The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-09-17
DEATH
CHAIR
FOR FIENDS
Judge Sease Sentences
Kirby, Gappins and
Fox to Die on Oc-
tober 21st for
Murder Of :
BraZell

Lexington, Sept. 13.-In solemn
tones, amid a deep hush, Judge
Thos. S. Sease this afternoon at %
o'clock pronounced the supreme
mandate Of the Jaw on S. J. hirpF'
C. o. Fox and Jesse Gappins, the
three Columbia men convicted
during the day of the murder OF
William Brazell. youthful tan
driver of Columbia, when he SEN
fenced them to die by electrocu-
ton at the State Penitenuary,
Tuesday, October 21.
Kirbys case went to the jury
this morning at 1924 O'Clock ana
a verdict of guilty was returned IN
,o35 minutes, and that Of Fox ana
Gappins, who were tried jointly.
was given to the jury at 4.34
O'Clock this afternoon and de-
csion was reached in 40 minutes.
There was much stoicism in the
demeanor of the three condemn
ed men when their fate was pro-
nounced. There was merely per
ceptive culver around the mouth
of Kirby, and Fox appeared to be
unperturbed. Gappins, the young
est of the trio, turned livid, but ne
did not quiver.
1t was quite reverse among the
relatives ot the three men. Mrs.
Kirby, wife Of the condemned man.
and his young child, who were IN
the audience sobbed aloud, While
J. S. Fox, aged father Of c. O. FOX.
laid his head upon the back OF a
chair and quietly cried. The moth
er and sister Of Gappins, who left
the court house before sentence
was pronounced, were in the yard
of the building and were extreme
ly affected. Gappin's wife, who
was in attendance at the trial in
the morning, was not present when
her husband learcd his fate.
The evidence today was a repe-
tition Of that Of yesterday in the
Kirby case, except that of Fox, who
in voice without a culver and alb
solutely emotionless, told a har-
rowing tale Of the remorseless and
merciless killing Of William Bra
zell. His recital was such that 1t
brought gasps from the audience.
Fox, substantiating written
confession of his which was intro
duced earlier in the day by Sheriff
J. T.. Plunkett, Of Augusta, claim
ed that the plot to steal an auto
mobile was broached to him by
Kirby and Gappins, and they in
veigled him into joining them. His
narrative as to the hunt for the car
by Kirby and the trip to and from
the scene of the murder near Lees
Vile, this county, was substantial
ly the same as that told by Kirby
and Gappins,
LAS the car neared Leesville,' >
swore Fox, "it was stopped sever
al times, and Kirby got out and
called for Gapp.ns. When Gappins
returned he told me that Kirby
/ wanted him to knock HI out OF
Brazell with the blackjack an6
he refused" he said. Fox saic
that when the car LEFT Leesviile
headed for Columbia, Kirby, who
at that time was on the back seal
with him persuaded him to hit Bra.
zell in the head with the black
/ jack. He declared that he though
the weapon would only stun the
chauffeur and they would put hin
on the side road to be found while
/ they left with the car.
Il damned him across the head,
he continued He looked around
at me and asked what are you do.
ing? I then hit him several time:
more He tried to get out of The
side door of the car and Kirb,
grabbed him by the throat l con
tinued to hit him until the black
! jack broke and the shot We're scat
tered. AT this time Brazell was OF
the side running board Of the ca,
with Kirby grasping him by tn:
throat with his knee pressed intt
his stomach. He was jarne(
against the side of the car.
: Kirby hollered at me that We
would have to do something nov
and cried at me stick him i hat
out my knife and l stuck it int
BraZen twice, once while kirb.
was holding him against the car
and the other time when he drop
ped to the ground.
Emontionless and without quiv
er, Fox told how young BraZel
begged for his life, but they con
tinued to hit him across the heat
and jab the knife into his body. r.
said that when BraZell was beins
pulled from the car he cried,
am dying and Kirby said, no yol
are not dying, but you will be sool
before l am through with YOU. >
He claimed that while he wa
cutting Brazell. the youth PLEADED
for them not to kill him, but h
worked the knife around in tn,
chauffeur's chest while Kirby bea
his head into the dirt. During tn,
slaughter. he said. Gappins wa.
holding one Of the arms OF the tax
driver
Fox declared that when the thrc,
put BraZell into the back of tht
car, which Gappins drove Will,
Fox was ON the rear seat Tho
chauffeur moaned. He swore tha
Gappins asked if the youth wa.
dead and Kirby replied, He vii
be when I am through with him
damn him.
The man on cross examination
stated that he did not believe th'
injuries he inflicted on BraZel