1938 The Monitor Herald, Calhoun City

1938 Monitor Herald - Page 1

See Court Case

Double Hanging in 1938

Negroes To Hang At Pittsboro On Friday, May 20, Court HoldsSupreme Court Affirms Death Sentences For Alvin Taylor and Ollie Armstrong,Convicted by Circuit Court Last Year On Separate Indictments.April 14, 1938

The Mississippi Supreme Court on Monday handed down decisions on two cases appealed from the Circuit Court of Calhoun County, and, in both instances, upheld the death sentence imposed by the lower court.  Alvin Taylor, convicted of robbery with firearms, in the case of shooting and robbing Robert Tranum, of Bruce, and sentenced to the gallows, and Ollie Armstrong, who was convicted of the murder of Ira Belle Armstrong, which occurred on the streets of Calhoun City last year, both lost their chances of life when the court ruled that they had a fair trial and there was no grounds for reversing their respective cases. The court fixed Friday, May 20, as the date for the hanging, which had been automatically postponed when the cases were appealed to the higher court.

In the case of Taylor, the court held that the evidence was ample to show that the criminal robbed Mr. Tranum on the road and pointed a gun at his face while doing so. "Tranum sought aid from a passing negro and the appelant [appellant] shot him." Tranum was shown to have given the negro three dollars upon demand, but the negro, on trial, denied that he robbed him "or had any intention of doing so," his claim being that he was shooting an enemy when he fired the first time and that he fired the second shot because he was frightened. It will be remembered that Mr. Tranum was severely wounded in the affray and that it was thought for several days that he would not survive. When the negro was arrested, officers, fearing mob violence, carried him to Grenada for safekeeping, and on the way he attacked Sheriff Hardin and caused painful injuries to his head and face. By a freak of circumstances, the negro was prevented from escaping by other officers who were with the Sheriff.

Ollie Armstrong killed Ira Belle Armstrong, both negroes and no relation, here ast [last] year. The evidence showed that the negress, a harmless woman who had worked for many white families in the section for years, was assaulted and murdered by a knife wound without justification. Ollie Armstrong, it is alleged, was intoxicated and ruthlessly cut the negro woman, when she made a harmless remark to him.

Calhoun County has had only four official hangings in its history of 86 years. The double hanging will prove the first in the entire history of the county.

Negroes Will Be Hanged Friday

Sheriff Hardin Arranging To Carry Out Mandates of the Law -- Governor Hands Off

May 19, 1938

Alvin Taylor and Ollie Armstrong, negroes, will be legally hanged at Pittsboro Friday, provided the Governor does not intercede. Both were convicted in the Circuit Court of Calhoun County at the same term last year, although for separate offenses, and their cases were appealed to the State Supreme Court, after Judge McElroy had passed the death sentence on them. The Supreme Court upheld the lower court in the case and fixed Friday, May 20, as the date for their execution.
Taylor was convicted of robbery with firearms, after robbing Robert Tranum at Bruce and shooting him with a shot-gun. Mr. Tranum's recovery was a miracle, as his life was despaired of for several days. Ollie Armstrong was convicted of murdering Ira Bell Armstrong, a colored woman, on the streets of Calhoun City last year.

Reports on the streets here today state that although a petition had been presented to Gov. White, asking that Armstrong's sentence be commuted to life imprisonment in the state penitentiary, the Governor had refused to intercede, and that both negroes would be hanged on the date set.

All arrangements have been completed for the execution, it is stated, and Sheriff Hardin has erected the gallows within the county jail, as ordered by the County Board of Supervisors.
The hour on which the executions are to occur has not been announced, and the Sheriff will be govererned by the law in such matters.

This will be the first time in the county's history that a double hanging has taken place, it is stated.

[There is no other mention of the hangings' in the next editions, however, this allowance appears.]

June Board of Supervisor's

Ordered by Board that the following accounts be allowed out of General Funds...

Young-Crawford Co. funeral expenses 2 convicts ....$72.00
Young-Crawford Co. sups....$4.00

Original Newspaper Accounts of both murders

These articles are not intended to embarass any family members. They are part of a series of "Justice In Calhoun County" where other legal hangings will be showcased. Any questions or comments regarding these articles? contact Rose Diamond Copyright: Calhoun Co. Historical Society, Inc. All Right Reserved.