Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1910-08-31
Il WILL DIE AT HOME.' -
Says Murderer Allison as He PIunges
Knife Into His Throat.

Ao'iAAo aug ~ Doep poAd be'
ly determined nos to be the first
man from Buncombe county te
die in the electric chair at Raj.
eigh, James B. Allison, the slay.
or of Floyd MoGee. and under
sentence to die February "a, made
a vigorous effort to cut his throat
in the county Jail this morning
shortly after 6 O'Clock when in
formed by officers to get ready
for the trip to the State capital.
The attempt at suicide was un-
successful, although the condemn
ed man did succeed in cutting a
cash in his throat probably one
and one.half inches deep and four
or five inches in length. Allison s
effort to end his life in Buncombe
rather than i'll tho electric chair
at Raleigh was made in the pres
ence of the sheriff of the county
and two deputies. 1t was per-
haps the coolest and most care
fully planned and determined at
tempt to frustrate the mandates
Of the law in the history of North
Carolina.
Allison made no secret during
the last few days that he would
die rather than 60 to Raleigh to
be- electrocuted; he hesitated be-
tween two courses: To attack
the officers when they went to
take him out of the cell for the
ride to Raleigh and force one of
them to kill him, or end his life
with his own hand. Hs chose the
latter method. but in this he fail
ed to succeed. Allison realizes,
and has realized since the jury re-
turned it's verdict. that he is q
doomed man. Albeit he is cool,
calm ond determined; he has no
repentanie; he looks upon death
as the inevitable and evidently
cares little what will become of
his soul when life is extinct. He
is simply desperate man; man
who has made up his mind that
he has but one time to die ald
that he doesn't propose that the
| State of North Carolina shall
max show of him and snuff out
the spark of life with the electric
current.
| Sheriff Hunter in company with
Deputy Sheriff Williams and Dep
uty Sheriff Mitchell went to the
county Jail about 6 O'Clock this
morning for the purpose of re-
moving Allison from the Jail and
taking him to Raleigh on the early
morning train. When the officers
made their visit to All1son's cell
and notified him that he was to
60 to Raleigh, the prisoner made a
smiling reply apd requested that
he be permitted to change Ills
shirt and collar before making
the journey. Allison at the time
was in a separate cell and the key
to the door of that cell was in the
possession of Mr.. Mitchell. The
quiet and unassuming manner of
prisoner and his evident decision
to 90 to Raleigh without trouble
for the moment disarmed the
officers and removed any suspicion
that Allison meant trouble. Sher-
iff Hunter directed that Mr.. Nit
chell 90 up town aud purchase the
requested shirt and collar. Alli-
son walked to the rear of the cell
and Mr.. Mitchell turned to leave
the building. Instantly Allison
drew from some place, probably
his mouth, a penknife with a
keen blade about one and one.half
inches in length. He threw his
head back and made a vicious
lunge at his throat. Some pris-
oner in another cell nearest Alll-
son cried out that the man was
cutting his throat.
Quickly Mr.. Mitchell turned
and iammed the key into the lock
swung tack the heavy iron door,
threw the lever and Sheriff Hun.
ter and Mr.. Williams rushed in
During these few seconds Allison
was standing with head thrown
back and digging at his throat
with the knife Hs failed to reach
the iugular vein, however, how
ever, before being ovsrpowsred
Sheriff Hunter, upon reaching the
, man with Deputy Williams at his
J side, grabbed the upraised arm Of
the condemned man and his knife