RAWLINGS CASE AFFIRMED.
Supreme Court Sustains Judge Mirchell in Rawlings’ Cases, but Reverses in Frank Turner’s Case.
Atlanta, Georgia, November 8.—The Supreme Court has affirmed the decisions in all of the Rawlings cases but reversed the decision in the case against Frank Turner, charged with accessory before the fact to the murder of W. L. Carter, sentenced to the penitentiary for life.
This means that the death sentence will be imposed upon J. G., Milton, and Jessie Rawlings, and that the life sentence will be passed upon Leonard Rawlings.
The decision of the court was unanimous, all of the justices affirming it. The reversal in the case of Frank Turner was probably upon the ground that, while he was indicted as accessory before the fact to the killing of W. L. Carter, the evidence did not show that Carter had been killed.
The new trial in the case against Turner will make it necessary to stay the sentence against Alf Moore until that case is settled, as Alf is the main witness against Turner. It is understood that neither of the Rawlings is a witness in this case, so it will not be necessary to stay their sentence on that ground.
It is not known yet when the new sentence will be imposed, though it will hardly be done before the week after next, when the regular term of Superior Court will be held. It is not known yet what steps the attorneys in the case will take next.
RAWLINGS AND HIS BOYS TALK.
About noon today and carried the news of the decision to J. G. Rawlings, his family, and his men. The elder Rawlings, the reporter, and Sheriff Passmore entered. Milton Rawlings was intently reading a newspaper, while Jesse was sitting in a chair further down the cage.
When it was announced that the decision had been received, the elder Rawlings asked what it was. When told that the court had affirmed the decision in the case of himself but had reversed it in the case of Frank Turner, he said:
“Well, that’s right as far as Frank Turner is concerned. He had absolutely nothing to do with it. Joe Brantley and Alf Moore both were careful not to let Frank Turner know a thing about their plans.”
While the elder Rawlings was talking, Milton Rawlings went on reading his paper as though nothing was happening. Jesse Rawlings sat listening to his father without showing the slightest emotion, while Leonard seemed to be filled with sympathy for his condemned brothers.
There was a moment of silence in the jail when the elder Rawlings spoke up again and said:
“Sheriff, you know I told you the other night that I would not care if my whole family, from the baby girl up, was hanged, and you thought there were not only hundreds but thousands of lies told in this thing. I don’t feel worthy, and such an execution as that might help throw light upon it. My family may be sinners, but they have not committed the unpardonable sin unless it is myself, and I believe God would forgive them when they went to their reward.”
Some mighty good people have had to die the death of martyrs that great truths might come from it, and I believe that the execution of my whole family might bring about great salvation to some who need it. I am not caring so much myself,” he continued, “but just for truth’s sake, I would like for the facts to come out here. My boys had no more to do with the killing of those children than my girls had, and they had no more to do with it than you or anybody else.”
After pausing a few minutes, he continued:
“I have felt sorry a thousand times for what I have done and will regret it as long as I live. I often wish I could live over my life again—not so much for what I have done, but that’s the way I feel about it, anyhow,” he continued.
Milton Talks Plain.
At this juncture, Milton dropped his paper and looked at the sheriff and said:
“Sheriff, I believe that you know I did not have anything to do with that killing. I believe that Alf Moore has said enough to you to convince you of that.”
“Alf Moore says every time I talk to him that you were there. He tells the same story now that he has always told. I have tried to shake him,” said the sheriff, “but he won’t budge an inch.”
“A lying scoundrel,” commented Milton. “I wish that negro was burned until he would tell the truth. I bet they wouldn’t have to touch more than once or twice before he would tell the truth.”
“That wouldn’t do any good,” said the elder Rawlings. “They would say then that it was a forced confession.”
“Any n****r that would lie like he has lied…”
“Don’t talk that way, Milton,” said the old man. “I don’t think they will go to hell—they may have their punishment here.”
“If folks like that don’t go there, they ought to break up the place,” was Milton’s rejoinder. “There were folks mixed up in this thing that are going to suffer if they don’t now,” he continued.
“Oh, hush up, Milton,” chimed in Jesse. “How do you know who was mixed up in it? You weren’t there!”
“Old Carter and his crowd,” Milton replied.
None of the boys seemed to be very much worried by the decision of the Supreme Court, though they all vigorously denied any knowledge of the crime. The elder Rawlings repeated what they said on their behalf with the statement that he had always been careful not to let the boys know anything about his plans and that he was especially careful to keep them out of the conspiracy which he and Alf Moore fixed up for putting Carter out of the way.