The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-06-22
Kirby Gappins, and Fox Pay
Death Penalty for Murder

announced the execution of the three
white men convicted some time ago
of the murder Of William Brazell, a
white automobile driver. C. ]. kir-
by, C. o. Fox and Jesse Gappins, the
three criminals, all wanted to make
talks before their death. The gen.
eral tone was to ask for forgiveness,
to warn young men against bad COM
pany and to express sorrow for the
. Brazell family. 1t is a noteworthy
fact that not one of the three exc
cuted this morning is South Caro-
linian, all coming to Columbia to live
from other states. Of the three who
were executed Kirby was most resist
ant and did not want to have the ex-
ecutioner expedite his work.
The penitentiary authorities had
the work dispatched early in the day
in order that the curious might not
annoy them. The first of the prison
ers was walked up as early as 5.25
O'Clock this morning, when the death
warrant was read. At SIP o'clock
Kirby was taken to the electric chair
and was the first to be executed. All
of the preparations, all of the pray
ers, all of the talks and the three
executions were completed within the
span of fifty minutes.
How Men Are Killed.
The execution was by electric cur
rent, registering 1900 volts, The
statement is made that the record
also shows that in Kirby's execution
there was record Of ten amperes.
The prisoners are taken from the
death chamber to the electrocution
room, then thay are strapped in a
large chair and slit is generally
made in the leg of the trousers for
the contact with the electric power.
Out of the abundance of caution t"o
shots at short intervals are applied
and death follows instantly.
There we're three ministers in at
tendance at the execution this morn
ing, the Rev. J. C. Abney, Mr.. Muir
ply and the Rev. j. W. Anderson.
The three prisoners Joined in the SER
vices and prayers.
At each of the executions there
were separate groups Of twenty spec
tators, no more than this number be-
ing allowed by the prison authorities,
although it is understood that there
were many requests to witness the ex-
ecutions.
Kirby in his last moments seemed
to resist the officers as he wanted to
make additional statments, although
he had been making them quite regu-
Iarly for some days. None of the
participants ever have denied being
involved in the murder, their only
statements being to shirk some part
of the responsibility.
Jesse Gappins, who was quite
young, when he was taken to the
electric chair made a somewhat con-
nected statement In substance he
haid:
Statement ~by Gappins.
Gentlemen, all young men and
old ones, too, began the young pris-
oner. II advise to keep good COM
pany. I am here today to die for
keeping Bad company. If the truth
were known, and, God knows it, I
would not be here to die today If it
had been left to me, young Brazell
would have been living today. Let
this be warning to everybody. You
may not believe what I tell you, but
before God it's so; Jesus knows my
heart. I know lots of faces among
you. I have not had justice. Jesus
died, after perfect life. Goodbye,
every UOuy. Slduu ny Lie, OSdl Lulu,
in my last moments on this earth"
The young criminal prayed and then
in a quiet tone, for a whole minute,
without interference from the execu-
toner, who waited as he prayed, a
hand on the switch, the young muir
derer poured out his soul to God
for forgiveness. Gappins had tears
in his eyes while he was talking and
his execution seemed to effect the
spectators more than that of any of
the others.
+ In less than three minutes from
the time the first shock was applied
Gappins was declared dead.
Fox was the last of the trio to be
executed. He appears to have been
the one who actually stabbed Brazell
to death. In his case the physicians
declared him dead in four minutes
and seven seconds. Fox also asked