The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-06-16
COLUMBIA TRIO
PAY FOR CRIME

Columbia, 8. c., June les. ]. Kir-
by, Jesse Gappins and c. o. Fox We're
electrocuted in the penitentiary this
morning for the murder of William
Brazell, the Columbia taxi driver, near
Leesville, last August. The trio went
to their deaths singing and praying.
Gappins and Fox made fnal state
ments warning young men against
bad company.
Doomed Men Talked Day Before Their
Execution.
Gappins, who since his trial has
stoutly maintained his relative inno-
cence Of active participation in the
murder of che 19-year-old taxi driver,
has no change to make in his previ-
ously told story, he said. "Pll make
my say tomorrow" he said. 81 have
told the truth as remembered it and
i have said nothing that intend to
change"
He borrowed a cigarette with n
laugh and the remark, "Well, sup
pose this is the last thing you'll give
me unless it is another write up"
The reporter agreed and Gappins
waved au revoir. "I'll see you tomor-
row." he said, with smile and so
saying he knew that tomorrow" the
reporter would be there to see him die.
"I'm just waiting" Fox said, "just
waiting for the time to come and the
quicker it comes the better to get me
out Of my sorrow and troubles. am
sorry for what I did and am ready
to die"
They've made me out bad sort of
a fellow" he said, and laughed, "and
I've gotten a good deal Of publicity"
Just then Kirby, whose cell is on
the other side Of the death house, call
ed over and Fox yelled back to him.
keep quiet. You cant speak to me
today without permission" And again
he laughed.
=, Kirby appeared eager to talk. "My
father" he said, "has just preceded
me to glory and I'm going there to
join him. I've just got the message
that he died at his home In Tampa,
Fla, day before yesterday and I'm
going to see him pretty soon.
81 am happy" he said, and turning
. 20 the prison guard beside his cell
he ssked have never been sad 2
You've never seen me sad, have you!
The guard agreed with him and Kirby
went on: "I'm ready to die and want
you to take this message to the people
outside that the kingdom Of heaven
is at hand. I'm not talking foolish
: ness" -.-,.-
He picked up colored picture of
the ascension of Christ, which he had
with him in the cell, and pointing to
it advised, when you get to be re-
porter up there you'll be all right and
until you do you'll be all wrong. Until
you are ready to meet Him in the
clouds as am you'll be all wrong.
"What I've told about the crime Is
all true. What I said about us all
three being guilty is true. And there
wasn't any babies in the crowd. We
were all men and we can all die for
it."
The three men had had their hair
clipped in preparation for the death
helmet yesterday morning and Gap
pins wore an improvised cap made of
a handkerchief tied 1T each corner
Both he and Kirby saw an excuse for
a joke in their shorn heads, appar-
emily forgetful of the ominous mean
ing of it all. Gappins laughed at the
mention of it and Kirby expressed re-
gret that since it improved his looks
he had not gone to see the girls with
his hair cut in this style.
The three men were convicted Sep
tember IA, 1921, Of the murder of
William Brazell, young Columbia
transfer driver, who, according to
their own story, they lured out on the
Columbia ia-Augusta road to stab him
to death and take his automobile
They were arrested in Richmond coun,
ty, Georgia, where Kirby confessed
The other two men later also admitted
their participation in the crime and
upon trial they were convicted of muir
der and sentenced to be electrocuted
October Fl, 1921. Appeals to the su
preme court secured stay in the exc
cution of their sentences and on May
20, 1922, they were again sentenced to
die.
A petition asking Governor Harvey
to commute the sentence against Fox
to life imprisonment was fled at the
executive offices by T. X. Sturkie OF
Lexington, it was announced. The Pc
ton carries the names Of five jurors
who tried Fox, there being no other
names on the paper.
"There are facts and circumstances
in and about the case in behalf of the
I defendant, so much so, that we fee
! that he should not be electrocuted,' ;
I, the jurors say. "Fox and Gappins were
!, tried together and We were apprehen.
= aiuo of their safety IL ue had randerod