The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-04-15
H6NGMAN's DAY IN LANCASTER.
Execution of Anderson and Richards.

HhNGMANs DAY IN LANCASTER.
Execution of Anderson and Richards.
LANCASTER, April 9.-This is the day
appointed by tho Governor for carrying
into effect the sentence Of the Court upon
Alexander Anderson and Henry Rich
ards, the two negroes convicted of the
murder of Mrs. CARRIER and Mrs. Ream
two respectable elderly ladies of Man.
helm township, about ivo miles from this
city. The murder was committed on
Tuesday morning, December 10th. at the
house of Mr. Conrad CARRIER, while he
was out attending to business. Mrs.
Ream was relative by marriage of Mrs.
CARRIER. aud had called in to see her
While she was there, the murderers cane
in, on prctcxt of obtaining job as chin
ncy sweeps, and finding the women de-
fcueelcss, they stabbed them, leaving them
dead on the floor, and then stole such
money as they could lay their EafdS on
aud fed.
As soon az the crime was discovered,
the population was aroused and pursuit
made Of the supposed nurderers, who
had been seen lurking about the neigh
borbood. They were arrested the sane
evening. and were tried and convicted at
the last term of the Court Since their
conviction, they have made full confession
of their guilt, and acknowledged the JUS
tice of their conviction and punishment.
The execution, of course, bad to take
place in the yard of the prison, before a
limited number of spectators. The gal
lows was erected yesterday. 1t consisted
of four upright timbers, sixteen feet high,
connected at the top by four cross ties. a.
cross two Of which the beam rested to
which the ropes were attached. The plat
form on which the prisoners stood was
seven feet, six inches from the cros,beam.
The platform was made to drop entirely
to the ground, by the turn of a lcver.---
Tan was spread on the ground, to prevent
any noise from the falling of the platform.
The prisoners have for some time ex-
pressed great contritiou, anderson par
ticularly being very penitent, and express
ing perfect confidence in religion, read
ing his Bible often, and declaring that he
would die happy. Richards has been
less composed in manner, and less con-
sistent in bis conversation. Anderson
has made full and lengthy confession,
which will be published, Richards has
confessed his guilt verbally to the minis.
tcrs attending him, but it only confirms
the statements of Anderson. Anderson
confession makes pamphlet of sixty.
four pages, and is strange narrati.e-
1t declares that they murdered the wo
men for l2a cents. which they wanted to
get pint of whiskey, and that both of
them we're drunk when the crime was
committed.
There was great anxiety to witnesss the
execution, and many people from the
country came into town for the purpose
a large proportion of them being from
Mannheim and its neighborhood. At
tempts were made to see from platforms
outside of the walls, but they we're not
successful
The Sheriff was very strict and in spite
Of the thousands of applications for ad-
mission, only about one hundred persons
were permitted to enter the prison yard.
The prisoners passed the night COM
posedly. The morning was spent in re-
iigious exercises and in conversation with
tue ministers and others admitted to see
them. The writ required that the y should
be hung between the hours of 10 A. NJ,
and 3 P. NJ.
About ten o'clock the wife and children
Of Anderson were admitted to see him
and the interview and parting was most
affecting.
Soon after eleven o'clock, the process
sion moved from the interior of tbe prs-
'n, to the platform in the yard, and the
prisoners walked 6rml y to the fatal spot
md mounted the steps. Anderson made
l prayer, fervently and calmly. in which
be appealed for mercy for himself and
Richards. Neither of them made speech
IS, however.
At twenty-five minutes before twelve
clock, the ropes being adjusted around
he necks of the criminals, and all others
lagDg left the platform, the lever was
moved, and it fell leaving them hanging.
\ anderson died without struggle, and
Richards struggles were not protracted
After hanging for about half an hour,
he bodies were taken down for intermcnt
Among the spectators admitted to the
xecution, was Hon. W. a. Crabb, late
State Senator from Philadelphia.
Important decision in regard to Hotels.