The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-14
NEGRO SLAYERS
 TO BE HANGED
 ON JANUARY g
Sentence Is Passed On John Milton And Will
 lie Green

John Milton and Willie Green, con- victed negro murderers, were both sen tenced to be hanged on January 23, 1925 by judges in the criminal di- vision of the circuit court Saturday morning.
 Both sentences were pronounced at practically the same time. Judge Will liam F. Fort invoking the extreme sentence of the law to Milton while Judge II. B. Heflin gave the same sentence to Green. In both cases they had been found guilty of first degree murder and the death penalty ordered by the jury.
 Before Judge Fort sentenced Mil ton, his attorneys, Frank Bainbridge and F. A. Tharp, vigorously attempt ed to have the verdict set aside and their client granted new trial. They based their contention upon the legal ity of a question asked by Solicitor Jim Davis, who inquired of Milton, They arrested you in Ohio for an as sault upon a white woman, didn't they!''
 In support of this motion. Chief Deputy Sheriff Henry S. Hill, Mill ton and newspaper reporters, were placed on the witness stand. These witnesses stated that Milton was ar rested in Ravenna, Ohio, for an as- sault with intent to murder negro woman.
 Judge Fort, however, overruled the motion on the grounds that, as the jury was instructed to entirely dis regard the question. it was not pre- judicial and did not. in his opinion,
 
 Milton was then called before the He denied the killing and denied con fessing to. officers while being re- turned to Birmingham.
 II have been on the bench for 12 years," Judge Fort then stated. n case in which the evidence was so to be so little provocation. This is q human court and while l am not re ouired by law to do so, I advise you to set yourself right with Almighty God and your conscience by telling the truth before the execution of the sen tence.
 II sentence you to be hanged un- til dead on January 23, of next year"
 
 Milton was a convict in one of the sion could not do any harm and would be a benefit to him, but without avail.
 In connection with the motion to reverse the verdict, it was stated in the court room Saturday morning that jurors had asserted they did not con slider the question in litigation in reaching the verdict. One juror was said to have declared that the jury was unanimous for the death verdict on the first ballot
 Future plans of Milton's attorneys are" not known. At one time, they stated that the case would be appealed and later said that their plans were indefinite.
 Milton was convicted ten days ago for the murder of eight months old Maedron Collins, near Morris, Ala, about four months ago. At that time Milton was convt in one of the county camps and escaped the day the child was killed. At the same time, he is said to have attempted to as sault the childs mother who positive ly identified Milton during the trial.
 Willie Green, who was sentenced to die on the same day as Milton, was found guilty of murdpring his wife. Evidence brought out during the trial was to the effect that Green caused his wife's death by cutting her. This was the second trial for Green, the first one resulting in mstrial when seven jurors held out for the death penalty and the remainder for life imprisonment.
 SEEK RENEWED INTEREST