The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-06-03

Last Friday three negroes were to be hung
at Halifax, N. O., for murder. One OF them
George Bayline, it had been previously deter
mined to respite for 25 days. What occurred
"a to the other two is related as follows, by a
correspondent Of the Petersburg Express:
arrived at Halifax at 25 minutes past II
O'Clock. Found an enclosure on the 'front.' por,
Zion Of the Jail, Is feet high. that would
admit of about so or 70 persons standing in
eide. There were two or three hundred per
soas outside. mostly colored. After little
delay obtained sdmittance to the enclosure,
and found 80 or 40 men OF both coloIs inside,
among whom was deputy sherlH, anxlously
lnquiring for the sheriff The prisoners were
condemned to be hanged between the hours Of
"a and O'Clock. At about twenty minutes TO
4 by NV watch, the sheriff entered the enco-
sure, with telegram in his hand, somewhat
excited. He hurriedly mounted the scaffold,
and commenced preparing the two ropes
Sround the beam. The sheriff soon asked the
time. Was told by one bystander Is minutes
TO o'clock, by another minutes, and by
lawyer present that 1t lacked a. minutes to
O'Clock. In @ few moments the sheriff had the
criminals brought out OF Jail They took their
stands Immediately under the ropes attached
to the beam.
At this moment the lawyer s7ho said the
Shariff had 20 minutes time, addressed him
seH 10 the sheriff and said that the time for
hspaing the criminals had expired, and called
upon those present to witness that he warned
the sheriff that il he hung them be would do
20 ct his own peril, and outside OF law and
Justice.
elapsed sinoe he had said that the sheriff had
20 minutes. Very harsh words were pass
ed between the sEerif and said lawyer. At
This moment the aherlf intimated BY his re-
maris that an eHort was being made to pre-
vent him from celng his duty. Great excite
ment occurred at this time. :
The sheriff then adjusted the ropes around
the necks Of the criminals. and placed the
white caps over their heads and faces. He then
stated that by bus watch it lacked 3 minutes
of O'Clock; that he had received from the
respite; that he had teleeraphed the secretary
that he could not recognize this as ofticiai, and
Would be obliged to nang the criminals; that
the secretary then telegraphed him to walt
until the last moment. as he would telegraph
Governor holden, in Baltimore; He then re-
marked that he would wait until two minutes
to / O'Clock, at which time, unless he was IN
receipt OF telegram from Governor holden,
bS should launch the prisoners into eter-
nity. More words were then passed be-
tween the sherif and the lawyer before
mentioned, and considerable excitement was
nfeselt went no TO the scafteld and addressed
the sheriH. but was told BY him in very strong
lsnensre not to speak to him. At this moment
q areat commotion and outcry was heard out
side Of the enclosure. sod the cry was heard, o
respite q respdtei The confusion aud excite,
ment here was iudsscribable. A man rushed
BY, the guard aud INTO the gate with . telegram
which he handed the sheriff. The sheriff, with
his ie1si ADVISER, retired to ons corner OF the
eH6lO6df8 md read the telegram, and con-
suited q EaW momants., During this consulta-
tion, everyo became perfectly quiet, and the
stiffness Of death prevailed, the condemned
men standing perfectly stll on the sca1oid,
Win the ropes and caps adjusted as before
described.
The sherlfthsn came forFsrd and saidhe
had received q telegram from Governor Hol.
den respitln2 the condemned until the eth OF
Juta. H-Would be; useless TO attempt 20 de.
scribe the scene Of excited confusion that took
plnos sup0u thus announcement. -.
a shot Rss fired into the enclosure, art the
report was pretty loud one adding, II possi-
BID, to the excii and confusion. The
shot proved lobe from pistol in the hands OF
the representatives from this county, who, TOR
some unaccountable reason. came into tho en-
closure With I cooked pistol in his hand. For
. wonder, ,srin4 isuoh q crowd, tho shot did no
damage.
cendine the scaffold, and complained that the
rope was choking him, and said please take 1t
A voice from the crowd said, "Come down
from there, Gus Baker."
Baker seeming to recognize the voice, the
cap still being over his face, exclaimed in
tone stifled with emotion. 'Oh myi Dudley"
Thomas did not utter word while on the
scaffoId that heard. The sheriff now re-
moved the ropes and caps from the prisoners
and had THIN returned to Jail. >sors s.5s.. &
The sheriff then m lde short speech to the
excited crowd, saying in 1t that the criminals
would behunx rs certain Oh next Friday comes.