The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-10-04
TRIOOF NEGROES
DIE TO EXPIATE
SHERIFF'S DEATH
Widow OF Slain Officer
Sees Louisiana Blacks
Pay Penalty

JONESBORO, La, Oct. 3.-Three ne
groes, who attributed their downfall 20
whisky and running around" were
hanged simultaneously here today on a
triple gallows for the murder August
70 of Sheriff e. NJ. Rentz, Of Jackson
parish. The widow of the slain Of
ficer was admitted to the Jail yard Il
few minutes before the men, Booker
Boone, Willie Washington and Free,
man Coleman, mounted the gallows, and
witnessed the execution.
Neither of the condemned men knew
that last minute attempt had been
made by Shreveport attorneys TO OBJ
tain reprieve for Boone and Wash
ingtpn on the ground that they were
handcuFed to Coleman at the time
ofthe murder and that Coleman actual
" killed the officer. Governor Fuqua,
in denying the reprieve, stated that he
had investigated che case thoroughly
: and that the officer met his death as a
result of a conspiracy on the part Of the
trio to escape after they had been ar.
rested at liquor still. =
Two Strange To Death
The men were composed as they
mounted the gallows platform. Cole
mans neck was broken in the fall,
while his companions strangled to
death.
Given an opportunity to address the
crowd about the Jail before the death
march began, the negroes spoke from
the window of their cell. Boone and
Washington advised married men to g,
out with their wives and the unmarried
to stay at home, while the former
urged the unmarried to join the church
and marry. Don't handle whisky,
said Boone. 81 was not handling it at
the time this thing happened, but mere
ly went to see run l took the
wrong way once, but Jesus has got me
now"
Boone reviewed the Staying of the
sheriff and said that as his pistol was
ierked from his hoster when the three
prisoners, handcuffed together, attacked
him. he pleaded with them not to shoot
him. Don't shoot me, boys, Ill turn
you loose" Boone quoted him as hay
ing said.
from whisky" Coleman urged his hear
ers. II am sorry killed Sheriff Rentz
and I don't know why / did it.
Trial Was Brick
Boone, Washington and Coleman
we're convicted at one of the shortest
murder trials in the history of the state.
Court was convened at 10 a. m, and
a jury was obtained from the IL venire-
ukata off
testimony and concluded its case within
an hour while the defense occupied only
25 minutes, its two witnesses, Boone
and Washington, testifying that Cole
man was the actual slayer. Coleman
previously had confessed his guilt. Ar
gument consumed only a few minutes
and the courts charge to the jury was
brief. The jury reported its verdict
four minutes after it received the case.
Sheriff Rentz and deputy had ar
rested the negroes the night of AHgrs-
%. III the woods near Ansiey, while
they were in the act Of making r:-,trl-
shine Iiducr. The shnris nandeufad
The trio together and inst ructed the
depot to proceed to AnsleS, a half mile
sway, a64 obtain an automobile ~
which 10 transport the prisoners to
Jail at Jonesforo.
Shot With O%r sfnn
The sheriff folio We'd with the negroes
and apparently was picking a path
through the woods with his flashlight
when he was attacked from the rear.
Coleman managed to gain possession of
the officers pistol and shot him. The
deputy, some distance away, heard the
shot and the cutlery of the sheriff, but
had difficulty In reaching the scene be-
cause of the darkness. When he found
the sheriff he was dead and the prison
ers had disappeared.
The fugitives did not wait to obtain
from the sheriff's body the key to their
shackles but still handcuffed together
made their way to the outskirts of Ans
ley, where a friendly negro removed
them. They then separated, fleeing in
different directions.
jackson and surrounding parishes
were armed camps for several days,
while hundreds of citizens and officers
combed every nook and Granny in the
search for the fugitives. They finally
were captured, the last man having
been found near Shreveport.