The Ouachita Telegraph - Toney Nellum and Alcee Harris Condemned to Death for Murder of Henry Harris Date: Jul 2000 Submitted by: Lora Peppers ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, January 22, 1875 Page 3, Column 1 A motion in arrest of judgment having been refused, Ailsy Harris and Toney Nellum, convicted of the murder of Henry Harris, will be sentenced by Judge Ray to-day. We learn that their case will, however, be appealed. NOTE: both were sentenced to hang. (Ouachita Telegraph, Friday, January 29, 1875, page 3, column 1) The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, August 20, 1875 Page 2, Column 2 Condemned to Death. There are in the parish jail two colored people, one a man and the other a woman, who are under sentence of death for the crime of murder. The murdered man, Henry Harris, was husband of the woman, Ailsy Harris, with whom was associated in the commission of the crime. Toney Nelum, an old darkey of sleepy aspect and doubtless Ailsy's paramour. The jury, largely composed of colored men, found the accused guilty, after a patient hearing, and an able defense by Judge Caldwell, who carried the case to the Supreme Court where the verdict was sustained, and subsequently a re-hearing refused. The chances for an executive pardon, or commutation of sentence, seem not to be encouraging for the condemned, no one, so far as we can learn, manifesting a willingness to see the culprits escape the full penalty of the law. Ailsy Harris is rather a good looking negro woman, about 27 years of age, of rather sinister expression and was raised in Morehouse parish. Toney Nellum is above middle age, seems to view everything with stolid indifference, and has the impress of ignorance, if not beastiality, upon his features. He recently immigrated from Alabama. There has been no execution in this parish since 1864, when a Mexican, in the Confederate army, was hanged for the murder of Judge Baker's son. We have no knowledge of the hanging of a woman in this portion of the State since its formation. NOTE: Further articles about Harris and Nelum can be found: Execution day set: Friday, November 12, 1875, page 2, column 3. Preparations made: Friday, November 19, 1875, page 2, column 2. The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, November 26, 1875 Page 2, Column 1 THE EXECUTION TO-DAY. A WOMAN AND A MAN TO BE HUNG! THEIR BLOODY CRIME. Visit to the Cells. – Confession of the Condemned, -- Showing how a Brutal Murder was Committed. To-day, between the hours of nine and twelve o'clock, in the forenoon, the majesty of law and the rights of society will be vindicated by a public exhibition of capital punishment, the extreme of all penalties and the most terrible of all exemplifications of the suffering inflicted for the commission of crime. Two human beings, one an old man past sixty years of age, the other a young woman not yet twenty-five, will be taken from the jail and hanged by the neck until dead. THE CRIME. For which these two people are to suffer the penalty of death, is murder – the murder of the husband of the woman. What were the motives of the deed, a brutal murder, may be found in the confessions of the condemned, to follow. THE DISCOVERY. For three or four days following the ()th of May, 1874, Henry Harris, the murdered man, was missing. Henry, now and then, would go on gambling excursions. His wife when asked at this time, where was Henry, replied she supposed he was off gambling. The answer of Alcee satisfied the inquiry, but it was noticed that the MURDERED MAN'S DOG Would go to the bayou close by, go up and down the bank howling, and finally the dog was seen to go out on some logs on the bayou and howl and exhibit other signs calculated to arouse suspicion and wonder. The spot was examined and in the water under the logs a piece of blue flannel was discovered. Further investigation followed, and the body of Henry Harris was found under the logs. SUSPICION FELL Upon Toney Nellum, and he was informally arrested, and put under guard. The morning following he confessed his guilt as the murderer and informed his accusers of the fact that the wife was his accomplice. The Coroner's inquest found the two guilty of the killing, and the case came up before THE DISTRICT COURT Where Toney and Alcee were tried by a jury mainly of their own color. The defense was ably managed by Judge R.J. Caldwell, but the verdict was "Guilty," and the accused were duly sentenced to suffer death. Their council appealed to the Supreme Court on a legal point, but the sentence of the court below was affirmed. DEATH WARRANT. Mr. Kellogg, acting Governor, having been supplied with all the necessary records in the case, and failing to obtain a recommendation from either the District Judge or States Attorney, issued the following warrant of (death): STATE OF LOUISIANA EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, New Orleans, Nov. 4, 1875. Whereas, at the regular term of the 14th Judicial District Court in and for the Parish of Ouachita, held at the courthouse in the said parish, on the 12th day of December in the year of our Lord 1874, before the Hon. Rob't Ray, Judge, Alcee Harris was, in due form of law tried and convicted of the crime of