Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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VOLUME XXXVII. MURDERERS OF G TALI Kirby, Fox and Gappins Face W. E. Itraell, Whose Son They Killed, in I Death House at Peitentlary. To 4 Die in Chair Friday4 Tell Sanet Stories as Ever Before. The State, June '12. '%I-low does it feel to stand here face to face with the father of the boy you killed?" This question was asked yesterday morning in the death house at the I state penitenfiary of S. J. Kirby, C. I 0. Fox and Jesse Gappins by W. E. 1 'Brazell, father of William Brazell, 4 the young taxi driver, for nwhose mur- I der Kh'by, Gappins and Fox are to I die in the electric chair Friday, and I the only answer the three men coulu I give was the repetition of their stories 1 as to how the crime took place. It was Mr. Brazell's first visit to the three men since their sentencing, although be had sat through the trial and had twice heard Kirby, Gappinb and Fox sentenced to die. The trip was made at the request of Kirby, 'who asked iMr. 'Brazell 'to call at the death house to see him before the electrocuti'on., None of the three men recogniz(ed Mr. iBrazell when he con- I fronted them, separated from them only by the barred coll doors. I "I'm glad to see you," Kirby told I the murdered boy's father, "but not I here. I wanted to see you before I I left this world to tell you that' be fore G0od I an sorry for 'what I did. I l would to God that I could exchange I with your boy and would gladly lay down my life if I could bring him I back." "What I never could understand," -ir. Brazell interripted, "is why you 'three 'big straLpping men 'had to kill my little boy to take his car." "It's 'a mystery to me, too," Kirby said. "I'd never seen -him before. Gap piins and Fox were waiting for me at the Seaboard station and they told, me first to get Big Bill's car and it Ihad 'been Iurned up so they told me then to get any car and ii saw your boy's car parked near Main street. It was the first one I came to and that's tne - reason that he was killed." "Kirby," Mir. Brazell told him, "you I have talked a good deal about your I iwife and I am sorry for her, but did you ever think of my poor 'boy's moth er, who was an invalid at .the time of the boy's murder and ever since?" I "I am sorry for them and for you," Kirby answered. "I am sorry for what I I did .and I wish that the 'boy had t killed us all three rather than have i it happen as it did. 'But I want some one to look out for -my wife and child I when I am dead." "'Wll," ir. Brazell told him in pat-ting, "as far as you are concerned I leave it up 'to you and your god." I Gappins deyted any knowledge of I the fact that young Brazell was to V -have been-killed, claiming'that-he had I thought that Kirby iwas to ipick uP F a car on the street wrich ithey could i then drive to 'Florida and sell. "If I had knowvn Ito was to be killed," Gal) pins told Ldt'. )3razell, "I would not have gone. If it had been ldft to me 1 ho would have been alive today." "You held his hand while he was I -being killed," Mr. !Irazell told hIm. ( "You drove the car. It could not have .h'een carried out if you had left them. Why didn't you qutiu You 'have had a '1 lot to say about your mother since I you have been here. Why didn't you *think albout thte m'other of my 'boy? lie was the only companion she had; 'I was away from the house during theo day. 