Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-09-21
FIVE MEN SILVER
NEAR THE MOOSE
Unless the Governor Intervenes,
Sheriff Mangum Will Have to
Spring the Trap of the Gallows
Next Friday.

Roger Merritt, the negro sentenced to be
hanged Friday for assaulting young
white girl last July near the power plant
of the Georgia Railway and Electric COM
pany on Davis street, has been granted a
respite, Judge Roam signing a supersedeas
last Friday, the hearing being set for two
weeks from that day. His attorneys,
Shropshire & Boswell, furnished new evil
dence as to his character and another
witness to prove an alibi. Believing In
his innocence, his attorneys state they
will make a determined fight for his h1e'
and will take the case through all the
courts, If necessary.
This news was a surprise to Merritt.
When seen Monday morning by Journal
reporter he had heard nothing of 1t, and
had about given up all hope. He still
maintains his absolute innocence, but says
he isn't afraid to die.
This will make the second time within
the last two months the gallows at the
tower has been cheated, George Burge
having been granted a respite after being
sentenced TO hang July q. and the heavy
bag of sand used to stretch the rope then
is still hanging there.
MANY MURDERERS IN JAIL.
At, present the Jail has more prisoners
under death sentence than It has known
in years, there being no less than five
charged with capital offense.
Besides Merritt, there are John Harper
and George Burge, both white men, con-
victed of murder, and two negroes, WI
lard Webb. convicted of rape, and ]. B.
Kellogg, held for murder.
For John Harper. the mountaineel
from Fannin country. who has been SEN
fenced to hang next Friday for killing
sheriff in Spring Place, Murray county
nearly two years ago, there seems TO DC
little chance of his escaping the moose
He was brought to the Fulton county
jail for safe keeping OctOoer u year ago
and this is his eighth sentence. unless
respited he will be hanged In the county
where the crime was committed Friday,
September "a. He is 81 years old, and
has a wife and family in Fannin county,
About four months ago, he states he felt
a change come over him. and although
he had read the bible given him by some
church worker, he had not been able to
see the true meaning of salvation as he
has seen it since that memorable night
behind the prison bars of his CELL Since
that time he has read the Bible constant
", and can repeat AZ chapters from mem
DRY without once faltering; his favorite
chapter being the 23rd Psalm, which is
the first he heard. He also knows tnnu-
merable verses, and has read the New
Testament over a hundred times. He has
absolute faith in the teachings Of the
scriptures, and will not give up the hope
that he will be saved rom the death Of
a murderer.
George Burge, the other white man
charged with murder, occupies the same
tier with Harper and the two have be-
come fast friends. He Is convicted OF
numbering his wife near the Seaboard
shops about four months ago. He hopes
to escape the death penafty and his case
is now before the prison commission.
Willard Webb, the negro charged with
rape on a white girl near Smyrna, and
sentenced to hang Friday, the nth, is now
in the tower on a respite granted by the
governor, and his attorneys hope for a
new trial.