The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-07
Efforts To Obtain Reprieve
For Tom Wilson Again Made
Before Pardon Board, Which
Will Act Thursday
BRANDON CANCELS DATE
FOR ATHENS CONFERENCE
Willie GoIson Gibbers At Re-
porter After ConfesSing His
Attacks Upon Birmingham
Women-Baptized In Jail

Four persons Will die on the gallows,
in different sections of Alabama, Fri
day, unless Governor Brandon inter
venes Nellie Bester, negro woman.
convicted for the murder of her hus-
band, temporarily escaped by filing
an application for Communication of
sentence Wednesday. after her appeal
for rehearing had been denied. Tom
Wilson of Athens, sentenced to be
hanged for the murder of Kirby Cole,
is the only white man of the five.
New efforts were made in his behalf
Wednesday before the board of par
dons. Ben Moore, Chambers county
negro. will be hanged for the murder
of a white man, j. A. Taylor. Winston
Jackson, Wilcox county negro, is to
die for the murder of another white
man, Jim Donaldson. Willie Golson
will be hanged between IL and -
o'clock Friday in the Jefferson coun
lacking white women.
Wilson Awaits Fate.
With the hands of the clock grad
ually ticking away the remaining
hours of his life, Tom Wilson awaits
his fate in the Limestone county Jail
at Athens. Officers say he eats and
sleeps regularly and troubles no one.
a new gallow has been erected in the
county tool house in the Jail lot and
rope has been bought and tested.
All is in readiness.
Ministers have been in constant
toucht with the condemned youth
1t is not believed IL Athens that
Governor Brandon will interfere.
Numerous appeals for clemency have
been made to the governor. Evidence
has been collected by those interested
il, the case, which they claim will
piove an alibi, should Wilson be
granted rehearing. Governor Bran
don, who was scheduled to speak in
Athens Thursday, has Cancelled his
engagement and will remain in
Washington. Thus far, no COM
munication has been received from
the governor. Action by him now will
call for a telegram to Solicitor
Wall at Athens.
son was made before the board of
pardons at Montgomery Wednesday
afternoon by ]. G. Rankin, attorney,
who asked that a reprieve be granted
for submission of further testimony
should the board decline to recon-
mend Communication. Evidence in
tended to show Grady Christopher
who killed Cole, according to Wilson's
confession, was at his home in Can
ton, Ga, until o'clock of the after
noon Cole was killed, was submitted
in the form of a telegram from the
Canton chief of police to Harwell G..
Davis, attorney general.
Claims Alibi For Wilson.
Mr.. Rankin stated evidence prob
ably would be submitted to show
that Wilson was with girl at
Huntsville the afternoon of the kill
ing. The\board of pardons announced
during the afternoon that final ac-
ticn will be taken on Wilson's APP
peal Thursday afternoon.
According to the confession OF
Wilson. alleged to have been written
for his signature by detective,
Grady Christopher killed Kirby Cole
Christopher was killed by officers
who sought to arrest him in Illinois.
where he and Wilson had fled. The
telegram to the attorney general
came from D. T. Smith, chief of po-
lice of Canton, Ga. and stated Chris
topher was undoubtedly at Canton
until o'clock the afternoon Cole
was killed.
r. b. Patton, another- attorney &c:
Wilson, is en- route to Montgomery
with several affidavits indicating
that Christopher was at Canton on
the day of the murder.
Mr.. Rankin said citizen OF
Huntsville has gone to Tennessee in
search of the girl said to have been
killed. Wilson contends he was in
Huntsville when the crime was COM
mitted and that he took no part in it.
Hear Plea For jackson.
The board also heard a plea for
Communication of the death sentence
of Winston Jackson. Wilcox county
negro. sentenced to hang for the
murder of Jim Donaldson. This pc
tition was taken under advisement
No appeals have been made for
Willie Golson, sentenced to die for
attacking Birmingham white women.
Before Chief Deputy Sheriff Henry
Hill other deputy sheriffs and four
negro preachers, Golson confessed
his guilt Wednesday morning. Fol
lowing the confession, he kneeled in
prayer with preachers and was later
baptized by Rev. l.. H. Boyd, negro
pastor of his mothers church.
A strange feeling assails one as he
walks the iron stairs alone to the
row iron-grated window at the &C =
demned man. Golson sits upon an
iron cot. his fingers nervously fun
bling Bible.
Golson Mumbles
Get up, Willie and talk to me,
the reporter asked.
He arises.
He mumbles something inarticu-
lately about wishing it were all
over" He mumbles that he has been
forgiven for his sins and Is ready to
die.
Understanding or not, Golstn must
pay his debt to society between IL
and 10 o'clock Friday morning on the
gallows, where his father was hanged
more than 25 years ago.
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