Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-06-20
MURDER TRIO PAY
Kirby, GappinS and Fox EleCtrOCuted
,e EARLY Friday Morning.
KIRBY RESISTED TO The LAST

q Gappins Leaves Warning to Young
Men and Oid-He and Fox Were
40 Calm at End-Paid for Murder OF
William Brazeil.
Obstinate, repentant, humble-these
words describe the manner In which
the murder trio" went to their deaths
as the sun peepcd over the peniientiary
walls Friday morning, relates the Co
lunbia Record of Saturday morning.
!. 1t was cool outside, but sweat stood
& on the faces of many who were at the
death house to sec the execution OF the
three men whose crime shocked
state, and who sent to an untimely
grave a young Columbian, whose car
they, took and whom they killed, to
cover their theft.
Kirby was obstinate. Because ne
was not allowed to make his final
STATEMENT to the audience as he stood
at the entrance of the death audi
torium. he refused TO submit peace
fdily to the strapping into the big
chair. and officers were forced to
handle him with force and to deprive
him of the privilege of making his last
statement.
Gappins prayed as he sat in the
chair. stand by me, dear Lord, In
my last moments on this earth he
began, and then fcrvently he poured
out his soul for forgiveness, and the
B band of the electrician was stayed, as
the young man prayed. But the prayer
!, was finally ended when the 1900 volt
current was sent huning through his
body.
Both Gappins and Fox warned young
/ men against bad company and disrc-
gard for law. Fox was humble. Good
morning gentlemen" he said, as he
entered the death chamber. Il have
very little to say" he muttered. Il
hold nothing against anyone. hope
to meet the other boys in heaven"
Three ministers held services with
the men before they left their cells. AT
$3.50. his|morning the captain of the
guard read the death warrant to the
linen. At 6;12 the first man was led to
the chair room, and within so minutes
the triple execution was ended.
The trio appeared TO have slept well
during the night. A light breakfast
was given the men early in the morn
ing.
There were no relatives of the men
present. None cared to witness the
executions, but later they called at the
prison to make arrangements for dis
position of the bodies. Local under
takers prepared the bodies for burial
Captain Roberts entered the death
!. house, with reporters, at 5:25 his mis-
sion being to read the death warrant 20
the trio. Boys, / have very serious
letter, to read to you," the captain be-
gan, and then he proceeded to read the
formal warrant of death, which declar-
ed that they should be put to death in
the electric chair between sun-up and
sun down on June 16, land may God
have mercy on your souls"
While the warrant was being read
) to Fox and Gappins, whose cells ad-
join, Rev. j. C. Abney. state hospital
chaplain, and Rev. Murphy, together
). with the prison chaplain, Rev. ]. w.
Anderson, were holding a little fare
we'll service of prayer with Kirby, on
the opposite side Of the death house.
q Nd Contain RnhnrtS
stood respectfully aside until the little
service was over, and prayer service
s%as then held for Fox and Gappins,
while the pcnitentiary guard captain
-, read the warrant to Kirby.
After the warrant was read to Kirby,
the captain told the doomed man that
he had very short time to live.
..:sI'T have a request to make" said
- Kirby.
+. ". what is it?" asked the captain.
"That you allow me to so out of here
of ny. own accord, without being led
by guard. Papa has gone before and
mamma has gone before me, and the
uthers will come on soOn."
Captain Roberts then told Kirby how
to cut his pants leg so tina: the cleo
trode could be properly adjusted when
e. he reached the chair. And the DOOM
ed man was left to himself for his last
: minutes on garth.
At G:07 the first Witnesses were ush-
!. cred into the death chamber, and at
90 6:10 the chair was tested. one minute
: later Kirby entered the death Chamber,
walking behind Captain Roberts In
: two minutes he was strapped to, the
;. chair. Before being strapped Kirby
wanted to make statement, standing
= before the witnesses, but he was rcfus-
:. ed, this being always allowed after the
:. criminal enters Tic chair.
When Kirby'3 right arm was strap
:, ped to the chair his left arm being am
putatcd several years ago, the man be-
- gam to nervously tap the arm of the
- big oakCn chair with his fingers and
- continued this until the two body
: straps were adjusted. He forced him
,