Newton County GaArchives News.....GEORGE SIMMS, Only A Few Days To Live, AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PRISONER November 20 1874
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Phyllis Thompson http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002524 June 27, 2004, 7:46 pm

The Georgia Enterprise
     On Tuesday morning we obtained the jail keys  and in company with Deputy 
Sheriff Floyd slowly wended our way to the Covington jail to interview the 
condemned man, George Simms, who will be hung on Friday, next, 27th of 
November. After unlocking the heavy iron doors we silently approached the 
felon's lonely dungeon. He was dressed in a plain pair of pants and a heavy 
cotton shirt. As we gazed upon his form and looked in his face, a shudder came 
over our heart at the thought that this poor man had only ten short days to 
spend on earth.- He was chained by one leg to an iron ring in the centre of the 
granite floor, and presented a picture of perfect health.
     We began by asking the unfortunate criminal HOW HE FELT?
George- I am just living and that is about all.
Reporter- You are in good health are you not?
G.- Oh, yes, in splendid health, but how in the devil, Mr. Hawkins, can a man 
think he's living when he has only ten days to prepare to die? When the hideous 
sight of a coffin is ever and always, night and day, awake or asleep, before 
me, how can I dwell upon the thought of life?
     After the solemnity of this unpleasant conversation had been forgotten, 
George assumed a lively appearance and in his conversation remarked, BEFORE I 
DIE, I want you to print a tale and send Mr. Harris, of  Savannah News a copy 
of your paper, he likes a thing of that sort and will enjoy it hugely. Tell 
Harris I want to see him and Grady of the Atlanta Herald; they are the darndest 
fellows alive. Also send old Zack, of Oglethorpe county, a copy of the 
ENTERPRISE which contains that little tale.
R.- George, do you have any hope of being saved from the gallows?
G.- There is now no hope. The time is too near at hand- am doomed to die, and 
have begged and prayed to Almighty God to have mercy on me.
R.- Do you feel as lively as you did when last we conversed with you?
G.- I do not. Then I had NO IDEA OF DYING. Now, I know I must die. If I had 
only a thousand dollars, I could yet be saved.
R.- Who could save you now?
G.- A man in Jasper county says he will release me for that sum.
R.- Let us drop that subject, George, and talk of something else more pleasant.
G.- Well, Mr. Hawkins, I want to tell you about the day old man Newt, Jack 
Henderson and Bill Dorsett came to the old jail to see me when I was sick. Bill 
Dorsett put a candle to my bosom as if he intended to burn me, I knew I would 
be burned some day but I knew also that he was too clever a man to do it before 
I was dead; even then I do not believe he is the cremationist to do it. I love 
them men, and if their boots don't shine for twenty years after I'm dead there 
ain't no blacking in the United States. Tell Col. Clark of Covington, I want 
him to see me hung. He is a noble  man, and God never made a braver one. Tell 
Lem Anderson good-bye, he done his duty in my case. I am innocent, yet my neck 
feels as if a  rope was around my throat all the time.
     At this moment Judge Henderson, Dr. Lon Means and J. W. Anderson entered 
the jail. We gave way and called upon Judge Henderson to propound a few 
questions to George.
     The Judge asked him where he expected to go when he died: he replied "To 
Hell or Heaven one," and continued by saying, that the negro testimony in his 
case, COULD CONVICT JESUS CHRIST.
     Here he made a speech and told the Judge he had no doubt the deed was done 
and the woman outraged, and he would perhaps burn in Hell, yet maybe he would 
meet the Judge there some day and convince him of his innocence. If the Judge 
was there he expected to appear before him and then plead his own cause.
     George promised the Judge not to haunt him after death; and said he was 
afraid the Judge would go to Heaven and he would never have an opportunity of 
seeing him until the day Gabriel tooted his horn.
Judge- How will you appear before the devil, George?
G.- Will face him in a bad humor. If I was guilty I would bet my body I could 
cheat him out of Hell in less time than it would take Leon Livingston to make a 
speech in the Legislature.
Judge- How much would you give to get out of this scrape?
G.- I would give millions, but if old man Newt would allow me shirt-tail 
distance I wouldn't give a d_m. I would trot these back streets like a race 
horse and Smith nor Floyd couldn't come in to the Judge's stand in six months 
after I left the jail door.
     Just here he said he wanted the colored people to live in peace with the 
whites. The southern man is the only true friend the negro has got and if he 
deserts him the black man is forever gone- he will be totally ruined.
     George said, if Col. Anderson was to run for Sheriff of Newton County he 
would certainly haunt every man black and white who voted against him, 
although, Col. Anderson might hang him, for it was his duty to do it; and he 
always loved the man who had courage enough to do his duty. He blamed only the 
negro witnesses in his case for the manner in which they refused to prove an 
alibi for him.
R.- George, are you ready to sell your body now to any of the Covington doctors?
G.- You know what will be done with my body and also know who have the papers 
to claim it.
     Recently I have been advised not to sell, but it is too late now. When I 
am hung I want Dr. Branham to examine and pronounce me dead.- I have great 
faith in this man, he is a full blooded gentleman and will do the "clean thing."
     He loved Judge Cody because the Judge had a magnanimous heart and had 
given and sent him many luxuries since his confinement. If he had twenty 
thousand dollars he would will half of it to the Judge and the other half to 
this reporter. "Would to heaven he had."
     In conclusion George said he wanted to return thanks to R. W. Bagby for 
his kindness to him. As we left the door he spoke and said, "Mr. Hawkins, 
farewell! may God bless and protect you and Mas. Tom's gal, as long as you 
live!"
     We will visit the prisoner one day next week, and obtain the names of the 
friends he desires to be present at his hanging. He is under no obligations, he 
says to Judge Hall for not hanging him publicly, and begs Col. Anderson to get 
thick and heavy bagging to make a tent so no one can see him save those he 
invites and the Sheriff's guard.


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