The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-09-11

NEGRO HUNG BY 4 MOE F0s RAfs-LAw AMD
0EDER II MISSOURI
For the following statement we are indebted to
the Statesmsn, Q. Columbia, Missouri -
On Saturday last, Hiram, . negro belonging to
Major Young, of this county, WAS brought before
David Gordon, Justice Of the Peace, and II. T. Rus
sell Recorder Of Columbia on the charge OF attempt
ing the awful crime Of rape upon the defebceless
person OF daughter OF one OF our most respectable
citizens.
Maj. J. 8. Rollins and Col S. A. Young appeared
"a counsel at the instance OF tue negros owner to
see that fair and full trial was given. and Odon
Guitar, Esq appeared for the prosecution. very
large concourse Of citizens were in attendance, q
portion OF whom were much excited by the daring
atfocty OF the crime charged and flrm conviction
OF the Negroes guilt. This portion Of the people
the issue of the trial Nevertheless. the trial pro-
creased without interruption until about o'clock,
when seemingly no longer able to resist the i'm puse
oil their feelings a portion Of the crowd outside
rushed into the court house, and, overcoming the
opportunities aud efforts of the court sheriff, coun.
sell &C., put rope around the prisoners neck, and
forced him into the street. With az excited popu-
lace ut his heels he was hurried down Court house
brioge Flat Branch ut the western extremity Of
town, and thence to q wood northwest of the court
house. Here an attempt was made to hang him;
dn attempt which in all probability would have
citizens and the accidental breaking Of the rope.
Maj. Rollins, aud the edi or of this paper, (COl.
Switz'er) publicly protested against the whole pro
ceeciDg and by addresses to those concerned backed
by the peaceable opportunities and CO operation of
Mr.. Davis Of the Semtiaa and many other citizens,
assuaged in some measure the excitement prevailing
a. Induced those having the prisoner in charge to
take him back to jail and allow him the privilege of
q legnl trial.
On Sabbath the prisoner made full confession OF
his guilt thus relieving all doubts on that subject
at the ssme time bringing to light the names OF two
other negro men OF his neighborhood who had made
TO hat ss~ t.~ k,A.,
some white female or other, they would commit
similar outrage.
Mondsy was another day Of excitement, and the
people were out in large numbers. There being no
longer reasonable doubt of the prisoners guilt,
portion cf those present were unwilling to await
legal conviction and punishment by the Circuit
Court contending that the punishment of the law
was not adequate to the crime, aud therefore they
were for Immediately forcing the locks Of the prison
and taking the negro and burning or hanging hin
At the instance of the father Of the young lady upon
whose person the outrage had been attempted, Col.
S. A. Young and Odon Guitar, Esq, stated to those
not his desire the negro should be burned, bat
baueed. Mr. Guitar earnestly exhorted them, II It
their determination to hang him, to 20 about it
cooly ana do it decently and in order, and not as
demons
In order that concert Of action might characterize
the movements of those participating in the affair,
meeting was held in the street. in front Of the court
house Eli l.. Bass, ESQ., one OF our most respectable
meeting He put the question whether the negro
should be burned, and not more than half dozen,
If that number, voted in favor Of burning Mr.. Bass
then put the question:. All who are In favor Of
hsngins him will say aye" and most f not al, said
AYE" large number of the citizens present did
not approve and took no part in the proceedings.
Hanging being thus decided upon, a committee was
appointed to procure rope, cart on which to
vey the negro to the place Of execution and coffin
in which TO bury him. 1t also made tho duty of
this committee to force the prison DOORS take the
negro out and hang him decently and In order"
MI George n King, was appointed chairman Of the
men to CO operate with him. The folio wing are the
names of the committee asfurnished us BY Mr.. King
viz George N. King, Henry Wilkinson, John Boil
Infer, VIM. Breakey. VIM. B. Cato, John Robinett,
Waters.
About twelve o'clock they proceeded to the Jail,
and under the protest OF the sheriff forced the DOORS
took the negro out and, followed by large number
Of the town and there the negro was hung and buried
ky THE rRIsoNER's ArTEMPT TO COMMIT SUI.
CIJE-PARoxYsMs ON THE GALLOws'.
rom tho CiL cinnati GAzstrs, SCOT
The prisoner, between four and five o'clock on
ton, attempted to commit suicide by cutting the
veins o! both arms with q razor, which he had So
creied la the floor Of his cell since he was first III
caIcerated, near fifteen months ago. He was brought
from the Jail with his arms pinioned, and the fatal
moose around his neck, by the sheriff aud jailer,
with'a posse Of forty armed men, and at q quarter
past eleven o'clock, placed in an express wagon,
in which he was seated, alongside of his coffin.
ter OF mile distant, at which they arrived at III
O'Clock. The prisoner, who was much enfeebled
from the loss Of blood from his selinficted wounds,
mounted the steps Of the scafold with slight asss
lance from the Sheriff on account of his arms being
pinioncd. Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr.. Spilman,
Baptist clergyman, in which the prisoner joined,
exhibiting complete penitence. On rising, the pr.
soneT proceeded - address the assembly, which
numbered about fifteen hundred, and in q composed
and well connected manner, with some repetltions,
however spoke for about twenty five minutes to the
following eject =
said that this was his last appearance; that be was
very feeble but was great deal better than he had
expected to be after the loss OF much blood that
he had been in custody near fifteen months; that on
the night previous he had attempted, what he had
long designed- suicide had been prevented
from completing his design by the jailer who had
entered the cell and took the razor from him; that
during his confinement he had received every atten
ton, and bore testimony to the kindness OF tho
jeier, the sheriff and the officers Of the court; that
as TO his sentence 1t was entirely unjust; that it
brought about BY perjured testimony, and through
prejudice as to his past character; but, although it
was On unjust debt, be now paid it willingly, and he
impored God to pardon him. He said that he could,
unfortunately, neither read nor write, bat that he
mace confession TO Mr. Spillman, the jailer, who
bad written it out in full and on the previous even
ing submitted it to hi n having read II in his hear
ing, and he endorsed it as true. In it he had men
TONED Names but it was under the advice of Mr. De
COurcey, his attorney. lie wished his enemies to
forgive him, az he forgave them.
lie ALLUDED TO the attempt made to procure . re
spite from the Governor which unsuc ,es5ful on
account OF the interposition Of Mr.. Baker, for
which iuterpoeition he was thankful and fOrgave him.
be was perhaps, better prepared to die now than
two months hence. He related some Of the circum-
stances connected with the fatal casualty by which
the death Of Carl occurred-and solemny asserted
tia; he did not design killing him, but had taken
the gun rom the hands Of another, and was retreat
Ing at the time, closely followed by Gard; that he
had the breech of the gun to his shoulder and the
Huzzlc pointed to the ground aud in the act of let
ting the hammer down, when the unfortunate man
struck the muzzle Of the gun, knocking 1t up and
causing it to go OFF, and the contents Of the
gun were lodged in tho thigh that il he had in
tended to have Committed wilful murder, he would
not have aimed there. (He Is reputed superior
marksiuan) He therefore thought the jury erred
in finding him guilty of wiful murder under the cir