The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-15
Execution OF Andrew H. Trayer, In Staun-
ton. Va.

On the 9th int Andrew II Traysr, convicted of the
murder Of William Coleman In StAunson, suffered the
penalty Of Death BY hanging Henry 7. Wilson, for par
tcips ton in the crime to bs.n hung 1T the
tme but have before ounced he obtained
respite OF thirty Gays from the Governor The Vina
Gator speai ing Of this, SASS
ION Tuesday mornirg last, messenger despatched
with the proper papers and letter from Judge Tnomp
son, stating tbit ne (he Judge) believed the prisoner
guilty bu had be been juror tbs case he ,ould not
have avoided ente tanning rational doubt of their
guilt the evidence The bearer Of the despatch OBJ
tanned audience from the Governor Tue day night
The Cove told him he had respite for thirty
dAys and he would examine the dsncs In the inferno
dat- time Without stating that the package contained
papers beArnS Trsyers also, young Wilson, the
messenger sDd the nephew OF the convict left the docu
ments unopened, aEd buried back to S.aunton. The
H. that Gov Johnion has not At tnis writing
opened the package and consequently Tsyer did not OBJ
tain arespite I"
On the night previous to the execution rrayer signed
a written protsstauon OF nnocence which the V,ndsca
Ton gives in substance, as follows
ell and ..a Hsmpbs s
ent and vac presence Of @ before whom shortly
sbsi an nscsn. sfshs nurdsr Of VIM coi.nln; in..
% M al. xa and
came to him and said coma is's 20 and kill : and
:a no r. " r..
hS never s d 9 ri,ss
II spsgsd Coleman ives killed; never owned CLAW,
victim Of prejudiced community and pnjursd
witnesses That though such was the oass, he
freely forgavs all, and would die In peace with
them, spd be hoped in favor With God-that he
wiling % stake his eternal salvation his limo
,eree. About IL O'Clock Friday, after earnestly
eagpg In prayer the prisoner taken from his cell TO
proceed to the gallovs Before ewing the Jail he stop
ped 81 wilson's csl to bic him Adeu The scene is Ad
10 have been very s-e big tears pushed down their
cheeks they clAsped each others hands, and manly
hearts psthized with the poor fellows whose brief
full Of dark and terrible shadows An they
parted, Trsyer exclaimed; Farewell. my boy; We
shall Get agan In this world but God will forgive
III your sins ard cur happy spiis win meet In ssrLiy
ole Innocent man ~
The prsoDsr then entered the wagon accompanied BY
clergymen shers and Others and escorted to the
ton, about mile east Of stanton, eight ten
thousand persons lad assembled including at least
theu,and females. After prayers By the clsrgymen,
Trayer stepped forward aKd addressed the immense
vsndar) his and Wilson's innocence stating that
sixteen witDessss had sworn falsely. He mentioned
raj names Of Witnesses those Who had psrured them
selves He ALTO said that he believed Perkins inno
cent, and knew nothing Of the murder. But the sub
stance Of his remarks Il the that given above
After he had nnishe his remarks Aud bid long and As
farewell to numerous standing immediately
sfound, he said to Sheriff N hcCus, Come on" The
rope then adjusted about the pfisonsrs nsek and il
accordance with his request handkerchief bound
bis eyes In place OF the cap His limbs bound and
he dressed In his usual suit Of black. A. twenty
Ave minutes past the drop FELL and the spirit Of
faye took lite flight to ths presence OF 0oi who gave
he met his fate calmly and composdly, asd - hs al
kgsd he innocent man. far better will It BE- fol
In the world to The second Of the terrible
tragedy over, and In few days probably, the blaci
curtain win b drawn upon the fnalS.
The Rockingham Register, speaking OF the execution
TrAysr sAys-"Ih The stages passing through here o.
Thursday we're literally loaded down with persona o.
their way 10 the execution and numbers went foot
We hsve heard Of msn who walked ny miles to tn
hanging"