The Green Forest tribune., 1913-08-15
0DUS DkVlDS0NS EXECUTION
Aedged Slayer of Miss Barham As-
 serts Innocence to the Last.
From Mondays Harrison HearId:

| arrangements, Odus Davidson was ex- ecuted on the gallows in the jail yard in Harrison, at Il o'clock today, for the murder of Miss Ella Barham. Just before Il o'clock he was taken from the court house, where he had been under heavy guard since his arrival from Berryville jail, and by Sheriff Helm and deputies led to the enclosure around the Jail, and onto the gallows.
 At exactly 11:02, Sheriff Jim Helm cut the rope, releasing the trap door on which Odus Davidson was standing. Davidsoa's neck was broken by the fall and he did net move after falling. At11:l4 Dr. Chas. Routh and Dr. Taylor of Zine pronounced him dead, and the body was placed in coffin and re- moved to the undertaker's establish ment.
 Davidson displayed better nerve as the time for his execution approached than he did for day or two previous, He was asked by ministers if he had trusted in the Lord and he replied that he had
 Immediately after entering the en- closure winch was around the scaffold, the guards released their hold on his arms, Davidson then turned and loWer- ing his head made a rush toward the gate. He was caught by men stand ing near He then said he was not try ing to get away but had been worried by the mob so much that he wanted to make them stop erowding.
 After walking up the stairway to the platform between two guards he walk ed to the edge where he could see the crowd outside and said q an not guilty of this crime and I hope you people will find it out some time. "
 Mir. and Mrs. George Barham, parents of the girl for whose murder Davidson was hung, were present when Davidson was executed and when asked how she felt about the matter, Mrs. Barham replied that she did not know whether she was glad he was hung or not.
 None of Davidson relatives were present and it is not known what dis position will be made of his body. When asked by Judge Mitchell what he wished done about it he made no an- swer.
 Davidson was brought to Harrison Sunday afternoon at 1:4l p. m., from BerryyiIle, where he had been placed after his trial, accompanied by Sheriff Jim Helm and five deputies. 1 large crowd of people, both men and women, met the train and followed the party to the court house, where Davidson was placed under guard iq the county clerks office. There was 8 very large crowd of people about the court house all afternoon, where Q band concert was in progress.
 Immediately after his arrival at the court house he had a conference with his attorney E. c. Mitchell, who after wards said that Davidson talked more inteliegentIy and appeared more manly than he had at any time since his arrest.
 When ministers at Berzyyiile ap- preached he refused to see them, say ins that they had better be praying for themselves; all the while emphasizing his remarks with oaths. After coming to Harrison he still refused to see any minister and said he had made peace with God.
 At several times during Sunday after noon, he walked to the window and recognizing old acquaintances in the yard about the court house he talked to his guard about them, but if any reference was made to himself CT his own affairs he immediately became silent.
 Davidson did not sleep any Saturday night nor last night, walking the floor most of the night. When deputy sheriff of Berryville told him to order anything he wanted to eat, he said he did not want anything at all. He was then asked if he wanted a drink of whiskey and he promptly refused this.
 From the time the officers arrived at BerTyviIle, he appeared nervous and cried several times. Atone time when he recognized an old acquaintance, whom he had not seen for about six years, and was allowd to see him and talk with him. When 8 sister, Mrs. Jim Johnson, came in to see him he broke down completely.
 This sister is the only one of his rel atives who has been with him for some time. Because of threats made against Davidson s father, his parents moved to Oklahoma. Davidson said yesterday that he did not suppose his father knew he was to be executed at this date.
 George Barham, father of the murdered girl, appeared at the court house yesterday afternoon and re- quested that he be allowed to talk with Davidson, but he was refused admit tance. MT. Barham then said that he would see Davidson before the execu- tion and talk with him If there was any possible chance.
 When Davidson was asked by a re- porter yesterday if he had any state ment to make, he said had been in- structed by his attorney not to say any thing regarding hisadair When asked