The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-10


NORFOLK, Va, Oct. Q, 1865.
An account was published some time since IN the
HERAhD OF gross outrage being perpera'eu On the
person OF fem Ale named Sarah j. Ford, Dy TWO men
named John erSins and Benjamin JEFFERSON. Jeuer-
son was ECaro and Perkins was wmte man. me
aisgraceful AFFAIR created great exctement at the
time OF il occurrence among the people OF THIS sec
ion ofie country and after the arrest OF the crimi
mails al id during their subsequent trial much anxiety
was at by all classes in relation to their fate. When
ut 81 ii was learned that the full penalty OF the law
was about to be visited them, the hideousness of
IN act and all the circumstances attending 1t tended
reaty to Danish all sympathy for the unfortunate
men who were doomed TO atone with their lives for
the commission OF their brutal crime The Court
adtadged them 10 the scalfold, and to-day was the
appointed time on which they were to surrender up
aheir lives upon the gallows.
THE NIGHT BEFORE THE EXECUTION.
The last night OF the earthly existence OF the
aemned had arrived, and again. for the last time,
did the humane priest administer the holy sacrament
ana whatever religious consolation was possible.
Both seemed resigned to their fate and expressed
themselves to the oIfcials in the jail ana the few
visitors allowed to see them. Perkins, the white
man. In his cool composure, showed the superiority
OF his race over the African, for Jefferson the negro
appeared terror stricken and nervous starting at
every noise and cycling narrowly everybody
who approached him. About eight O'Clock
+. NJ. Father Plunket received q despatch
from the two individuals, Depass and Baker, who
had been eyertng themselves to procure the pardon
OF the condemned, stating that the Governor had
commuted the sentence OF Jefferson to Imprisonment
ior lie in the penitenary. Without loss OF time the
holy iather proceeded TO the jail with the glad
udin9s. Finding Jefferson seated In his cell, he
called him TO the door and through the iron bars in
formed him that his sentence had been committed to
imprisonment for life, whereupon, In paroXysm OF
Joy, the negro exclaimed, '.Ihank God, If 1t was
the Jail, and il was remarked that Perkins remained
perfectly unmoved when he heard it, maintaining
MA serenity Of rh ths had =
cal document, bearing the seal of the State:-
JErrERsoN's REpRIEvE.
asy Tsgoh Appearing ssnjs%n amir, je s1:
a9as the Of death for the crime and
ns should be =, snsa
commute Inc said sentence Of death passed upon the sas
ientIsry Yon viii berepre sae carry he iae Jae
:on 70 The rsaiensry House at Richmond deliver him
under the seal OF the commonwealth at Richmond.
H. II. WELLS, Governor OF Virginia.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXECUTION.
Under the supervision OF Sheriff E.neridge all the
preparations had been completed over week snce
The scafold erected for the purpose OF double
cution was an ordinary but substantial structure.
and located In corner OF the jail yard enclosure in
1ull view Of the condemned. who could see every
movement OF the workmen that built 1t and hear the
noise or every hammer that drove q nail in it, A
simple drop supported by movable prop with a
space for fall about four feet fully describes the
deemed sullclent military guard was asked for to
insure the stern decree OF the law.
soon after Father Plunkett left the jail Perkins
again he attempted to court natures sweet re-
storer,n but without success. Ills pipe was con-
stantly In his mouth, and the narrow limits OF his
cell were paced to and fro during the entire night
Occasionally he would lie down, but only for mo-
the cell he prayed audibly. All this tiine however
he was wonderfully calm, and soon for the last time
the ns wedow ce ss eSu S1
the priest Perkins lasted until nine O'Clock, when
that divine came and was closeted with him
crowd had assembled without the JAIL and
the presence OF detachment OF the Twentieth
fantry, under the command OF Lieutenant Rogers,
persons mentioned above were admitted to the Jail
yard filled 1t to witness the 1nal tragedy and these
were kept at a respectful distance from the scanold
by the Gordon OF military bayonets.
In stature Perkins Is about five feet ten In height
well built, sandy complexion with mustache, thirty.
Six years OF age and rather good looking than other
se e me Is NAIVE o. waSed n G ana early
State. He present at the first battle OF Manassas
and served through the greater part Of the
ciated himself with gang OF negro banditti. His
sister resides in MASSACHUSETTS,, and he mas brother
IN California, neither of whom he wishes to know
anything OF his terrible fate.
MORNING OF THE EXECUTION.
Hour after hour passed tedi0usly and the favored
few in the jail yard moved about uneasiy, some go
Ing out and returning In great haste as II they would
miss the approaching death scene without large
trees In the vain endeavor to crafty the morbid Gu
riosity OF witnessing the execution OF criminal
ed, but the walls OF the jail hid the sight
from their view. Twelve O'Clock arrived and yet
the priest was closeted with the condemned. At.
tending members OF the press, the military and
Others became impatient, but at length 1t was an
nounced that at halEpast O'Clock the sentence
OF the law would be executed, ana the greedy scat.
fold W ud receive Its victim. About quarter 10
one O'Clock the sheriff, accompanied By the jailor,
N of
rob.ng him In white snroud. This WAS done, and
though solemn anu appalling to few spectators,
nerve betrayng the slightest emotion. The
priest, with his sacred robes and prayer
trying moments, and in response TO interrogatory
oil your correspondent said Perkins was prepared 70
that the condemned has steadfastly maintained his
innocence and that he would 80 state when upon the
scatro-d, whether he was believed or not.
on THE sCAFF0LD.
At twenty minutes past one, accompanied BY the
priest sheriff and Tailor, the doomed man was
marched TO the scaiold, which he approached anu
assembled with firm step and composed demeanor
knecing down with tue reverend father lie repeated
IN ina an mistaken tone Of voice. solemn silence
retgned during this ceremony the soldiers standing
with uncovered heads. The deputy sheriff then
read TO the condemned the following sentence OF the
Court
John Perkins under tho sentence OF the county court OF
Norfolk county pronounced the 29h day OF August lse
s 6n yo sP9s shs s9a,se % ape 6y you on
neck until be dead AM that execution OF the judgment
pc ade ana done upon You oy the sheriff Of Norfolk county
on this Friday the gh day OF October 1860, between the
hours Of ten O'Clock the and O'Clock the
afternoon OF the same day at the usual place Of
execution about iiny the said and
you are now At liberty 70 what may desire touching
said the said charge, ani mar God have
mercy on your soul.
THE LAST WORDS or THE CONDEMNED.
Enveloped Ia his sepulchral shroud, perfectly un-
moved, his clear blue eye turned upon the crowd
ond standing erect Perkins heard his death SEN
tcnce, and then In q steady voice sald:-
needless M 10 declare in.
nocence, but VIII appear IN the presence Of
God don's know whether Sarah Ford Is man N woman
am innocent OF the crime the angels am about 10
lon thank tho ailor and the sheriff aud all my other
friends for their kindness 10 and may God bless Father
flunkeu for hie services to
nnai leave was now taken by the officers AMI
The priest Perkins bidding all an a1ectionlte fare.
wei, but with a GOODNESS that was the wonder OF all
The spectators.
Trr