The Green Forest tribune., 1910-01-28
DOUBLE HANGING AT oscEo1A.
Condemned Negroes Make Speeches
 Tel.ng of Murder Committed.

Osceola.-Win and Charles Mullins, negroes, were publicly hanged here in the courthouse yard in the presence of 5000 people, for the murder of Mrs Josie Cummings and Alexander Rob ertson, her father, on a boat near Shawnee, this county, December 6, 1909. Both made speeches from the scaffold in which they told the details of the crime, Charles speaking first and Will sanctioning everything he said. Sheriff c. B. Hall conducted the hanging and sprung the drop at 2:34 o clock. Charles Mullins lived three minutes and Will Mullins six. Their bodies were cut down and turned over to the negro population for burial.
 In his talk Charles Mullins stated that he was not related to Will Null lins, but had been working side by side with him for a year. They had often discussed their condition, and if nally had reached the conclusion that there was an easier way to get through the winter than by working. Their plan was to rob the whisky boat oper- ated by Cummings, the husband of their victim. Having decided upon this they carried it into effect, and no one knowing of their intentions.
 They went to the boat with the pur- pose of buying quart of whisky, and found Mrs. Cummings and MT. Robert son on board. The latter was dressed, but he was taking a hot footbath. Will Mullins asked Mrs. Cummings to sell him quart of liquor, and she said she would if he would row her across the river to make the sale, which he did. Charles Mullins remained on the boat talking to old man Robertson, who con- tinued his laying.
 On the return of Mrs. Cummings and Will Mullins the latter made some re- marks which led Mrs. Cummings to be- lieve that violence was about to be used. She thereupon started for her gun and Will Mullins drew his pistol and shot her dead.
 Holding her father at bay, the ne- groes searched the boat for money, turning every article over and finding only $5.11 in pocketbook under the quilt on the bed
 This part of their job done, and a witness to. the crime still being alive, Will Mullins said to Charles: Have you lost your nerve?0 Charles re- piled that he had not, and asked for the gun. He took deliberate aim at the covering, pleading old man and shot him to death.
 Thinking to cover up the traces of their crime they set fire to the boat and fled. It did not burn up and they were soon detected, brought here and tried and convicted on December IS, 1909. No appeal was taken.
 When Charles had finished his state ment Will Mullins was given the floor, and he spoke briefly and to the point. "Charles has told you exactly how it happened" he said. He then went on to tell about his criminal record, how many close places he had been in, how often he had been shot at and had used his gun, and how on one occasion he had been cut. He had as many names as there were colors in Joseph s coat a working name, fighting name, voting name, wedding name and sey- eral aliases.
 Will had no oratorical name, and when his first wind gave out he drop ped to his knees and Charles followed him, each praying for the other, and both delivering their souls into the care of the Keeper of Souls.