Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1922-06-14
Fox, Kirby and Gappins Talk
With Father of Slain Boy.

Fox, Kirby and Gappins Talk
With Father of Slain Boy.
Glow does it feel to stand here
face to face with the father of the
boy you killed."
This question was asked yesterday
morning in the death house at the
state penitentiary Of S. J. Kirby, G.
o. Fox and Jesse Gappins by W. E.
Brazell, father of William Brazel,
the young taxi driver, for whose
murder Kirby, Gappins and Fox are
to die in the electric chair Friday,
and the only answer the three men
could give was the repetition of their
stories as to how the crime took
place.
It was Mr.. Brazell's first visit TO
the three men since their sentencing,
although he had sat through the trail
and had twice heard Kirby, Gappins
and Fox sentenced to die. The trip
was made at the request of Kirby,
who asked Mr.. Brazell to call at the
death house to see him before the
electrocution. None of the three men
recognized Mr.. Brazell when he con-
fronted them, separated from them
only by the barred cell doors.
''I'm glad to see you," Kirby told
the murdered boys father, but not
here. wanted to see you before l
left this world to tell you that be-
fore God 1 am sorry for what l did.
I would to God that could exchange
with your boy and would gladly lay
down my life if l could bring him
back"
'sWhat l never could understand"
Mr.. Brazell interrupted, "is why you
three big strapping men had to kill
nv little boy to take his car"
cts mystery to me, Too, Kirby
said. "pd never seen him before.
Gappins and Fox were waiting for
me at the Seaboard station and they
told me first to get Big Bills car and
it had been burned up so they told
me then to get any car and l saw
your boys car parked near Main
street. It was the first one I came to
and that's the reason that he was
killed.
Boys Mother Invalid.
"Kirby," Mr.. Brazell told him,
"you have talked good deal about
your wife and I am sorry for her,
but did you ever think of my poor
boys mother, who was an invalid at
the time of the boys murder and
ever since.?"
81 am sorry for them and for you"
Kirby answered. ~ am sorry for
what I did and / wish that the boy
had killed us all three rather than
have it happen as it did. But ! want
someone to look after my wife and
child when am dead"
"Well," Mr.. Brazell told him IN
parting, sas far as you are concerned
I leave it up to you and your God"
Gappins denied any knowledge OF
the fact that young Brazell was to
have been killed, claiming that he had
thought that Kirby was to pick up
car on the street which they could
then drive to Florida and sell. "lf |
had known he was to be killed." Gap
pins told Mr.. Brazell, 81 would not
have gone. If it had been left to me
he would have been alive today.
ssYou held his hand while he was
being killed." Mr.. Brazell told him.
1You drove the car. It could not have
been carried out if you had left
them. Why didn't you quit? You have
had lot to say about your mother
since you have been here. Why didn't
you think of the mother of my boy?
He was the only champion she had'
was away from the house during
the day. Why didn'tyou think about
her and your mother before you COM
mitted the crime?"
Gappins hung his head. II know
how his mother feels" he said. "And
Pm sorry for her"
Mr.. Brazell turned to leave. "Gap-
pins" he said, 81 believe you are the
worst of the three Of you. You have
tried to shield yourself behind Fox
and Kirby and you and Kirby Lacked
the courage to play the part that
Fox did"
SPm ready to meet my God with