The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1867-10-10
JAMES HARPER,
S. S. Missionary
THE SCkEF0LD.
Execution of Three Negroes.
From the Mobile lAla.l Times. Sept. .:

From the Mobile (Ala) Times, Sept. IS.
The long xpected hanging of the three
negroes, Grant, Robertson and Richard
sou, took place in the yard of the Jail to-
day.
! The circumstances Of the horrible out
rage committed by the three negroes, are
no doubt familiar to our readers; never
theless, short sketch of the case. the ar
rest of the perpetrators. aud other Incl
dents, will not be out of place.
On the 18th Of April last, the communi-
y was thrown into great excitement, caus-
cd by the report that a family living at
Dog River. about ten miles from the city,
and about seven from Dog River factory,
had been most horribly outraged and beat
ell BY a party OF negroes. The victims
were the family OF a Mr.. Peters, man of
go years of age, and his family consisting
Of vile and four children
On the evening of the 9th Of April,
obout O'Clock, three negroes entered the
house and demanded money Mr. Peters
gave them all he had about him, amount
ing to about So So The nesoes swore
that he had more, and commenced to ran
sack the house, breaking up the furni-
ture. They finally seized Mrs. Peters, ard
took from her person about s i 400 in gold.
The daughter of Mr. Peters was then
seized and violated passing from the arms
Of one to the other; the knives of the vii
lains were called into requisition to aid
them in their hellish work. A little girl
about three years of acc was dashed
against the wall aud severely injured
Tie boys were held up by the heels to
make them tell where the money was
Mr Peters was Knocked down and shot at,
and most brutally treated. Public indig-
nation was so great at this most horrible
outrage that the most strenuous efforts
were made to arrest the perpetrators.
On the Sd of June, one Of the perpetra-
tors, Ulysses S. Grant, was arrested, and
on the Sth. JAS Robinson and about two
weeks afterwards Joe Richardson was
caught.
They were examined before the Mayor
aud identified by Mrs. Peters and family
as the negroes who had committed the out
rage. They were accordingly sent to the
city court under heavy bond. At the
June term of that court they were tried,
found guilty, and sentenced to be hung on
Friday, the 81 of August. Certain par
ties, having taken an idea into their heads
that they were innocent, used strenuous
efforts to obtain respite The Governor
granted the respite for four weeks, which
expired to-day.
The Governor came down himself to in
vestigate the case, and, feeling satisfied
that they were guilty, refused to extend
another resvite, which had been asked CT
him.
FORCE ON THE GROUND.
A detachment of SO men OF the 18th
infantry and strong police force were on
the ground.
The crowd outside the walls was very
large, principally negroes about 100 per-
sons were inside by special permission of
the Sheriff The housetops, trees, and
high fences in the vicinity were crowded
with eager lockers on. There was no ex-
citement in the crowd, all being quiet and
orderly.
The scaffold was erected in the north
east portion Of the yard fronting west
1t was built of rough pine, about ii feet
high, allowing a drop OF two and a half
feet. The trap was four by six feet, and
set to be sprung in the usual manner.
The prisoners passed the time in their
cells, just before taken out to the scaffold,
in praying and singing, several colored
preachers being with them They seem
ed pcnitent. though showing great signs
CT trepidation, and appeared to be perfect
" unnamed.
At l5 minutes to o'clock the condemn
ed were taken out of the cell, and conGuc-
ted to room, where the white shroud was
drawn over them and their arms tied
They seemed resigned to their fate, and
while being robed, clapped their hands
and jumped up and down, prayins and
singing.
The coiored minister who attended them
stated that while praying with them in
the cell, some one had stolen his hat
Sheriff Granger told him that everything
had been DONE by those by those who be-
leved them innocent, to have them par
doned, but without effect.
At minutes to one they were conduct
ed from the room to the scaffold, loudly
proclaiming their innocence.
They ascended the scaffold with firm
step, singing the "IIoly Ship of Zion" ac-
conpanied by co!pred minister, Sheriff
Granger and Col. Dimon.
The gates at this time were opened and
the crowd poured in. After praying a
short while, they each in loud voice pro-
claimed that they were innocent of the