The Dawson news., 1925-03-24
One of Only Two Women in Geor-
gia Who Have Met Death on
GaIlows. Career of Governor
Who Refused to Save Her Life.

The grave of James Milton Smith
caargia's first governor elected by the
(.ooje after the days of reconstruc-
,;oo was visited recently at Alta Vista
,sn7eterv in Gainesville, Ga, by the
Rev. Homer Thompson, of the North
Georgia Conference.
This visit recalls the hanging OF
crsan Eberhart, put to death on the
oalIows at Preston, Ga, Webster
County. in May, 1873; for it was Gov
ernor Smith who refused to commute
the woman's sentence-thiS refusal be-
inc based on his firm belief in the ne
ressitv of law enforcement says the
Atlanta Journal.
As governor James Milton Smith
was hailed as "Georgias deliverer, u
his term of office following the un-
happy period OF reconstruction. He
WAS reelected in 1874, and later was
warmly supported in his race for the
senate.
Susan Eberhart, who was hanged
while Governor Smith was chief exec
ntive. was convicted jointly with
Enoch Spann of the horrible murder
of Spann's wife on May 4, 1872.
In refusing to interfere with the
mandate of the court Governor Smith
said:
Il have gone carefully through the
records of the case. There is no flaw
in the trial, and the evidence of guilt
j unmistakable. A governor does not
make law. 1t is his duty to interfere
cnlv when the law is perverted"
Gives Details of Murder.
In writing of his visit to Governor
Smiths grave Mr.. Thompson quotes
this opinion, and sketches the life of
this brilliant Georgian. He also gives
details of the terrible murder OF Sarah
Spann.
Records of the supreme court Of
Georgia show that on May 4, 1872,
Enoch F. Spann and his wife, Sarah
Spann, were seen together at their
iarm house in Webster county, be-
tween 9 and 10 o'clock at night. The
next morning the wife was found in
bed strangled to death. A handker-
chief, stained with blood, was wadded
under her pillow At the back of the
house was found a rope upon which
were strands of hair like that OF the
murdered woman.
Search was at once begun for Spann
and for Susan Eberhart, who was en-
ploved as a servant at the farm, and
who lived in a small house i'll the rear
Of the lot. Her father was farmer
in a small way, who was not equal to
srnnorting his large family of girls,
and for this reason Susan had sought
and obtained domestic employment
with the Spanns.
Near the house where the murdered
woman Law were tracks in the mud
made by two people who had apparr-
emily been running, one track made
by large shoe and the other by the
bare foot of a woman.
Nine DAYS after the murder Susan
Eberhart and Enoch Spann were dis
covered together in Alabama, working
among the cotton pickers on large
farm. They confessed to the murder,
and the girl told a story of misplaced
affections and deliberate plans OF long
standing to put the unwanted wife out
OF the way.
Susan said that she was awakened
on the night of the murder by Spann's
knocking on her window and saying:
Wen have it over with now. No
more waiting. Come along.
How Murder Was Done.
During the month and half that
he had thought OF the murder he had
devised shrewd schemes OF conceal
mcnt. When he actually committed
the crime he showed only brutality.
Followed by the girl he was to mar
ny when rid OF his wife, Spann enter
ed the room where his wife was sleep