The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-09-16
DEATH SENTENCE IMPOSED
ON BRAZELL MURDERERs
Kirby, Fox and Gappins to Die in
Electric Chair Friday,
October Fl.

Lexington, Sept. 14.-C. o. Fox
S. j. Kirby and Jesse vGappins, con
victed murders ~of William Brazell
19 year old Columbia taxi-driver, al
5:25 o'clock this afternoon were
sentenced by Judge Thomas Sease
to die in the electric chair on Friday
October 21, the electrocution to
take place between the hours of 10
o'clock in the morning and 2 o'clock
in the. afternoon. The jury in the
Kirby case, the trial of which was
begun at $3.50 o'clock yesterday af.
ternoon, reached a verdict of guilty
at 1859 o'clock this morning after
deliberating, s5 minutes, while Fox
and Gappins, who were tried joint
ly, were convicted at ,5:14 o'clock,
the jury having beep. closeted exact
ly 40 minutes.
The entire trial of the three men,
begun with the swearing of witness
es for the grand jury at 1905 o.
clock Monday morning, occupied
only about ten hours Of actual time
of the court during the two days.
The garnd jury returned true bill
against the three men at II AS Mon
day morning and a few minutes
later the prisoners, defended by
counsel appointed by the court,
were arraigned. At $3.50 o'clock
Monday afternoon the trial of Kirby
was begun, the case going to the
jury at 1924 this morning. Thirty
five MINUTES later the verdict of
guilty had been returned and the
trial Of Fox and Gappins was begun.
AT 12:45 o'clock the state rested its
case against the two men and at 5:14
o'clock the second jury had agreed
that Fox and Gappins were guilty.
The three men were arraigned to re-
ceive their sentences and at 5:25
o'clock each Of the three men had
heard his doom solemnly pronounced
and each knew that there was then
only So days Of life remaining\ for
him. 1t was early ON the morning of
Monday, August g., exactly 81 days
ago. that young Brazell was killed
by the three men near Leesville af-
ter having been lured into Lexing-
ton county on supposedly bona fide
trip to "get some girls"
The three convicted and sentenced
men were led from the court house
Immediately after the trial, being
returned via of automobile to the |
state jpenitentiary where in the
death cell they will be held until the
date of their electrocution. The pris-
oners have been held in the state
penitentiary ever since first being
brought to Columbia, being carried
to Lexington each morning for
trial. The transfer to and from the
was, under special
guard. These special guards, headed
BY State elective T. A. Berly, were
al heavily armed. The four trips in
automobiles and the trial passed,
however, without al ripple of mob
Violence.
No notice of appeal was given by
counsel for any of the three pris-
'ners. Mrs. s: J. Kirby, wife of
Kirby, this afternoon after the trial,
lowever, conferred with A. D. Mar
in, appointed by the court as attor.-
ley. for her husband, announcing
hat she. believed that. Kirby was
aentally unbalanced, due to an in-i
ury to his skull and to protracted
llness. Kirby, she told the attorney,
ow, wears; silver plate in his skull.
1rs. Kirby also announced that she
7ould appeal to Gov. r. A. Cooper
or Communication of. her husbands
entence on these grounds should I
1r. Martin take no further action J
a the case.