Negro Murderer Hanged Today at the County Jail

Title

Source Type

Newspapers

Publisher

Tuscaloosa News

Publication Place

Tuscaloosa, AL

Publication Date

07/19/1912

Transcript

NEGRO MURDERER HANGED TODAY AT THE COUNTY JAIL Frank Richardson Pays Penalty For Murder of White Men. COMMUTATION REFUSED After Singing and Bidding Friends Farewell, Calmly Goes to His Death. For the first time in eight years, the death penalty was imposed in Tuscaloosa county today when Frank Richardson, a negro, was hanged for murder. Richardson killed former Deputy Tom Cooper and Brown Horton, who was a member of the pursuing posse. Richardson was hanged at noon, today and 17 minutes later was pronounced dead by the physicians attending. The execution took place in the county jail and was witnessed by a number of people. A crowd of several hundred remained on the outside while the execution took place. The negro was extremely calm, and held his nerve to the end. He was attended by several ministers, and expressed his readiness to go. Two songs were sung in which the condemned negro took the lead. He expressed his thanks to Sheriff Palmer, and his deputies for their kindness and consideration. He said that he regretted the killing, but claimed that he was forced into it. Richardson was attired in the usual black suit of clothes. He greeted all his friends in the crowd and smiled most of the time. His composure was perfect, and as the noose was adjusted on his neck, he remarked that it choked slightly. As the trap was sprung by Sheriff Palmer, he called good bye. The execution of Richardson follows a hard legal fight. Convicted of the murder of Brown Horton and sentenced to hang on December 22, a reprive of sixty days was secured by his attorneys, Rice and Vandevoort. Another reprive was secured later. When a new trial was refused, an effort was made to have the sentence commuted to life imprisonment. Every member of the jury signed a petition that the sentence be changed to life imprisonment, and the three members of the pardoning board recommended the commutation to Governor O'Neal. Judge H. B. Foster of, the county court and Sheriff W. C., Palmer wrote letters to the governor asking that the death sentence be carried out. County Solicitor Verner, and Mr. Robert Cornell of the sheriff's office and Mr James Walker went over to Montgomery last night and held a conference with the governor, recommending that the sentence be carried out. Attorney James Rice, presented the petition of the entire jury and a number of citizens of Tuscaloosa, together with the recommendations of the pardoning board, that the sentence be commuted to life imprisonment. The governor declined, to interfere. The crime for which Richardson paid the death penalty was committed about nine months ago. On Sunday October 22 last, he killed former Deputy Tom Cooper who wen, to Richardson's house for the purpose of borrowing a saddle. He escaped and early the following morning,

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