'Why didn't you think about her and your mother before you corn .mitted the crime?" * GPDIRB hlnhg Ia he~pd " k!1W' hoW: * his mother feels," he said. "And I'm sorry for her." Mr. Brpizell turned to leave. "Gasp-4 pins," he said, "I .believe you are the worst of the three of you. You have .tr~ed to shield yourself 'behind Fox and Kirby and you and ,Kirby lacked th orage to play the part that Fox Mm ready to moot mny God with the story I've told,' Iappins eaid,,ang -Mr. Brazeli then turned' to Po who; 'is confined ini the adjoining cell. * 'ox/' he eaid, "I fedl florry for 'you. I've met your f ther4 id I founid hirm to be' gontloim 9 8x told pi ,P:, thwt 'be '1iall ti to zdiseo 'y 'gt ut stipiog y*Mthei h Ot~n tru h~ " oib o.ir i~ nWo *hWerd tyf109* ION i WITH FATHEF t good man and I don't say so becaus e Is my father. I've nothing .to sa; tgainst my 'raising. Gappins told m tbou-t it first and then about a wee] ater Gapirins and Kirby and I talkei t over together and that night Kirb; vent and got the -car while we waitei Lt the Seaboard station. Then we go n 'and Kirby told him Where to go. iad the -black Jack which had beel riven .to Gappins by Kirby and to cm >y Gappins. Several times along th -oad Gappins and K-irby got out of th ,ar and talked together and each tim hey would come back and tell m vhat they had plotted. Finally Kirb rot in the back seat with me and tol ne to tell the 'boy to stop and then t lit him with the -black Jack. I did an .he black Jack flew- to pieces and Kir )y and Gappins got out on the righ land side of the car with the 'bo; vhlile I got out on the left. When ,ame round the -back of the car the; vere holding him and Kirby 'wa hoking him. I had opened my knif, tnd Kirby told me -to stab him-tha 'omething had to be done. And tuck the knife in him while the othe wo held Ihim. 'Once my conscience re 'olted against it and I stopped away >ut they -told me to go on and I did in not denying my -part. I am sorry was' in with them and had promisei o help them and I did." "I hope you have found peace, "th )oy' father told Fox in leaving. "I s 1 betiween you and your God. vi - howed the -most genuine enio ion of ic three while Gappins ap eared to. be 'in an argumentative, al nost dellant mood. "It ever three men went to hell, 4r. Brazell said as lie left the deatl iouse, "I believe these three will go. Sra * a * a a S S S S * GRAY COURT NEWS * * * * * * * S e * e S Gray Court, June 12.-A very happ: vent of the week iwas .the surprisi oirthday dinner given to Mrs. Beltoi )wens on last Tuesday by her daugh ers, .Mrs. Langdon Brooks, Mrs. T. T1 3abb and Mrs. Dr. Beason, being giv n at the .beautiful home of Mrs. 'Lang Ion Brooks. All of her brothers an( isters had been invited, and all wera iresenr for the celebration. At th ppointed hour the dining room wa: hrownI oibn and all invited .to pal ake of the 'bountiful dinner which la< een prepared for the happy occasion In the centre of the table was th4 arge birthday cake which 'bore 7' andles. ihose present were Mrs. Carolino ;ray, Mrs. Belle Gray, of Fountafi nn, Mr, and Mrs. Rufus Gray, Mr. an( Irs. Walker Gray, Mrs. 'Emmie Reeves Irs. C. V. 'Hiipp, Miss -Sue Gray, o den section, Mr. and Mrs. John Arm. trong, of -Laurens, Mr. T. H. Babb an anily, Dr. and Mrs Beason, Mr. ani trs. Belton Owens, Messrs. Gray Hipi nd Rufus Gray. Mrs. Leon Yeargin iwas at home or ast Friday afternoon, entertining witI 'mriscellaneous shower .in hlonor of irs. Leonard Owings (nlee Miss 'T fraig Hlunter) a recent bride, Whier 11 the guests had arrived a cupid con. est ,Was held, 'Misses Sarah Yeargin largle Ropp and Mrs. Leonard Ow ngs'making a tie. 'Miss Sarah Year iln drew the lucky number for thi rice, a beautiful hland-made handkor hief, .being -presented 'by Mrs. Year ~in. 'Mrs. 'Festus 'Curry had bee1 ~sked to 'be toastmistress for th ~hower, and as she was making he enal to the 'bride 'Mrs. 