feloniously and of malice aforethought killing and murdering one Henry Harris on the 10th day of May, 1874, and was sentenced to be hung by the neck until dead, in accordance with the laws and statutes of the State, and; Whereas, (it) appears from the certified copy of the record in said case transmitted to me (a copy of which is herewith transmitted in accordance with law) that an appeal having been taken by the said Alcee Harris from the judgment of said 14th Judicial District Court to the Supreme Court of the State that the sentence of the 14th Judicial District Court was affirmed by the Supreme Court and a re-hearing refused, and; Whereas, it is by law made the duty of the Governor of the State in such cases to issue his warrant directed to the Sheriff of the court wherein the sentence or judgment was passed commanding him to cause the execution to be done on the person so condemned in all things according to the judgment against her; Now, therefore, I, William Pitt Kellogg, Governor of the State of Louisiana, do issue this my warrant commanding the Sheriff of the parish of Ouachita, on Friday, the 16th day of November, in the year of our Lord 1875, between the hours of nine and twelve o'clock in the forenoon, to cause the execution to be done on the person of said Alcee Harris, according to the judgment against her. Given under my hand and the seal of the State hereto attached at the city of New (SEAL) Orleans, this 4th day of November, A.D., 1875, and of the Independence of the United States the One Hundredth. By the Governor, W.P. KELLOGG. P.G. DESLONDE, Sec'y of State. The death warrant of Toney Nellum differs in nothing from the above except the change of name, and is therefore omitted. THE CONDEMNED. On Tuesday, accompanied by Judge Caldwell, Sheriff Hamlet, one of his deputies, Rob't Lewis, and the jailor, we visited the condemned, to receive their final confessions. They were confined in separate rooms up stairs, but at our request were rought together in the woman's room, where we found ALCEE HARRIS Sitting up in bed in one corner of the room. The floor was clean swept, and the very few articles of furniture in the room were well arranged. Toney Nellum followed us with apparent composure, and took a proffered seat. There was an air of solemnity at once, such as the presence of death naturally begets. Alcee Harris was first addressed, and informed of the purpose of our mission, of the failure to secure her pardon and of the obligations she owed to herself and her God in telling the truth. Her manner was at first a little agitated and her voice trembled but she proceeded readily in the narration of her guilt, a narration marked by very little contrition but at times by sudden exhibitions of temper. There was scarcely perceptible emotion of sorrow when asked about hers and Henry's child, an infant not yet 20 months old. We give (her) own statement in nearly her own words: ALCEE HARRIS'S CONFESSION. Saturday night there was a party on Mrs. Richardson's place. Me and Henry got into a dispute, and Henry said he was going to kill me. There was a crowd of people going along the road; I took up the baby, and run and caught them to keep Henry from killing me. As he passed the crowd he told Toney Nellum that he was going to kill me. Toney said, no, Henry, don't kill her, before I'd kill her I would quit her. I went on where we crossed the bayou where Henry and Uncle Toney was sitting on a log. I left them on this side, and crossed on the raft with George Nelson. Henry crossed over home; I was sitting on the steps. He said, "Alcee, I am going to kill you." He had a big knife with which he said he was going to cut my throat. He laid the knife down, and I slipped it out and threw in some brush. This was Sunday morning just before day. I got up that morning and got breakfast. About an hour by sun that evening I went across the bayou to McEnery's; when I came back I went to Wm. Brown's to get some medicine; it was dark; Henry and Uncl Toney were at our house. Toney said to me, "If it had not been for me, Henry would have killed you last night." "Yes," I said, "I know he would have killed me, I have been afraid of him." Toney said to me, "I'm the onliest one can save your life and I will do it if you will marry me." [At this point Toney dissented by a vigorous shake of his head and repeated grunts.] I said, "I don't care what you do with him, so you get him out of my way and keep him from killing me." When I came back from Brown's house Toney was sitting by the door with the axe by him; Henry was on the bed, but not asleep. This was about nine o'clock. I called Henry, and said get up and pull off your clothes, and he got up and pulled them off, and laid right down again in the same place, but had his back to the door. Uncle Toney says, "I'm going to kill him now." I said, "No, Uncle Toney, wait till I get out." I went off and went most up to Brown's house again, and sat on a log. About the time I got there I heard Uncle Toney hit Henry with the axe. The baby was all the time in the bed with Henry. I heard Toney hit Henry one lick, and then I heard Henry groaning. I got scared and felt sorry, but I knew Henry would have killed me. Presently I heard Henry fall