Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-07-27
NEGRO SLAYERS
ARE REPRIEVED
At death brink


with hopes OF a future existence. have
continued to maintain their innocence
Of the murder for which they we're
convicted
Up until 900 O'Clock. no indica-
tons Of a reprieve had been received
and shortly before this time there had
been considerable excitement at the
workhouse because lie especially
made ropes for the hangman had not
arrived. It was 9 o'clock before War
den Cross was able to obtain these
] from a local express Office and tho
work OF testing them was just abou.
to be started when the reprieve mas
sage was received over the telephone.
Because he had as yet not received
| the official document from the Cover
nor. and fearing that it might possibly
not arrive. the warden refused TO allow
the Jurors to depart for some time, say
ing that If the reprieve had not arrived
/ by o'clock ~ would be necessary TO
( proceed with the executions. While they
were awaiting final confirmation of the
report. the jurors and Wilmington and
/ Philadelphia newspaper Representatives
were shown through the institution. and
during the inspection were taken past
the cells of the condemned men. Their
faces were drawn. but they appeared
cheerful and smiled pleasantly 40 the
men who were 70 have seen them
hanged.
Warden Cross came to this city 20
meet the special messenger with the
reprieve at the depot and took repre-
sentatives of the local press with
him in his automobile. On the road
here they passed another machine
bearing DIT. w. II. Krasmer. the in
sti.ution physician. VINO was 10 have
pronounced the men dead When ne
was told of the reprieve. Dr. Kraemer
leaped from his seat and shaking his
own hands, shouted: "Oh. fine
great"
VIII en- the 1109 train arrived from
Dover, the special messenger could
not be found for some time. After
every one had left the train and the
platform began 10 clear the messen.
ger could still not be found and tho
faces OF Warden Cross and the mer
who had accompanied him to the sta.
ton began 10 look grave again. Fol
, a while an excited search was made
about the depot platform and ever,
b smooth shaver young man was ask
ed n he had come from Governor
: Townsend's Office. When the scared
{ had about been given up and Il be
; gan to look as though the reprievl
! had not come after all, the messenger
+ State Librarian Earl ID Wiley, wa
= finally found and the atmosphere
I cleared once again.
D Warden Cross at once broke tn
y seal and read the reprieve. which wa
I'm the form OF an official documentar
blank. After reciting the sentence. IN
document read:
b Whereas. II has been repre-
D scented 10 our Governor thai the
4 above is a proper case for sxecu-
J, tive interposition and, it seeming
y TO our said Governor so TO do.
Now. therefore. I, John g.
& Townsend Governor Of the State
4 OF Delaware. do hereby remit and
@ release unto Adam Hargus. Viii
= liam Prettyman and Webster Pur-
e nell a reprieve OF their sentence
until Friday. the 2Sth day of Sep
c TENDER, A. d.. 1917"
e Warden Cross Immediately droy
4 back TO the workhouse TO confirm n
{ report TO the Negroes. The Rev. B.
Q Moore. pastor of Shiloh Bapti'
Church. had. while waiting for III
r official reprievo. prepared the COZ
+ demned men for tragic disappoin
n ment and another dramatic scene eI
d sued when the reprleve was read
IS them
IT The Negroes had slept well las
J. night and had eaten a hearty breal
= fast OF ham and eggs shortly hefor
r the message from the Governor al
rived this morning.
n The reasons for the reprieve. a
e set forth by Governor Townsend Il
II day are that he had received a larl
IS number Of kilograms from Forme
10 Congressman DR.. Hiram r. BurtoI
r d.. w. r. Messick and G. y. Wicker
le all Of Bewes, where the crime wa
70 committed. urging such action. i
r supplement these. many requests thu
: reprieve be granted were receive
IL over the telephone from prominel
Is citizens in Sussex county. One
a these messages was from r. G. Viii
% and r. G. Houston. attorneys who d
Tended the condemned men. They sa
ls- that newly-discovered evidence won
he introduced in the Negroes favor
IN All of the members Of the Boa
10 of Pardons were communicated wi
in early this morning and all exec
one said they favored a reprie'
nm When the Board OF Pardons sat
ow the case of the Negroes they vot
res three to two against a pardon. whic
nat II Is thought. may also have inn
Of enced the Governors action. o
res more vote would have saved I
les mems lives definitely.
The jurors who were to have W
up. messed the execution were;
va lanes II. Yates. Henry G. Pa
TX ker. Francis Straub. Clark Mill
ial- Robert L. Armstrong. Howard C. p
is lock. z. W. Wells. RalDh White. +
iti- ward Talley. Robert Wood. Jam
sky Thompson and Dr. McClelland, OF I
ial. state Hospital for the Insane.
NAL -------
Of .nnn Unnnl nnD