Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1922-10-20
DOUBLE EXECUTION
s' In LEAKESVILLE
On Friday October Is, When
Two Negroes Will Grey
And Ann Knight Pay
Death Penalty For
Their Crime.
Occasion Passes OFF Quietly And
Smoothly.

On last Friday, October 13. 1922,
Arm Knight and Will Grey. both
Colored, were legally executed in the
Leakesville Jail, paying the death
penalty for the crime for which they
werc tried and convicted at the No
vember term 1921 of the Greene
County Circnt Court. Ann was
hung first, it being her request and
the Sherlff's plan. The trap was
sprung at 1905 a. NJ. and she was
pronounced dead by the attending
physicians at 1916 and taken down
from the gallows. Will was shot
down through the trap at 1896 A.
NJ. and be declared dead by the doc
tors at 1851 A. NJ
The time given is the official time
used. and shows that Ann died in il
minutes and Will in IA minutes. We
mention this because some got ii
mixed and thought that Ann was
longer in dying than VIII when the
reverse was the case. Wits neck
was clearly broken there being some
blood eXnded from mouth afterwards
and bones showed separated IN lift
ing his head IT was not so clear as
10 Ann neck being broken, she
having q fat neck but as her death
was quicker than the mans it was
thought that If neck was not broken
from the fall and JERK Of the rope
from weight of body, that a verte-
bra likely slipped
Everything went off quietly aud
smoothly, there being no hitch IN
the proceedings anywhere. The su-
pervisors and other Witnesses were
mostly on hand as well as the doe
tors and deputies right about ten
o'clock and the cell door was opene |
ana Ann brought forth into the open
place near stairs IN the jail where the
steel leaves in the floor are situated
taat constitute the trap. The moose
was ready and adjusted after reli-
gious service, such as singing, pray
ing aud short talks. Ann herself
prayed as well as the three negro
preachers present TO give spiritual
consolation, namely: j. @. Adams,
Rev. Greco ard Fl. NJ, Mason. Ann
asked for another verse of the song
after the prayers and singing, which
was granted, then Sheriff Valley s
voice rang out In clea. tones the
fateful wo DIS READY ADD both
those inside and out OF the Jail beard
the ominous sound Of hose two met
al leaves separating as the body dar.
ted down TO death the fall being
broken as the length Of the rope was
reached by the jerk on the condem-
ned ones neck She gave two on
three Slight gasps was the only sign
OF death throes. Wills time came
/ shortly afterwards aud he knelt and
offered the Lord S prayer IN part and
prayed tor his mother, after which
the death cap was adjusted on fhim
and he too fell at the sound of the
trap to his death for the crime which
he admitted just before when direct
Nv questioned by the Sheriff, IN about
these Words Yes | did kill John
knight. The last word of Ann S
heard by Il ose outside The jail.
we're in prayer: 20 Lord have mercy
for Jesus sake. " Both the condemned
stood up wellunder the trying ordeal.
Ann never made an admission of the
crime Services were held by kind
! ly- hearted negroes during the night
for those who were to die on the
morrow, but no real out-and out de
! finite statements or confession free,
ly made by either, though Viii made
some conflicting statements but f.
nally admitted the crime. which it
will be remembered occurred at