Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1837-08-04
Luke Manning.

Luke Manning.
We copy the following brief memoir of this notor-
Gus murderer from the Alabama Mercury.
Luke Manning was n native OF South Carolina, and
his parents are SAID have been very respectable and
affiuent circumstances At The age OF - or 70 ne
was by unfortunate fatality pcrmitteh 10 seiecll LOT
his associates, during period OF seven " eiSht years.
parcel OF youths OF about me same age wiose Ieck-
less, dissipated and r0tous Conduct rendered them
the terror and adherence of the nelehborhood they
infested
was flor his amusement only) TO seize an old man hy
the loose skin of his throat, drawing the from
the flesh and asserting his knife close to the wndppe
and sitting the skin, leaving large cash, or TO use
the peculiar slang of such men, "dew-lapped the
man."
At or about this time, tagged 25) he came into pos
session of his estate worth about SO 000 equivalent
10 about $50 600 at the present day. He kept bach
elors hall, for he never married, and gang of his
cronies always about him, whilst al the same time he
attempted the manugt ment of his estate. He had
not as yet reached that degree of depravty which
could enable him to penetrate the d. struction of a
Fellow being but 10 graufy his thirst for blood, he
calculated with cool precision, how much Of the muir
derous knife that he constantly carried about him. he
might venture 10 USE without mourning the ultimate
penalty OF the law. tie mechanically broke gap
in the edge OF his knife, within inch of the point
sufficiently large TO insert his thumb and thus prov
ded against wounding his own fingers and any great
liability OF taking life, he would lndscrninatey at
tack without the smallest Unsuitable provocaon, and
cut acerate and mark whoever had the misfortune
to fall in his way, without superior Of defence.
La this manner, he left monuments of his cruel and
seeming uncomfortable propensity wherever he went
for period of years.
During this period, at country frolic he amused
himself by lmpercepubly cutting ladys dress, and
30 completely did he disengase and latter il, that
when she arose from her chair the shreds fell from
her body and left her exposed to the gaze of the
crowd. For this sxplolt he was prosecuted and
mucted in the sum Of $4,000 damages.
Daring the same PERIOD he, with five OF his associ-
n body. W
whskey and then with spirits of turpentnc and then
set fire TO his surface. The physician that attended
upon this mall states that the skin of his entire body
was so burnt as to be dsorganlzed except spot a
bout the arms as large a dollar. He entered pro-
socution against them but they prevented il from go
ing into court bypaying him $1,000 each a compro-
mise.
At the age of thlrty-two when at a shooting match.
upon very slight occasion, he shot with his
nfie. For this offence, he tried, condemned and
sentenced to be hang-but through the influence of
hrs family, the Governor pardoned him.
About three months after this transaction, he again
commenced cutting and marking, which he continued
Tor about the same length OF time He now attempt
ed TO Kill man with his knife but struck the mastlod
process, and laid the flesh open the bone from that
point TO the extremity of the chin. For this offence
he was sentenced 10 IL months imprisonment and to
pay $1,000 damages.
As as released he again commenced this
reckless course which he pursued ill he thirty
eight at which time he killed another maa This was
visited with a conviction for manslaughter. The Pc
q
prsonment.
At about forty he again committed murder, for
which he was once more tried, convicted and
fenced TO be hung. Among those present at the
courthouse was brother of the prisoner who, upon
hearing the sentence, tainted he was removed home
and the following morning he was n corpse. This
circumstance, the responsibility of his family and
the influence OF very respectable gentleman, who
was connected with the family by marriage, once
more obtained his pardon from the Governor on the
condition OF his leaving the state; for il thought
that this last act of mercy and separation from his
VICIOUS associates would tend 10 reform him. Alas /!
how vain the hope-how poorly was his character
understood. This very man, whose Influence and
oxerons had rescued him from an gnomnious, (if
not an un,imely) death, the first to feel that he
was iucorrigibe and beyond reform Alter taking
MIN from prison TO bis own house, before the morrows
sun rose, the deadly rifle was in Mannng's hand and
aimed at his friend, relation. and host but who by
'seizing the rifle prevented him from adding another
fosl murder to the catalogue Of his crimes.
lie was, moreover, removed To this state and ny TO
ehe time OF his last criminal act, period Of about
three years, he seemed gloomy and melancholy, with
only occasional but MINOR violations Of the peace of
society Such state Of quiet and obscurity Gid not
su him, and he rode TO n gentlcman's plantation.
called the TO the fence and shot him without
the smallest provocation Fer this offence he was
eyrcpted
The Judge had his melancholy duty er,bittered by
beng compelled 10 pronounce sentence Of death on q
man who had in boyhood been his schoolmafe and
companion, and therefore could not avoid abiding
the past, and closed with the expression Of sincere
hope that the prisoner would improve the short space
Of time allotted TO him before hs execution. to i him
Tor eternity. Manning after leaving the court house.
and while on his way to the prison, uttered the most
revolving malcdlcons against the judge saying was
none of his concern whcthsr he went to heaven or
hell His final act was 10 snatch at a stick while pi-
noned, strike of the byestanders He met with
hrs death with recklessness, and his expiring breath
was iraught with excerations against the whole hu.
man race.
mahnlngs name Is to be found upon the criminal
docket OF his native state for period Of twenty years
what commentary upon the legal provisions Of our
country Tor the personal safety Of its citizens He II,
SAID TO have manifested considerable address in en-
deavoring 10 influence some gentlemen In this s,ate
who knew his family 10 petition the governor for 4
pardon. In his last trial he would no, ,,nbosom him
self even 10 his counsel, when they urged man him
the necessity Of knowing all the facts; he M, ,ha,
eff by remarkng that il was enough Cor them 10 tnow
that the overseer for the murder Of whom he was
charged, was very unpopular with the slaves Of the
plantation, thus nmating that the slaves murdered
him.
Tavern Keeper Circumv vented.
a short time since the door Of country inn was
darkened by well dressed man Of modest and un-
assuming men, who requested food for his horse