The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-09-18

Execution Of Three of the Murder
~ ers at Columbus, KY.

uouoteuly Ill Drlng 10 nina the narrowing
details of most cruel and atrocious muir
der which was committed in the early
part OF last month at or near Compromise
Landing, in the county of ObiOn, Tennes-
see. Reference has been made to the
case in these columns, at least, more than
once, and it will hardly be necessary, in
relating the closing scenes in the tragedy,
as far as three of the murderers are con-
cerned, to enter greatly into particulars
of the murder itself.
THE TRIAL.
A patient and candid investigation of
the affair was at once entered upon here,
as soon as the prisoners had been secured,
and Gen. Asboth appointed Commission
to try the murderers, of which Col. W.
I. Shaw, Of the 14th Iowa infantry vol
unteers was President. The business was
coolly and deliberately prosecuted, until
at last the end has been reached, and the
three colored men, Stevenson, Ray, and
Jim Webb were found guilty.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXECUTION.
Under the directions of Col. Scott, Com
mandant of the Post, Major w. r. Row.
ley, Provost Marshal of the District, and
Capt l. d. Williams, Provost Marshal of
the city, preparation had, meantime, been
made to carry out the order for the execu-
ton of the wretched men. 1t was Friday
-" Hangman's Day but otherwise as
pleasant day as has broken at morn and
been settled by the setting of the sun at
night, since Eve and our criminal parent
were driven from Paradise. 1t was rather
warm, but there was warm work to be
DONE
THE MILITARY.
Upon the arrival of our party on the
ground selected for the erection of the GAL
lOws-being west of the town about mile,
and on the summit of the bluffs, in the vi
cinity and in the rear of the fort-we found,
at eleven O'Clock, the military drawn up in
hollow square around the spot, their
bright arms glistening in the sun, as
though prepared to do battle against NOR
tai foe.
Col. Scott, as ordered, commanded the
different detachments of military, thus re-
lieving Gen. A. J. Smith from a most un-
pleasant duty. In fact, we did not see the
General upon the spot, lie being detained
by other pressing business at headquarters.
The military consisted of detachments of
the 31st Wisconsin, COL Messmore, the I'd
Tennessee Artillery (colored), Col. Adams,
and the escort of the prisoners proper, a
company of the 10th United States regular
infantry. In all, they made about one
thousand armed men. The colored troops
formed One-half of the hollow square en-
closing the scaffold. So far as we were
able to observe, they performed their duty
creditably, as did all, both officers and SOL
dierS engaged in the solemn duty.
THE EXECUTION.
This cavalcade, the prisoners escorts,
and the military forming the hollow
square, with soldiers, citizens, women and
children as lookers-on, must have formed
an assemblage Of at least $500 persons,
all excited to the highest pitch.
The procession arrived upon the ground
at 1880 P. M, and Immediately the col
Ored prisoners were taken out of the
wagon-their guard of the detachment of
10th Infantry forming a second hollow
square within the centre one-and march,
ed beneath the gallows. Here all had
chance to examine them. They were fair
specimens of the African race, and per-
haps as intelligent as the generally of
farm or plantation hands. Muscularly
they would have thrown patrons of the
gymnastic art INTO ecstacies. Ray was
rather under size. The others were large,
tall, well-formed fellows. None of them
seemed to fear or dread the fate that
awaited them, or if they did, exhibited no
signs of such fear. Only one experienced
the least difficulty in ascending the ladder
and reaching the platform upon which
they were to take their last view of earth.
This was Stevenson. Corporal Jim," as
he was called by his colored friends,
walked up the ladder firmly. Ray was
active on foot. When fairly upon the
platform, two colored exhorters were al
lowed to ascend, one an old and grey
haired man. One gave out the well
known psalm, commencing
'And must be to judgment brought
After the singing, which was not joined
in by the culprits, the negroes were placed
in row, and Major Rowley and Captain
Williams mounted the scatfold, the former
occupying the southern extremity and the
latter the northern, the prisoners being be-
tween them, the smaller in the center,
thus:
Maj Rowley, Stevenson, Ray, Jim, Captain
Williams.
The younger of the colored preachers
made a prayer for the souls of the prison.
ers, in which they appeared to join
with some earEestness, at least their lips
moved, but no audible sounds escaped
them, all kneeling upon the platform.
Stevenson was most affected by the pray
er, and nearly reclined instead of kneeling,
either from weakness or to avoid the
moose which hung near and occasionally
touched his head. After the con clusion
of the prayer, about quarter to one, the
ropes were adjusted by Maj. Rowley, and
Captain Williams upon the necks of their
prisoners, and the officers, after placing
the white caps upon the heads of the ne
groes descended and removed the ladder
Before the ministers had left, Corporal
Jim had asked his spiritual adviser to put
his hand in his pocket, remove a pocket
handkerchief lie would find there and
with it bandage his eyes, perhaps think
ing that no caps were to be brought. The |
handkerchief was found and Jim held it in
his hand when he was dashed into eterni- |
ty, and he was buried with it in his grasp.
Previous to this, however. the legs OF the