The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-12-22
HANGED FOR MURDER.
Clarence Ham Dies on the Scaffoid
at Florence.

convicted as an accomplice in the
murder of Mr.. Eiihu NJ. Moye on
Friday evening, October %, at the
Iatter's home, near Ebenezer, and
sentenced to hang on the 18th day
of December, was brought from the
county Jail and mounted the death
scaffold, upon which he made his last
confession before the death trap was
sprung and he was hurled into etern>
ity.
The death warrant was read at
10:1s1k by sheriff T. S. Burch. I'm
nediately after reading of the
death warrant, Ham was asked if he
had any statement to make. He
said:
"Gentlemen, here T am fixing to
leave you ALL l will leave you all in
the hands of the Lord. I am ready
to die and l am going home to God.
| submit to the crime of which l am
guilty, but I will tell you all the
truth about it. 1 know nothing more
than what l have said He con-
tinued repeating his words several
times, which were practically the
same as his confession when tried on
November %, but much shorter.
Negro's Last Words.
Hams last words to-day were: 81
don't want my body buried in the
grave yard. I don't want my body
carried off in a wagon If my people
are not able to get hearse, l want
you white people to help them.
Young men don't continue in the
path of sin; change and follow your
Lord" (He paused; silence pre-
vailed everywhere.) Starting again,
he said: 'Is my brother here?" He
was told that his brother was not
present. "Well," he said, II will tell
you all goodbye. Will Rev. Taylor
lead us in prayer?"
After prayer Deputy Harrel placed
the black cap over his head and
tied his feet. One of the colored
ministers said, Goodbye, Clarence,
God have mercy upon your soul, I
and in response he said, goodbye
ALL
Exactly at 1889 o'clock the death
trap was sprung by Sheriff Burch.
DR.. King pronounced Ham dead at
1852.
Brave for a Time.
Ham was brave and didn't finch
until he was told to stand under the
rope. To this he looked at the crowd
and then slowly moved under the
rope, which DEPUTY Harrel placed
around his neck.
In the jail just before the execu-
tion Ham asked to see his mother,
but she was sick and could not come
to bid him farewell. Two of his sis
tiers were admitted and conversed
with him about twenty minutes.
The Rev. j. T. Taylor and the Rev.
w. S. Thompson, colored ministers,
talked with Ham this morning, and
he continued to assure them that he
was ready to die. After the execu-
ton these two ministers took up col
lection to help cover burial expenses.
The streets were packed with people
of all hues, even some climbed tele-
phone poles to get glimpse of the
execution. After the negro was pro-
nounced dead all were admitted to
see the body.
Sheriff Burch had sworn in about
forty or fifty special deputies in case
there might be trouble, but all pass
ed of quietly.
Story of the Crime.
On Friday evening, October %,
Mr.. Elihu M. Moye and Mr. Howard
Cole attended preaching atTimmons-
Vile and returned home at about II
o'clock. Mr. Moye got out of the
buggy at his residence and Mr.. Cole
drove on to his own home, which is
about half mile further. Mr.. Moye
entered his home and met his fate.
From all appearances of the scene at
Mr.. Moye's home murderers lay Sc
creted in his rooms, probably in a
closet, for the dead mans body was
found in position Indicative that he
was in the attitude of taking off his
collar when fired upon. He was
found dead on his veranda with a
load of shot in his stomach, and in
vestigation revealed that he was shot
three times, once probably as he
turned at some noise.
He was killed with his own gun;
the gun and several empty shells be-
ing found at his house. Mr.. Moye
had his 0isto] in h;s hin nncEet but