The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-29
.B|GHAM GOES ID THE
 ELECTRIC CHAIR ON
 VERDICT 0F JURY
He Was Tried for Killing Five Members of His Family Over Some Financial
 Troubles
By Associated Press

Florence, S. O., March 28-Edmund Big ham, charged with killing five members of his family at Pamplico over financial jury here today and was sentenced to die in the electric chair at Columbia be- tween the hours of 10 and o'clock Fri day, April 8.
 After passing sentence, Judge R. w. Memminger, presiding, overruled mo- ton for new trial, and A. L. King, of counsel for the defense. announced he would appeal MT. King, in his plea for new trial, asserted that previous to the trial one of the members of the jury ham burned. MT. King had also asked for delay in arguing his motion before Judge Memmipger, but this was denied.
 Bigham turned pale when the verdict was read and his face lost the smile that it had worn during the trial. but when asked what he had to say before being sentenced, he leaned forward from the dock and.- in a clear and unshaken voice. replied:
 Nothing except that I am innocent. l know nothing of how that crime was committed. That is the truth, so helf me God.
 That's all I have to say," continued Bigham, who was charged with Shooting his mother. brother, sister and the lat ter's two adopted children. T wish my mother could come down and tell how that thing happened. l wish that little boy had lived when I asked pr. w. IL. Poston to save his life. He would have told the same things my wife and l told.
 Judge, hope you will give me time, so some of the people who testified here against me may have a chance to come forward and tell the truth, and not come too late, like Judas 1scariot making his offering of the 30 pieces of silver.
 T do hope to say something more, and I hope you will take no exception to- it.. As far as you are concerned, l have had fair trial, but if people had had time to think things over, consider and take it up with their God, they would have testified differently
 When asked to explain the finding or his pistol in his dead brothers hand, Bigham said:
 T left that pistol in my bureau drawer and it has been testified that the door was found broken gpen. That is the only way Smiley could have got it.
 If I am guilty. hope l may be petri- fled in front of the courthouse. am as innocent as a newborn babe"
 After Bigham had concluded his state ment Judge Memminger, before passing sentence, reviewed the case, and refer ring to Bigham's statement of innocence said:
 q have never known prisoner con- yicted of similar crime to make ac- knowledgment of his guilt. In all that you have said in your favor there is no excuse in the law"
 Mrs. May Bigham. wife of the defend- ant, and her children had been led from the courtroom by friends before the jury, of which H. P. Hazleen was foreman, returned it's verdict. When she was told the results, few minutes later. she col- lapsed and had to be given medical treat ment The courtroom had been crowded during the trial, but there were compara- lively few present when the jury re- turned, as it did not stay out as long as spectators appeared to have expected.
 Bighams trial. which started March "A. was brought to an end today by argu- ments and the judges charge. The state brought witnesses who declared Edmund Bigham had threatened to kill members of his family. according to statements by the latter, and also declared Bigham had indicated where his brothers body might be found.