the muir
der of Mr.. Emanuel Carver at his
home in September. The testimony
shot Mr.. Carver in the back while the
out any apparent cause whatever,
shot Mr.. Carver n the back while the
latter was picking cotton and, failing
to kill him, ran upon him, knocked
him down and beat him over the head
with his gun and left him dead. Mrs.
Carver was witness to a part of the
awful deed, she being in the house
when the shot was fred and running
to the door was horrfied to see her
husband down and Harris standing
over him, beating his head into a
pulp with gun.
AS soon as the news of the crime
was made known some of Carver's
peighbors went to the scene and soon
found Herrin a little distance away
and upon advancing on him to take
him into custody were met with
volley of curses and fred upon with
a stockless gun, he having broken
the weapon while beating Carver. One
of the party was sprinkled with shot
and the crowd in turn fred at Herrin
and affected his capture. For while
lynching was imminent, but cooler
counsel prevailed and the culprit was
turned over to the sheriff and brought
to Saluda and lodged in jail.
On two occasions crowd came
here to lynch Herrin, but were foiled
in their plans. Herrin was then car
ried to the State penitentiary for safe
keeping until the trial
Under the sentence fixing today for
the execution Judge Featherstone or
dered Herrin to be carried back to
the penitentiary, where he had been
kept until the day of execution
It will be recalled that petition
numerously signed was filed with
Governor Ansel requesting special
term of court for Herrin's trial,
which was granted.
There was a tremendous crowd
present to witness Herrin's trial, but
the best of order prevailed. The de-
fendant was the only negro in the
court house during the trial, except
the porter, and to all appearances
was the least disturbed by what was
taking place.
The only defense that could posi-
bly, have been made in Herrin's be-
half was insanity, and this question
was fairly submitted to the jury and
under the testimony no other verdict
than that reached could have been
returned.
Herrin was, however, of very low
order Intellectually.
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