The New York herald., 1869-01-05
THE DEATH PENALTY.
Execution Of Noted Negro Crimi-
nal in North Carolina. w
Gus Holmes (Mulatto) Hanged for the Murder
Of Mathew King (Negro).
CONFESSION OF THE CONDEMNED.
EXTRAORDINARY SCENES AT THE SCAFFOLD.

+
TARBoRo, N. c.. Jan. I, 1863.
The scaffod mas added another victim to its long
list and the grave has received another felon. The
new year was inaugurated In this town by the exc
tution OF Gus Holiness mnlatto for the murder OF
Mathew King, negro. The day was one well
adapted, in keeping with the tragic occasion. Heavy
black clouds hung over the entire earth during the
morning the rain fell almost necessarily, and the
atmosphere was heavy and depressing to degree
that was extremely disagreeahle. The thermometer
stood "a. ati
Among the negro population OF the South while
slavery existed there was large class known as
Stree nggers," most Of whom obtained question:
able subsistence by plfering Jobbing, and such me-
nial acts as some slaves would be ashamed OF.
Indeed. this class were thoroughly despised by
the negro slaves who had perfect loathing OF
the "free Niger - nor could one receive
greater insult than to draw q comparison
which would place him on such doubtful equality.
1t Is not to be wondered at then that detested by
the whites banned by their own race ana denied
even the common privileges Of slave, this unfOr-
tunate class OF people should become Injured to
crime, abject to the lowest degree treacherous and
like lshmael, their hand against every mans hand,
every mans hand being against them. The commits
sion Of petty theft constantly kept them in the ais
Of the country, out or which they were frequently
purchased at q nominal sum by persons who desired
their services for period agreed to by the author
ties and the offender. Thus passed the existence OF
large number of people in the South during the
era OF slavery who have now bequeathed to society
some OF the greatest vagabonds and criminals that
walk the South, though there are some exceptions.
1t was to this class that Gus Holiness who was ex-
eeuted to-day, belonged.
ORIGIN OF THE CRIME
In the early part of May 1857 the warehouse Of
the IarlOrO branch railroad wa nd
quantity of whiskey and groceries taken there
from lew nights afterwards an iron safe con-
faining the money OF the railroad and the express
company stolen nom the express office through
"A window, which was taken out. The iron safe was
found few days afterwards in a scud OF woods
about half mile distant from the Office CON-
petey rned OF its contents and battered to pieces
with sledge hammer. Investigations that were at
once act on foot such to throw suspicion upon
Augustus Holmes "a muatto), female witness
having stated that on the night after the safe was
taken she heard beating on something like an
'iron Kettle or bIg tin PAM In the woods where
she lived and on going to the place she approached
near enough to see tall, yellow man, whom sne
took TO be Gus Holmes, aiding in breaking open the
safe. This Gus Holmes occupied the only o.her
room in the house with the witness, whose husband
was named Mathew King negro. ceiled par
tion separated the two rooms, both OF which had
entrances from tho front. M
THE MURDER. ~
The Sabbath following the dag upon which the
robbery was committed Gus Holmes and Mathew
King came down the street together in very
friendly manner about ten O'Clock A. NJ. the
former having waited until the latter had shaved
ana dressed himself King returned alone in the
latter part OF the evening Holmes also returned by
himself about eleven O'Clock at night in OF in
toxicaton. Ut Is here proper to state that Holmes
his wife having died some time previously.) Enter
ing in an abrupt manner, he ordered the oman to
prepare his supper and INDUCED in the most abusive
and severe language, making the most violent
threats against her. The noise and hustle aroused
the occupants in the adjoining room, who had
tired, and Mary King spoke TO Gus in friendly
mann manner to appease him. He replied harshly and
on HIM about the iron box" A fierce alteration
ensued between the parties for some minutes, which
which good many threats were made by Gus
Holmes towards the wife OF King. She asked him.
knowing him to be desperate character, II he had
any harm against Mathew, her husband. lie an
swered 'No,n but would maze some HARM and
he rushed ont or hts door and began a furious
banging against the door OF Mathew King, which
wa was & locked upon the the inside Mathew, getting from
told Holmes he had no harm against him. Holmes
replied mo, I've got no harm against you. but
VIII make some harm,r and instantly making
a retrograde movement from the doorstep. raised
his rife, fired and shot King-the ball entering about
below the right shoulder blade. He expired soon
afterwards; his nfebood covering his own ioor
ing the AR with their shrieka, while the murderer
with his fatal weapon entered his room, and there
renamed morose and sullen. The tragedy occurred
about twelve, midnight, and about three A. H.
Holmes, after change Of clothes TO disguise
~ sds ~, ns escape sr Daylight witnessed mes the
armed with every conceivaoie kind OF weapon
IN pursuit q the murderer and about eight in the
morning ne was brought in by a party
amid the most intense excitement Threats
Of ynchng were freely uttered by the blacks, who
were friends of the murdered man; but the officers
OF the law saved the criminal for more Just DOOM
He was then taken before justice OF the peace by
the county, there 70 await his examination and trial.
Shortly afterwards at special court OF oyer and
Terminer held for the county Of Edgecombe, q bin
OF indictment framed for MURDER and a true
pil endorsed thereon by the foreman Of the Grand
signed by the Court, asked for continuance on sc
count OF the absence OF the woman with whom nc
had been living in state Of adultery and who was
material witness for the prisoner. He was IT,
manded back TO jail.
N ms ,,,ss ESCAPE A. 4. AND SUBSEQUENT ARREST.
nnder his preliminary examination, the prisoner ex.
hibted caous deneanor and seeming indifference
as TO his fate, though at times evincing some anxiety
as TO the latter In fts like these he was impeed 60
make efforts 10 regain his lost liberty and under the
inspiration OF the axiom Whlc there lite there ia
hope" every energy was centred in one grand
effort TO escape. lie succeeded IN drawing the bolts
from an IRON bar in the ponderous door OF his cell
aud win this implement he broke or the powerful
staples having thus effected entrance the pas.
snge. This was accomplished IN The carly
part Of the night, and once without the
narrow bounds Of his dungeon the WORK
of making hole through the outer brick
wall OF the Iail TO him a comparatively
easy task which he soon accomplished ana once
more he was iree A diigent search was Instituted
throughout tile entire vicinity for his recaptuR but
without success and what became OF TINS terrible
desperate and criminal for the next six months was
then mystery. reward for his arrest was, how
ever, offered both by the state and county, and in
January, 1883, Gus Holmes was rearrested IN mill
taTy hospital at Columbia, $. O. sick, under treat
ment ~ United states soldier. The manner In
which this was brought about was through the infu-
ence uf the reward comrnde to whom Gus had
been detaiiing his various exploits having
turned inforIner and pocketed the handsome
sum OF 1000 upon the surrender OF Gus to The State
authorities OF North Carolina.
After leaving the Jail the condemned made his way
10 Kalelh and from thence To EnIreatYile. The