out the bed on the floor. Then I heard Uncle Toney hit him two more licks. I then had left the log and was bout 25 steps from the door of our cabin. Uncle Toney came out and says, "Alcee, come and help me carry him off." I said, "No, Toney, don't carry him anywhere; I will tell William Brown he is dead, and let William Brown report it."" Uncle Toney said, "No, I'm going to carry him off; you ought not to have got me to kill him, and you not help carry him off." There was a light in the house, and I could see Uncle Toney when he dragged Henry out of the door. Uncle Toney then pulled off his shirt and pants, and then took Henry on his shoulder, and carried Henry to some logs in the bayou and threw him in the bayou. Toney told me this. I wouldn't go in the house until Uncle Toney had cleaned up the house. The child was in the bed all the time asleep. Uncle Toney got two buckets of water and washed up the blood, and then after a while I went in the house, and Toney made a light, and we sat up nearly all the balance of the night. After Alcee Harris had concluded her statement and it was read to her with her approval of its correctness, we turned to OLD TONEY NELLUM Who had during Alcee's statement occupied a stool near us and listened throughout to the woman's story of blood. The old man was industriously chewing his tobacco, but showed a deep interest in what was passing. He was warned of the hopelessness of a pardon and urged to tell the truth. A few inquiries concerning his history were addressed to him which he answered very readily, and then reminding him again of his near approach to death and the solemnety (sic) of the moment, we requested him to tell us what he knew of the murder of Henry Harris. He gave the story in nearly the following words: TONEY NELLUM'S CONFESSION. Saturday night at Mrs. Richardson's where I went to play the fiddle, Alcee was on the floor dancing and a young man came up and put his arms around her. Then Henry came from another house, and saw it, and ordered Alcee to come out. As she came out he struck her with a stick on the side of the head. The party broke right up, and the young man ran on and left me behind going on home. It was a mighty wet rainy Saturday night. When I got down by the big oak tree close to McEnery's, near the church, Henry Harris overtook me. His wife was behind at Mrs. Richardson's. Henry said to me, "Uncle Toney, I'm going to kill Alcee." I said, "No, before I would do that I would quit her." We went on to the bayou and sad down on a log, till the congregation came up. Henry told Alcee to go on home. Sunday evening after dinner Alcee came over to where I was living. Henry was there also. Henry aid he wanted me to go over and cut some wood, I declined going , not feeling well. Alcee also wanted me to go. Finally, I consented to go, but said I didn't care about it. Alcee had been after me for two weeks to kill Henry for her. I told her I did not want todo it, because I had a family in Alabama, and if I lived I wanted to go see them next Fall. One day Alcee said to me I could get a gun and kill Henry; I said, "No I had no powder or gun and could get no gun except Dick Walker's, and I didn't want to do that." Alcee said, "I can get you some powder." I told her stories about the gun for two weeks, to keep out of doing anything. Alcee said to me one day, "If you'll kill Henry for me, I'll get license and mary (sic) you." This was a week before Henry was killed. I said to her that I didn't want to do it, that I had rather go to Alabama to my family. Sunday night, she went to Wm. Brown's house. She said to me, "Uncle Toney, are you going to kill Henry for me to-night?" "Alcee," said I, "I hate to do that mighty bad." She said you have got to do it, if you don't Henry will kill me. I said it was something I never did do, but if I have it to do I'll do it, and she the said, wait 'till I get out of the house. Henry was lying on the bed alive. Alcee pulled off her clothes, went to bed and then got up again (and the) axe was outside by the door. Alcee handed me (the) axe in (the) house, and she went around (behind) the house. [Here Toney was interrupted by Alcee who denied she had gone to bed; or that she handed him the axe. Toney replied to her that he was going to tell all the truth and continued.] Henry Harris was asleep, with the child on the bed asleep behind him. I went to the bed, and my conscience checked me; I set the axe down, and stood and looked awhile. Alcee from the outside then asked me, are you going to kill him? I said, yes, but I hate mighty bad to do it. I was sitting down; I then got up and struck Henry on the head with the axe. Henry fell out of the bed. I struck him two more licks on the head as he lay on the floor. Alcee said then, "G-d d-n you, you will never kill me.: After that I said, "Alcee you got me to kill him, and you going to help m put him in the bayou." She said, no, I'm a young thing, and I'm scared nearly to death. I then took Henry up, and carried him myself to the bayou and threw him under the logs. I threw the axe in the bayou. After I came back from the bayou I went in the house, and took a bucket of water and washed up the blood the best I could. Alcee burned the pillow and