The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-10-02
FIVE LEGAL EXECUTIONS.
NEGROES FOUND GUILTY OF
MURDER PAY DEATH
PENALTY.
Joe MullOy Dies for Murder of Guy
Rogers and Prcntiss Moore, Tom
Griffin, Meek Griffin, Nelson Bricc
AMI John Crosby for Death of Aged
j. q. Lewis--AH Deny Guilt.

Columbia, Sept. 30.--A record for
legal executions I'm South Carolina
was established yesterday when five
negroes were put to death at the State
penitentiary for the murder of John
y. Lewis, n Confederate veteran from
Chester county, and Prentiss Moore
and Guy Rogers two young white boys
of Marlboro county.
One hour and ten minutes were re-
quired to execute the criminals A
duh gray atmosphere enshrouded the
skies and the muggy air about the
little death chamber indicated what
was appropriately termed Suicide
weather" A general sigh of relief
went up from executioners and prison
officials alike when the five bodies
wrapped in their winding sheets, had
been stacked" on their couches in
the little anteroom Of the death
house which had been converted into
a veritable morgue.
Meek Griffin, Tom Griffin, John
Crosby and Nelson Brice were en-
ecuted for the killing of the aged
Mr.. Lewis. while Joe Malloy paid
the penalty for the murder OF the two
young Marlboro county boys. The
crime for which the first four were
convicted was committed April "a,
1913. The Marlboro county crime
was committed Thanksgiving day,
1911.
The negroes did not confess. Three
died protesting their innocence. The
remaining two had nothing to add to
that already said." which was an
affirmation of previous denial Of
guilt
Meek Griffin was put to death first
by his own request. He was the
most terror-stricken of all and wildly
and incoherently muttered prayers
while the curious harness was being
buckled about him. Tom Griffin
from whose gun were fired the two
charges which snuffed out the life
OF John q. Lewis, had ''no statement
TO make at ALL" II have told the
TRUTH he said
John Crosby, who was said to have
fred the shots likewise made no
statement. 81 am satisfied" he kept
repeating. Ills thanks Tor the kind
ness from prison officials we're also
profferod.
Nelson Brice entered the room in
the most buoyant spirits Of ali. He
bowed smiligly to Sheriff Colvin of
Chester county. who sat ten feet
away, and asked "to shake hands
goodbye" with the officers just prior
to the placing of the electrode about
his forehead.
Joe MallOy was broken spirited
early in the morning. but braced him
self when the hour for the ordeal ar
iiNNu' NAVE nOtTlnB tO say, nc
answered, when his body had been
strapped in the chair. II knew moth
ing of the crime. wouldn't be
guilty of such a thing. and God would
not have me commit such n crime"
Malloy had an excellent physique,
and was apparently in resistant
mood when the electrodes were being
applied. But only two shocks were
necessary TO produce death. Three
shocks were necessary to kill Meek
Griffin and four for Tom Griffin. The
heaviest amperage recorded since the
installation Of the chair was for the
last named, when the register marked
IL ampercs, with the voltage lowering
around 1000.
John Monk Stevenson, another ne
gro. is yet in Jail, awaiting trial on the
| same charge on which the four were