The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-07-07
HANGED IN ORANGEBURG.
NEGRO PAYS DEATH PENALTY
FOR MURDER OF HIS WIFE
Confessed the Crime at His Trial and
Said He Was Sorry-Weeps
While on Scaffold.


the county Jail with the prayer "O'
God, save me- on his lips, Alien
Davis paid the death penalty for the
murder of his wife, Leila Davis. on
Jan. 80 last. The negro was COM
paratively calm until he stepped up
on the trap, where he began to pray
his voice growing louder and louder,
and it is believed that had he re-
mained there three moments longer
the doomed man would have lost his
mind. Together with the coroner's
iurv there were about 35 persons
was a large crowd, who endeavored
gathered on the outside of the jail
was a large crowd, whoendeavored
to catch glimpse of the hanging.
The death sentence was read to
Davis in his cell at 1925 o'clock at
which time he was also told that he
would be given an opportunity to
make a statement. He was then taken
from his cell and allowed to bid fare
well to his compatriots in prison,
and as he did so he urged upon them
the importance of living better lives.
The doomed man was then brought
to the tower in the Jail where the
steps are located, and standing on
the staircase he was given an oppor-
tunity to make statement. The
negro only admonished those gath
cred there to be good and said that
he hoped to meet them all in heaven.
He was then placed on the trap, and
while he prayed in a loud voice the
black cap was placed over his face,
and the trap was spring at 1881.
The body fell a distance of about
8 feet. DR.. T. c. Doyle, the county
physician, and DR.. L. G. Shecut ex-
amined the body and pronounced him
dead at 11:45 O'Clock and at 1850
the body was taken down.
Davis was dressed in a light pair
of trousers and a checked shirt, and
. before he was placed on the scaffold
he was given an opportunity to tell
the other prisoners in Jail goodbye.
He seemed comparatively calm all
this time, but among those in the
number to witness the execution was
M. J. D. Jones, who knew the ne
gro we'll. AS Davis recognized Mr..
Jones, he began to weep, and came
near breaking down. He regained
his composure, however, and when
asked if he desired to take any stimu-
lants. he refused, saying that he
preferred to go on the scaffold with
out any.
Just before the arrival of the
sheriff, Rev. w. L. Johnson and two
other negroes were praying and
singing with Davis. They prayed
with him then sang the long meter
doxology after which Rev. Johnson
pronounced the benediction. After
this Davis was asked several ques-
<tions to which he responded readi-
ly. He said that he was % years of
Of age, and had been legally mar
ried to his wife by Notary Public
]. E. Knots, and that he had lived
with his wife for two years. He
said that he could read and write,
and when asked if he was prepared
to die, he answered that he had no
fear of death. Davis was asked if
he had a good nights rest last night
to which hi responded that he had
slept we'll, and that he had eaten a
hearty breakfast this morning. The
negro was asked if he was in the
habit of carrying a pistol, and if he
intended to kill his wife the day he
went to the church to which he re-
piled that he carried pistol at
times, but that he had no intention
of killing his wife when he did.
Davis left a letter consisting of
about four pages with Rev. Johnson
which he said he desired read to all
young men.
Daviss father was in the jail yard
this morning ready to take the body
back home. The body will be car
ried to Antioch colored Baptist
church where the funeral will be
held tomorrow.
History of the Crime.
The murder of Leila Davis, for
which Allen Davis, her husband, to-
day paid the death penalty at the
county Jail, was committed on Sun
day morning, January 80, at Gospel
Temple colored church, which is
located in Willow township about 6
miles from Springfield. The man
and woman had been separated for
several weeks due to family row,
and on Sunday when Davis asked his