The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-06-20

BURNING A NEGRO ALIvE.-Some time since
we published an account Of the murder of Miss
Thornton, an interesting young girl residing
near CASTOR, Alabama. Immediately after the
murder and detection of the negro, his imme-
diate punishment was seriously contemplated
byo the people of Sumpter county, but after
mature deliberation, the law abiding citizens
delivered him into the custody of the proper
officers, and he was committed to prison.
Atthe late term of the circuit court of Sump
ter county, the attorney appointed by the court,
in the discharge of his duty moved for venue
to Green county. The Judge as the motion
was sustained by the proper affidavit, sustained
the application.
On Wednesday last the citizens of South
Sumpter, assembled en- masse at VIM. Elroy's,
and unanimously passed series of resolutions,
rejecting seriously upon the conduct of the
| Judge, and after having pledged themselves to
sustain each other, portion of them proceeded
to Livingston, and took the miserable crimina.,
by force, from the jail where he was confined.
On Friday last after due preparation, they
carried him to the spot where he so cruelty
murdered his innocent victim, and burnt him
alive at the stake.
About three thousand persons were present
who witnessed, with various emotions, the
dreadful spectacle We were present, but hope
that we will never again witness scene like it,
The pyre was composed of several cords of
! light-wood, in the centre of which was green
willow stake selected in consequence of its in
destructibility by fire. .sa
On the top of the pile of light wood, the
criminal was placed and securely chained to
the stake. While in this situation he confessed
l.. ctr No boJ 4L,+
he was actuated by lust alone, that he had at
tempted to violate her person, but had failed.
and to conceal the attempt he had cruelty mur-
dered her by beating the poor innocent creature
with stump, that while he was doing this she
implored him to carry her home to her father,
and that she would conceal the violence he had
inflicted. He then left her, but soon returned,
, and after again beating her, he concealed the
, body in the very hole where the stake was
planted to which he suffered.
After this confession was made, the match
was applied and in few moments the devour-
ing flames were enveloping the doomed negro.
Marion (Miss.) Republican.
: A DEspERADo-The New Orleans Delta
contains the following account of the trial and
conviction of one of the most desperate charac
ters we have heard of lately:
"Wm. Martin, alias Diego Bill, the notori-
Gus hangman, was yesterday brought before
the court for trial, on a charge of stabbing
negro in Al gers, belonging to the McDonogh
estate, with intent to murder. The fact thot
he had cut the negro's throat and almost killed
him, was clearly proved, and the jury return
ed verdict of guilty. With great eifrcntery,
Bill sprang up in the dock, looking quite de-
$ moniacal, and asked the court to pass sentence
t upon him at once. The antecedents of this
individual are quite amusing. A long time
ago he was arrested Oh a charge of robbing
a poor negro who was on his way to market
He lay in the work house for some time, when
it happened that negro was to be hung in one
of the country parishes. The sheriff came to
0 the city in search of hangman, and Diego
e e Bill, in consideration Of being furnished with
l. new suit of clothes and $75 in cash, yolun-
. . teered for the purpose. After performing the
q job. he returned to the city, committed another
+ Smith came up for hanging, and Diego Bill
volunteered for the purpose. For this service
h he was again set at liberty-but was soon af-
: ter arrested for robbery in the Third district.
Here he remained until the execution of VIM
Yung, when he was again reeasad in con
sderation Of his services as hangrnan The
same day he acted as executoner to Yung
i he repaired to Al giers and cut the negro, fo,'
which offence he was tried yesterday. He
, has told some Of the prisoners in Jail that he
"ried to saw the d-n negros head off bit
he believed the fellow had no wind pipe"
2 When he requested the court yesterday to-
pass sentence upon him, supposing, no doubt,
: that he would be sent back to the parish pri-
son to await another execution, the Judge at
2 once sentenced him to twenty one years in the
, penitentiary at Baton Rouge-being the full ex-
tent Of the law
\ "Hell!'' said Bill, 'you might as we'll hang
a fellow at once"
: ~~~~~--~----~--~-~1---
!, A correspondent of the Philadelphia North
American says, that in the bombardment of
thirteen days at Sebastopol, the guns of the
:, alias houa nlraad1 Ia.