The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-09-26
DENYING GUILT, NEGRO DIES.
Ed Alexander Electrocuted at the
State Penitentiary.

Columbia, Sept. 20.-In a state
ment not exceeding one minute in
length Ed Alexander, a negro con-
victed in a special term of court of
Fairfield county, for attempted GRIM
inal assault on prominent lady Of
the Rockton community, strongly de-
MED his guilt and gave final direc-
tions for the disposition of his body
just prior to his electrocution this
morning. Although apparently NOV
ed by a relaxation of the fact that he
was so soon to die, the negro spoke
without a tremor of the voice and
deeply impressed the forty or more
witnesses to this, the fourth electro
cution to be held at the State peni-
tentiary.
Negro Denies Guilt.
After he had been placed in the
death chair and the straps adjusted
about his body, Col. Griffith, super
intendent of the penitentiary, asked
the condemned man if he had any
statement to make and was answered
in the affirmative. "I'm going to bid
the world farewell" he began. "1n
few minutes I will be in the pres
ence of my God, and I hope to meet
you all on the Kings highway. swear
I'm not guilty and that I never touch
ed that woman. Please send my
body to my sister at Rockton, South
Carolina. That's all. Goodbye
He was led into the death chamber
at 1922 and Immediately strapped
in the chair; the brief statement was
made and the current of 1900 volts
turned on at 1925. The body stiff
ened and strained at the straps for
few seconds, while the high volt
age was maintained. The current
was then reduced to 200 volts and
constantly varied between these two
extremes for SO seconds, when the
switch was thrown out. An examin-
alton by DR.. Jennings, the prison
physician, and other physicians of the
city, showed that life was extinct.
Maintained Denial.
The negro has denied his guilt
throughout his detention in the death
house at the penitentiary, as he has
done ever since his arrest immedi-
ately after the commission of. the
crime. Several colored ministers of
the city and the Rev. J. C. Abney, the
penitentiary minister, have held fire.
quent services with the prisoner, and
in all of these he has been firm in
his denials.
At the direction of Col. Griffith ct
11:15 the witnesses proceeded to the
death house, where at the door the
superintendent made a short state
ment calling attention to the fact
that several colored ministers were
present and requesting that these be
allowed to enter the chamber of death
before the remainder of the witness
es. The ministers then entered and
the room was soon filled, many stand
ing about the walls. After a few
minutes the condemned man was led
from his cell and placed in the chair,
the death warrant having been read
to him earlier in the morning. His
statement and death followed imme-
diately.
A Near.Accident.
Two unusual incidents occurred
during the course of the execution.
With the current still running full
force through his body the strap over
the eyes of the negro fell about his
neck. Col. Griffith, who was stand
ing near, thoughtlessly advanced to
readjust the strap. T. @. Boozer,
State electrician, warned him and
guard caught the hand of the super
intendent before it had touched the
strap. Mr.. Boozer said later that If
Col. Griffith had touched the body Of
the negro he would undoubtedly have
been seriously injured.
While DR.. Jennings was examining
the body of the negro after the exc
cution had been concluded, spec
tator was overcome and tainted. He
was caught before falling to the floor
and hastily carried into the fresh