The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-02-29 00:00:00

EXECUTION OF A NEGRO.

A coloured man, named Williams, was recently exe-
cuted. at New Brunswick (N.J.) for shooting a man
named Reddick. As the fatal hour drew near the
prayers of the doomed man grew more fervent, and
the six clergymen with him, one of whom woo a
coloured preacher, redoubled their exhortations.
Hymns appropriate for the dreadful occasion were
sting during which Williams gave forth frequent ejacu-
lations, such as—"l see my father ; ' "Welcome
King Jesus;" "The gates are open to receive me • "
"I want to go right away ;" " This; is really (RA's
day;" "My Jesus will give me to eat and to drink,
and to wear; "Oh, Lord, come quickly ;" "Brethren,
fear not death—it is good to die ; meet me in heaven,
for I shall be there soon ;" "To-day I shall sing with
the angels in heaven -glory be to God."
While on his knees his body swayed to and fro after
the manner of coloured persons during religious exeite-
ment, every fibre and muscle in motion. After a time
he was requested to get off his knees and sit down, as
he might be tired. "No," said he, "I'll sit down in
glory soon." He was soon requested to stand up, and
while in that position clapped his hands and danced for
very joy, uttering expressions of hope stud prayers for
sinners, calling all present to meet him in gl wy when
he left this earth. Not a shadow of fear of death, or
On Monday morning the Master of the Rolls had doubt, appeared to cross his mind during the whole
before him the case of Snow r. Milford, which was a morning. On an expression being made that he might
suit instituted by three partners in a firm of bankers at be sustained in this hopeful strain of mind to the loot,
Exeter to remove Mr. Alfred Milford, one of the and that his soul might be saved, he said: "Don't be
partners, from the firm, on the ground that he had uneasy brethren; you needul think I am going the
committed adultery, and had thereby infringed one lif other way; I shall surely be in heaven before twelve
the articles of partnership which provided that a o'clock; be sure you meet me there." He was cons
partner "should not do any net to the discredit or in. A most imposing pageant has lately been celebrated suited about the disposition of his body sifter death.
jury of such co-partnership." Mr. John Milford, the in Madrid. The " Golden Rose" has been, in the He said: "It matters not who's going to bury my
father of Mr. Alfred Milford, and one of the partners, Pope's name, presented to Isabella IL, Queen of I body. I have no friends. lam called an Ethiopian
Spain. Stripped as he is of the wealthiest part of his
having refused to join in the suit, was made a co- man, but glory to God, this day the poor Ethiopian is
defendant. The case was argued some weeks ago. His temporal dominions, borne down by the requirements going to be in heaven. Friends will take care of in
of his overgrown army, and indifferently relieved by
lordship ordered it to stand over fir a time to enable body; but Jesus will take care of the soul." At length
the parties to make an arrangement. But an arrange- the Peter's pence levied among a hundred and fifty the hour of execution arrived. About ten, ex-Sheriff
nient appearing to lie ho possible, the ease was set down milliens of believers, Pope Pills IX. can still dispose Cox came into the cell with a snit if clean clothes, and
on Monday morning for judgment Lord Reniillv said of gifts prized by devout Roman Cothelic Soverers said, "Joseph, we are come to dress von." He re-
the suit was instituted to lee:eve Mr. Alfred Milford above all earthly possession& Ti, the Prince who Ise sponded, "All right; lam prepared to go."
from he partuerithip on the greuod that lie hunt 1
com-
mitted acts which made him unlit to be a member of
the firm. What be hail done, in foes was this—being
a married man he had committed adultery with various beat descry. d uf the Holy See he sends the blessed
Sword and Cap (Is Stems e if Beret"), and the Royal
lady whose zeal for Holy Church has most shown itself
either by actual deeds or pious intention." is rewarded On Mr. Cox saving that it was a nice suit they were
going to put on Lim, he said. " I'll hay, a better one
on eoon, in glory." Ile was then dressed in a pair of
black pants, white vest, black teethe, sack coat, white
persons in the city if Exit. r, slid his wife sued him by the" simally blessed and even more preciims "Golden shirt and c ill ir, and while adjusting the collar he sahl,
Retie, "
in the Divorce Court fir an alisolide divorce. But
which is looked upon as the noblest dintinc-
"I don't want any standins collar, for Goil loot
cruelty was not proved; adultery was proved, and ton 'to which Royalty may aspire. Every year, as we want any; 11l look well enough in his sight." After
a diets e for separation was made. In the (salt Ne of his are t ild, on the fourth Sunday in Lent, his Holiness he was dressed and the noose placed around his neck,
judgment the judge of the Divorce C net made tonne bestows his eolonn benediction en these coveted he was led to the dour of the cell and the death-war-
very strong observations against the husband's con- presents, but it is only on very rare occasions that he I rant read to him by the clerk of the court. This lung
thict. In hie answer to the suit he admitted the triith finds Crowned Heads worthy to receive his signal and wordy ill .cun.ent, occui .ying acme twenty'
of the allegations against him, and now the qn. ation bounties, The last instance in which these high I minutes in reading, did not disturb his equanimity in
was whether he shou'd continue ti be a mend ier if the honours were c interred was that by which the present the least, and at the close he said, "All right; Gel be
firm. If he Phonld be excluded from the pattnership, Pope. a fugitive at Gaeta, in 1849, evinced his gratitude praised." He was then asked, " Brother, do yon feel
it °mild only lis on the gront.l that he hail broken for the shelter and hospitality extended to him by that the Lord is with you?" "Oh, yes, I do." He
some positive provision in the partnership articles or King Ferdinand of the two Stens and his Austrian was advised to keep his mind constantly on
some general law relating to the subject. He (Lord Que,n. It was confidently expected that the Emperor heaven, and not allow himself to be disturbed
Romilly) was of opinion that, however reprehensible Napoleon and Ids Empress, to whom pin. IN. was by the surroundings., when he said, "Never fear
was the conduct of a man who hail committed adultery indebted for the wonders of De Failly's Chassepot and for me ; the Lord is with see." He then ex-
that was nit a ground for removing him from a part- for 21f. Rouher's "Never !" would be equally re- pressed a desire to eee Bridget Dergan, the
warded, but their anticipations, if ever entertained,
nership. This court was not a censor mortal. That condeuined murderess of Mrs. CorielL As he stead
1 clause of the partnership articles which provided that have been dieappointed ; the Gap and Sword have at the door of her cell, she sat inside plunged in a state
1 none of the partners should do any act to the discredit been laid up in lavender and stowed away in the store- of the deepest dejection. '3'lle woman lifted her eyes
• or injury of the partnership was preceded and followed 1 rooms of the Vatican, and the_ Golden Rose found its from the ground, and they fell noon the ominous form
. by preeissine against acts which wondi injere the , way. not to the Court of the Tuileries, but to that of of her dark-skinned predecessor, with his seine lion,
pecuniary credit of the partnership. and therefore that M4dridt and the deadly noose around his neck. She sank down
It is not easy to conceive anything more striking
clause ninst be construed as dealing with mattes* again, cowering and sobbing, while her face became a
than the performance of the ceremony. At three
, ejuale as use-eerie. The cage VIAPI a disagreeable one to ghostly colour. Williams swill to her: " Bridget, I've
o'clock in the afternoon of the Sth 1116 t. Queen Isabel*
him, and he was very anxious that some arrangement come to bid you good-bye. May the Lord bless you.