'Loon Yeargil iroug'ht 'in a large .box of gifts and pre oentedl them to the bride. Delightfu nusic was given throughout the ev mning by 'Miss Mary Gray. The hostes ,va assisted in serving a salad cours vith tea by hter sisters, 'Misses Claud mnd Mary Gray. Those present wer Wfisses Eva Shell, Margie Ropp, Bes 3olt, Sarah Yeargin, Claudell -Holdei U.lle 'Babb, 'Mrs. Festus Cur-ry, Mrn U1bort Gray, Mrs., Cary Bolt, Mrs. ', la. Pace, Mra. R'erbert. Owings, Mrs Moenard Owings and Mis Marguerit Rodgers. There is a good deal .it fever 11 rayft Court. ?&', 'anid'ti-s John Putnaw, of Ow ags,' apent .'Lhursdpy 'i h Mr'. an Ibd 'illy' 'n IGreanp d asotian" Saturday visiting Mr, Jeff Willis, who Is sick. Miss lRuth Owings visited relatives in 'Laurens last week. Mr. Bartlett Owings and family vis ited Mr. and Mrs. A. C. -heli last Thursday. Miss 1olcomb, after spending sev eral days with Mrs. Jane Owings, re turned to her home near Harmony last week. 'The protracted meeting is being t held at the Methodist church this week. E X t F I ESPECIA1 Bathin t We still have lots o Shoes and Caps for men, Going Fast Th< Men Ke Men why go crazy have lots of Palm Beach men and young men. Pj $10.-00 ti Wash .One lot Wash Shirts, fast for Torsch( 2 and 2 1-2 inch T4 8c. 23'Yds. : BiShwn haeyorsie Wht reed atin W ew stilorav lfts in SoesadCpsfrmn 79cothe Y 2 and2v2inc * QCROSS IIILL NEWS * * Cross Ili, June 12.--Wr. and Mrs. T. B. Crews spent Friday In Asheville. Mr. Furnian iGrillin is at home from Clemson. Mir. V. T. Speapman is spending awhile In Columbia with his daugh-' .ter. j Mr. E. W. Kennedy, Miss .Lucile, James and Craig Kennedy were guests I )-ROPEl TRA S 'OR THI ,LY SELECTED g Suits f Bradley Bathing Suits, women and children. ,se Hot Days ep Cool with the heat when we and Keep Cool Suits for rice from D $22.50 Shirts Prices up to $7.00, going .98 )n Lace )rschon Lace, price up to For $1.00 GINGHAM of Gingham and HI Special prices while $2.69 t< Chine Tissue G a de Chine A few pieces be~ vide. Spe-- Ginghams, 32 inc .75 ets. Special fo d- 49c th beautiful Cheap hds wide. One case col: Going out Dresses, 40 inche 25cts. Extra spe< . 5c th s-Rope Lauren2s Best Sore.. >f Mr. and Mrs. Crews, Sunday. Misses Virginia and Dorothy Set itertained a number of little friend >n Saturday afteronon. Miss Jennie Claton (oddard, o Warshington, D. C., Is the guest o relatives here. 'Miss Copeland, of Clinton, Is visit. ig Miss Sue Leaman. .Mr. and Mrs. Hillhouse, of Abbevill4 Lre guests of Mr. and Mrs. E. .a damzs. Mr. '1-assell IMiller, of Whitinire, if he guest of relatives here. COMP PECI) S W.E E FOR SUMMI Dress A few colors in Dress and shrunk), 40 inches m 69c t] Special ir One big case Dress price 25c yard. Special 1 Hair Venida Hair Nets i -i best Net money can buy, 2 foi Double and single He shape. 3 foi DRESSES muse Dresses. Se they last. > $5.98 nghams E t quality Tissue One Io Les wide. Price 40 inches r while it]i e Yd. . Voiles Wa: 'ed Voiles for A few s wide. Price 40 inches ial for goes. S] e Yd. r Com -Quality Made It S MiSS Gladys G1 rIflhii attended Due a West cwun IcmInet las week. dr. an M's. J. H. Nance spent Thursday at Oparta nburg. To Cure a Cold in One Day rake LAX TIVE BROMO QUININE (Tablets.) it stops the Couh and Headache and-works off tile Cold. E. W. GROVE'S signature on each box. 30c. 600 quIckly relieves Colds, Consfipa tion, B1Ilotusness and Headaches. A %Flue Tonie. ANY'S LS K "R WEAR Linens Linens, (all Pure linens ride, going for Ee Yd. i Gingham Gingham, 32 inches wide, this week. 9c Nets cap or fringe shape, the 25c ir Nets in cap or fringe 25c. these while we lotted Swiss t colored Dotte1 Swiss, wide. Price 65cts, going asts $5e per Yd. sh Skirt Goods pieces Wash Skirt Goods, priced up to $1.00, out it . )ecial for 19e' the Yd. p an y 0"