The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-06-15

EtHow does it feel to stand here
- face to face with the father of the
boy you killed?'
: This question was asked Sunday
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 Brazell,
the young taxi driver, for whose muir
der 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 stor-
les as to how the crime took place.
1t was Mr.. Brazell's first visit to
the three men since their sentencing,
although he had sat through the trial
and had twice heard Kirby, Gappins
and Fox sentence 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
recoenized 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. I wanted to see you before I
left this world to tell you that be-
fore God I'm sorry for what / did.
I would to God that I could exchange
with your boy and would gladly lay
down my life if I could bring him
back"
what I never could understand"
Mr.. Brazell interrupted, els why you
three big strapping men had to kill
my little boy to take his car"
ssft's a mystery to me, too," Kirby
said. "I'd 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 I saw your
boys car parked near Main street. 1t
was the first one 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 / 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?''
sI am sorry for them and for you,
Kirby answered. II am sorry for what
I did and I wish that the boy had
killed US all three rather than have
it happen as it did. But want some
one to look out for my wife and child
when I am dead"
''Well," Mr.. Brazell told him in
parting, ''as far as you are concerned
/ 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 a car ON the street which they
could then drive to Florida and sell.
eff had known he was to be killed,
Gappins told Mr.. Brazell, 81 would
not have gone. If it had been left to
me he would have been alive today.
"You held his hand while he was
being killed." Mr.. Brazell told him.
"You drove the car 1t 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 about the mother of my boy?
He was the only companion she had;
Twas away from the house during the
day. Why didn't you think about
her and your mother before you, COM
mitted the crime?"
Gappins hung his head. Il know
how his mother feels" he said. "And
I'm sorry for her,
Mr.. Brazell turned to leave. CAD
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,
'I'm ready to meet my God with
the story I have told" Gappins sald'
and Mr.. Brazell then turned to Fox,
who is confined in the adjoining cell.
Sorry for Fox.
"Fox," he said, II feel sorry Tor
you. met your father and i touno
found him to be gentleman and ne
told me that he had tried to raise
you right. But, suppose, you came
here away from home and got in with
the bad company you did. You, l