UPSON COUNTY, GA - Newspaper account John McKenzie Hung Tuesday

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JOHN MCKENZIE HUNG TUESDAY 1910- Story 


The Thomaston Times December 9. 1910
John McKenzie Hung Tuesday

John McKenzie, colored; was hanged on the gallows in
the Upson County Jail Tuesday. At 12:47 o'clock
Sheriff C. L. Howell sprung the trap which launched
his soul into eternity.

McKenzie paid the penalty for the crime of murder
committed in the killing of Lewis Ellerbee, another
Negro, about a year ago at a Saturday night Supper
at McKenzie's house. They became involved in a
dispute over the sum of twenty cents and it resulted
in the shooting of Ellerbee by McKenzie. He was
tried at the May Term of Upson Superior Court,
convicted and sentenced to hang. He made an
application for a new trial but was refused and at
the November term of Court was resentenced to hang
on December 6. 

McKenzie met his fate cooly and calmly, in fact he
was the most composed participant in the event. He
watched the preparations for his hanging without a
tremor and his statement just before being hung was
made clearly and without faltering. He did not deny
the killing but claimed that the circumstances were
extenuating. He said he made no preparations to meet
his God and that there had been no change in him so
far as he knew.

When the trap was sprung his neck was broken
instantly by the fall and he died without the quiver
of a muscle, apparently.  He was pronounced head by
Dr. J. M. McKenzie and his body was cut down in
about thirty minutes.