Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-06-27
Execution Ofa Negro Soldier FOR an
Outrage Upon a Woman.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoT0MAC,
PETERSBURG, June 21-noon.-Y Yesterday
was another comparatively quiet day. 1t
was at this point on our line where the
scaffold had been erected to hang the color
ed man who was convicted of attempting to
outrage lady residing in New Kent coun-
ty, seven days since, and the firing by our
battery was evidently for the purpose of
attracting the attention of the enemy, as 1t
was on an elevation and in full view Of their
lines. On the arrival of the procession at
the spot, the firing ceased. The enemy
discovering what was going on, one of the
shells struck about fifty feet in front of the
scaffold, killing soldier of the name of
Polly, of the 18th Massachusetts,. This man
had carved his name on board in the
morning and gave it to an officer, remark
ing that it might be wanted ere long, SEEM
ingly having presentiment that death
would soon reach him.
The procession reached the spot selected
at 8 A. NJ, the Sixty eighth Pennsylvania,
Colonel Winslow, and One Hundred and
Fourteenth Pennsylvania, Colonel Coils,
acting as a guard. The negro rode in
wagon, with his hands tied behind, and ap-
peared quite resigned to his fate. His name is
VIM. Johnston, and he confesses that he en-
listed in Baltimore into a colored regiment,
taking the first opportunity he got to es-
cape. On his arrest and during the trial
he earnestly protested his innocence, gave
false name, and claimed to belong in the
quartermaster'S department. He said he
attempted to rob the house, but hearing
some cavalry coming ran to escape their
seeing him, and in doing so had accident
ally upset the lady But the evidence given
by several female witnesses and some of
our soldiers was too strong to admit of a
doubt of his guilt, and hence he was con-
victed and sentenced to be hung. When,
however, he found all his protestations vain,
and the sentence of death pronounced, he
confessed his crime, gave true history of
himself, and acknowledged his punishment
was no more than he deserved. Two chap
lains were with him nearly all the night
previous, and he seemed very repentant.
: At 9% o'clock, after all the preliminaries
had been arranged by those in charge, and
prayer was offered by chaplain, the plank
was pulled from under his feet, and al
though his neck was not broken by the fall,
scarcely any motion of the limbs could be
discovered. DR.. Haslett, of the Third Penn
sylvania cavalry, examined the pulse and
announced the culprit dead, at the END or
seven minutes. The body was left hanging
for several hours, when it was taken down
and buried near the spot. This is the first
case which has occurred in this campaign
where marauders and stragglers, who make
it business to outrage the inhabitants on
the line of march, have been severely dealt
with, aud it is hoped the example will prove
warning to those who are continually
committing such crimes. Avery small an-
dience was present, few of whom were
colored; and had it been done in presence
of the colored division, who were not far
from the spot, the effect might have been
very beneficial. ,la oNe