"—,
" Excelsior !"
For all his triumph, in cold Mood,
Pawionles*, but not proud, he stood:
As from truth's peaks, crowned with her star,
A proud voice ring above him far,
" Excelsior ! "—Punch.

You can't us redeemed unless you repent, and ask His
forgiveness. He will hear your cry, and stand by you
at the last. With me to-day has beeu one of God's
days— the happiest of my life. If you wish to see me
again you must come to Jesus, for I am ..soing straight
into lus arms. Good bye, Bri4et ; may the Lord save
your soul.' With a liearterending shriek, which
reached the (ours of the assembled crowd outside the
gaol, the unhappy woman crouched down in a corner,
buried her face in her hands, and shook in an uncoil.
trollable fit of emotion.

The negro proceeded to the place of execution at-
tended by She: if Clarkson fool the Bev. Mr. Page.
Ile was placed under the scaffold, the noose fixed to
the fatal rope above his heal, when he said,. in a clear
voice without the alightest apparent tremor or fear:
" Friends, this is my last day. In a few 'idioms l
shall be with Jesus. Meet me in heaven, where lam
going wmn. It is there you will find nie on the day of
judgment. Thank God for this day! It is blessed to
be here. Oh yes ! now let me go. Amen." A part
of the fifty-first Psalm WWII then read by the officiating
clergyman, while Williams ejaculated," Thank God
I'll be washed clean and white to-day. To-day is one
of God's days." On being counselled to stand tinn, he
said, "I don't mind this at all: in a little I shall be
with Jesus."
_

The black cap was then drawn down over his face,
which was calm and peaceful, and covered with an air
of perfect resignation ; the she if stepped into the
little pen beside the scaffold ; the dull blow of the axe
on the rope waa hoard, toe heavy weight within
descended, there was a convulsive jerk in the air, and
the soul of the negro wan launched into eternity.