the bolster with some boards from the hen-house. I have no more to say I believe; this is the truth all the way through. Toney then recited disconnected portions of the hymn "When I can read, &c.," and said he wanted that sung, when he was on the gallows. They were both asked if there had ever been any illicit intercourse between them, and both replied in a decided negative. THE MURDERERS. Alcee Harris is rather a good-looking young colored woman, above the medium highth (sic), of rather black complexion, regular negro features, eyes large and full, lips thick, and no facial indications of depravity except in an expression of sullenness (sic) known with her race and which was shown several times during our visit, especially when she spoke of her murdered husband, whose death she said she was glad of, because he had treated her cruelly and threatened to kill her. She is about 24 years of age, and was born in Warren county, Miss. She was at times employed as a cook in Monroe, but at the time of the murder was at work on a farm on Bayou DeSiard. She has a child about 20 months old which for awhile was kept with her in jail, but is now with the father's mother. About the child's fate Alcee manifested little or no concern. Toney Nellum is a full blooded negro, low but heavy-built, with rather an honest-looking countenance, and was self-possessed throughout his confession. He gave his age at 64 or 65 years; said he was born in Tennessee, and came to Louisiana four years ago from Alabama where he left a wife and two children living. The old man related his confession with calmness and evident regard for the truth, at times showing considerable mental agitation, yet insisting we should leave nothing out of his narration. His confession was read to him, to which he assented as correct, frequently interrupting the reading with expressions of approbation. We parted with Toney and Alcee as with the dead. We shook their hands, both as cold as ice, and left the jail with such emotions as only two hours interview with two people condemned to be hanged for a terrible crime could possibly arouse. To-day their crime will be expiated upon the gallows; tomorrow they will be as Henry Harris is. THE GALLOWS Is a very simple structure made of common pine and stands on the ground. Two uprights 6 feet apart rise from the base, on top of which is a cross-beam with iron hooks about two and a-half feet apart, to which the rope is fastened. The trap is five feet above the base and rests upon uprights working on hinges below and is displaced by a trigger and a lever which push the trap from under the feet of the condemned. The trap extends from upright to upright and is about two feet in width. It will not drop, or fall, but will be forced outward by a lever and fall in a curve to the ground. The fall is less than five feet. THE EXECUTION Will take place in the Courthouse square only a few steps from the jail, at 10 o'clock, and both of the condemned will be executed at the same time. Sheriff Hamlet will be the executioner. The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, December 3, 1875 Page 2, Column 1 The Day of the Hanging. Last Friday, the 26th ultimo, was a day that will be long remembered in the history of Monroe – a day that will be designated for years to come as "the day of the hanging," when two human beings, one a man and the other a woman, were publicly executed by hanging, for the crime of murder. The execution is something we had rather not write about having no taste of that sort, but the public will expect, very naturally, an account o the tragic occurrence, and to this feeling we are compelled to yield. As we stated last week, Toney Nellum and Alcee Harris were condemned to death for the murder of Henry Harris, husband of Alcee, in May of last year. All the parties were negroes. The killing was found to be murder, and the confessions of the two justified the verdict. Henry Harris was killed in bed by Nellum with an axe, the wife, Alcee, having urged Nellum to commit the deed and leaving her child in the bed with henry Harris knowing the murder was to be committed. Efforts were made to secure the pardon of the woman, but Mr. Kellogg refused to grant the pardon, and, we think, very properly. The execution came off Friday morning at half-past ten o'clock, but even so early as noon the day before there was a stir on the streets and an appearance of strange faces which betokened an event of unusual interest. THE CROWD Was certainly the largest ever gathered together in Monroe, and came from several parishes around, on horseback, in wagons, by rail and on foot. More than half of the number were women and children, and very nearly all, numbering fully five thousand, were colored. The sidewalks were jammed to impassibility for nearly a quarter of a mile, and a hub-bub prevailed that was painful to the ear. A few minutes after ten the writer went to the jail, where the condemned were preparing for death. The gallows had been erected in the middle of the public square and could be seen from the front cell of the jail. Father Enaut was engaged earnestly in consoling the condemned. Alcee Harris was no longer the bold woman we had met a week before, who said she was