Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-11-25
|. O G 4 l. y l. w =.
EXECTTIuN OF CHARLES WILLIAMS
FOR MURDER.

Last Moments OF the Condemned.
Chas Williams, an unattached colored soldier,
was executed to-day in the yard of the d Capitol
prison. He had been convicted, by the court
martial OF which Lieut.. Col. Cartwright 10 PreBi-
dent, OF killing an old colored woman, near Camp
Casey, some time ago, and was sentenced to be
hanged on Friday Last, at which time he was
reBpited by the President until to-day, when the
Sentecee was carried into effect under the dlrec.
tIon OF Col. T. IngrHham, Provost Marshal. SIX
criminals, viz: Woodward, for the murder OF his
wife; Powers, for the murder Of man named
Lutz; Ford, (colored,) for the murder Of Btnksi
Tuell, for the murder Of his wie Kes,ler, for the
murder OF an oifcer, and Beavers, arebel guerrilla
executed a short time ago, have already expisted
| their crimes on the seAffold used to-day.
| The platform of the scatfold Is twelve feet from
the ground, and the upright twenty-five feet high.
The trap 10 raised one foot above the platform,
and is eleven by five, and has fall Of over four
! feet. The rope used 10 OF the best Manills, was
obtained at the navy yard and has been subjected
| to a test weight of two huodred pounds.
Williams ia from New York city and had been
| In the service but a short time. He was twenty
three years of age, five feet ten inches high, and
weighed over one hundred and seventy five
pounds. Since last Thursday he has been confined
10 room No O. Carroll prison, and has been visited
and Instructed since that time continually by Rev.
| H. H. Garnett, colored, Of the Fifteenth street
Williams said to-day he felt reeonciled to his
| fate and was sorry he committed thu deed Tor
| which he was TO BuHer' lie sAlui however, tnat lie
was much intoxicated at the time, and know moth
| ing Of the Atrocity OF his crime until the next
NJ Irning, when he found himself in the guard
house. He expressed himself as truly grateful to
the President for the respite granted him, and
thought he was prepared to meet his fate.
Shortly after II o'clock the prisoner was taken
from Carroll prison to the Old Capitol In charge oi
| guard OF the l2th V. Il. c., comm snded by Lieut.
Col Colby, of the 10th " II. C., who has command
OF all the troops at the prisons. A few moments
afterwards he was arrayed In the black shroud and
taken to the Bcaffold, where he was prepared ioI
the final Acti the prisoners at the windows over
looking the yard gazing upon the scene with In
tense interest. number of coloTed prisoners and
some coIored employees OF the prison (male and
femAlel were also permitted to witness the tragedy
Detachments ofthe sd and i2th Veteran Reserve
CGrpI, formed guard around the scanoldi and Al
soon as all things were prepared, Gel. lngrahar 4
read the order Tor the execution, and then Rev
Mr.. Garrett read the 6lst Psalm and offered :er
vent prayer.
While this part OF the proceedings was tskinI
place, those present looked on In solemn awe; th'
female portion drawing their shawls over thei
, | heads. The prisoner stood immovAble and Ap
peared to be one OF the least interebted BeinI
asked II he had anything to say, he responded in
clear voice, and told those present that he hope,
his fate would be fair warlIDg to all to leave II
I quor alone. II he had never drank, he would no
be In this position He legged all TO be warneC
by him.
oner's face, he continuing In loud voice to cal
, | upon the Lord to have mercy on his soul and Il
help him to pray, until ~ minutes OF ~ O'Clock
, | when the bolt was drawn and the trap fell. Th
, body was allowed to hang over 10 minutes, wheI
1t was examined by DR.. c. NJ. Ford surgeon OF tn
> prison, and Dr. George Mccoy, Of the SOldierl
Rest, and Williams was pronounced dead, his neol
, having been broken by the fall. For severn
minutes after the fall the criminal twisted an
) cOntorted his body as though in much agony, an
several times drew himself up one or two inche
the Superintendent OF the Prison, to be disposed 4
A properly, Williams having no friends.