The Detroit times., 1913-11-01
FACING DEATH
PUTS FAITH IN
RABBITS FOOT
Five Times Sentenced and Each
Time Saved Negro Gives.
. Credit to Talisman
IS NOW ABOUT TO GO TO
TRIAL FOR SIXTH TIME
Erwin Pope Declares He Will
Never Go To Gallows AS Long
~ He Keeps Luck Token

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Oct. 81
Probably the only man who ever has
faced q death sentence six times on
the change OF homicide, win be tried
again. by the Court OF Admission. In
this state. late this month or early
IN November. The prisoner is Erwin
Pope, colored, who is charged with
Killing J. B. McClurkin, q prominent
planter of Oxford, near Admission. IN
April, 1909.
N Pope will face q death sentence
with the assertion OF his Innocence
4 after having been sentenced to death
I 0ve times. The prisoner has never
/ eh0wn the slightest trace OF fear, He
aayS he carried In his pocket during
All the trials the left hind foot OF a
rabbit. killed In graveyard on
moonlight night" and this has saved
| his life Ave times.
The Staying OF MeClurkin was bru-
tai He heard q noise near his barn
and when he rode toward the scene
was Knocked from his horse with o
heavy cudgel His head was beat to
pulp with q rock. Pope and another
Negro, John Body, were arrested soon
after the slaying. Pope was well-to-
do. being q successful farmer. He
always paid his debts and had good
reputation, but the evidence was
against him. strengthened by the ale
gations Of Body, who turned witness
against. him.
Pope was convicted OF the crime
for the frst time In May. 1909.
Bloody shoes found In the barn In
the rear Of his house, overall buttons
found In ashes AROUND q wasnpot, a
defect In one of the hpofs of his
mule. and other things, were intro
duced against him. but the most tell
iAg feature Of the trial was the testi.
mony of John Body, who stated that
he heard the scuffle between Pope
and NcClurkin, who pleaded for
mercy, in front OF his house. where
the killing occurred. Body said he
lighted q candle and wrote down the
words Of the victim and the name OF
Pope. % he might not forget them.
When he was released from Jail he
nsd TIN country and has not been
heard from since.
Bitter feeling was manifested
against Pope from the Hrst. Special
guards were kept at the jail during
the heaSing to protect the prisoner
l1rum mob violence. As soon as ne
Wa convicted he was hurried away
20 Birmingham, where he has since
been. except when carried 70 Annis-
tom for trial.
A snllows WAS erected In the rear
of the county Jail for Pope's execu-
t1d0, and Ill Was ready for his death.
vhen>1 stay OF execution was grant
"a. ! The c9sg WIS affirmed by the
nuprOmo court, but q reAoaring was
secured md q ueW~tr1A UrdepeA - he
va .seonveeted aeoki BY the lower
court in April. 1910. and again new
heaFtag was ordered.
a POPE was tried and, convicted again
IN The spring of~A011 but --tha- case
Was reversed and relnaQded ~Qp &C
count Of the admission Of testimony
which tended TO, exculpate John Body. |
who was believed by many to have
becn 1 party Is tie crime. Pope
was tried for the fourth time In Feb |
ruary OF THIS year. converted again
on cifcum1tafftiAr evidence and SEN I
teneAd to be hanged. The supreme
court reversed tlsv case IN June-oB &C
count of ruling by Judge Coleman |
declining to admit the Testimony of !
Body, which was said to have been !
contradictory to the evidence on |
Vhich the oft-coudemned man was
oonvicteA. His nth trial resulted
similarly, but another new trial was
uanted.
= The gallows on which Pope was to
hang was an eyesore for several
months, until the jail fence was rails
"a 20 hide II from view.
Pope insists that he Is innocent.
ana declares he will never be execut-
"a 20 long as he carries In his pocket
hlS rabbits loot