rejoiced at her husband's death. She was dressed in white and sat in a chair. Her eye-lids were closed and her lips compressed, both jerking occasionally from nervous excitement, and her whole frame would be convulsed at times as if suffering from intense bodily pain. The Sheriff, so great was Alcee's distress, thought he would be compelled to lift her to the fatal scaffold. Toney Nellum ws more at ease, but exhibited signs unmistakable of a knowledge of his coming fate. While Alcee was almost impertubably silent. Toney was greatly inclined to talk and in that way demonstrated the same feeling Alcee did by silence. Before the final ministrations of the Priest in jail were concluded, the Sheriff and the jailor (sic) entered, and, with common hailing twine, secured the arms of the condemned, which was done by extending the twine from arm to arm behind the back, leaving the hands and forearm free. Both Toney and Alcee appeared more deeply impressed than at any time before. The last lingering ray of hope had faded away, and they descended the steps of the jail shortly afterwards, not resigned to their fate, but fully assured the gallows awaited them. A number of special deputy sheriffs were in front of the jail to preserve order and enforce the law. The scaffold was in the center of the public square, about seventy yards from the jail. Toney walked without support, but Alcee had to be assisted. The gallows was surrounded with a rope fastened to stakes driven in the ground, the circle having a diameter of about fifty feet. Around the circle a large number of colored people were gathered. Alcee and Toney walked toward the gallows, went around it to the steps ascending to the fatal trap and stopped a moment until Sheriff Hamlet had examined t structure. The ropes were found to be in position, the trap steady, and nothing remained but for the condemned to ascend to the scaffold. This they did without assistance, Toney preceding Alcee. Here followed a very natural but sad scene. As Alcee mounted the scaffold there were cries of "poor thing" from the colored women present and other expressions of sympathy that produced a deep impression upon those around and a still deeper one upon the poor creature so soon to die. There were groans screams and lamentations as the figure in white stood under the fatal rope ready to die, such as one seldom hears. The supreme moment for these poor creatures had nearly arrived. At ten o'clock, fifteen minutes they had left the jail. Five minutes, perhaps, had elapsed, when the Sheriff from the scaffold read the death warrants in a distinct, clear voice to which the condemned apparently listened with great interest. Following this came the placing of the fatal nooses around the necks. Alcee was asked if she had anything to say, and declined speaking. Her lips were quivering and her eye-lids closed, but she stood erect without support. Toney began talking and gesticulating at the moment the rope was put over his head. He was, he said, about to go home to heaven. "Thank God," responded a number of voices from among the colored women. "Let nobody," he said, "grieve after me. The old man is gwine home directly. I was born to die," he continued in a tremulous tone, "but remember how I'm gwine, and try to keep out of that way." The caps, of white, were then placed over the faces of the two, Toney meanwhile feeling for the post at his side. The knots were adjusted beneath the ear of each. Father Enaut administered the last religious rites, the Sheriff shook the hands of the old man and woman, and then they were left alone to take their speedy exit into eternity. Sheriff Hamlet, descending, seized the lever which displaced the trap, and at 26 minutes after 10 o'clock, 11 minutes after leaving jail, Toney Nellum and Alcee were swung by the neck, their bodies dangling in the air. There were few eyes that were not turned away at the instant the trap was shot from its place. And then came a repetition of the cries and moans from the colored women such as were heard when Alcee first mounted the scaffold. The woman's fall was followed by very slight muscular movements. The knot was directly behind her head. Toney fell with the knot immediately under his chin, and, by stretching the cord binding his arms, was enabled to have the free use of his hands. With one he caught the post he had before felt for, at the same time clasping it with his feet, and with the other he seized the halter overhead. It was a horrible scene at this moment, and called forth shudders and other manifestations of the greatest horror. The Sheriff and the jailor (sic) caught Toney's arms and drew them down, and jerked his struggling body into position under the halter. There was a brief struggle for life, after which resistance ceased and old Toney hung lifeless. Doctors Murphy and Richardson were called to decide when life was extinct. At two minutes after eleven, a colored man climbed the post and cut Alcee down, and her body was placed in a plain coffin at the foot of the scaffold. Toney's body was cut down five minutes afterwards and lifted to the coffin. The horrifying spectacle lasted over three quarters of an hour. The bodies were taken to the cemetery and there buried. # # #