Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1869-01-08
The Sc"DOiH.
\ NEGRO HUNG ON NEW YEARS DAY
SINGULAR S 1ENE At THE
EXECUTION.


Augusta Holmes, mulatto, was
hanged at Tarboro. n. c., on January
LIST, for the murder of Matthew King
A correspondent of The N. Y. Hcruid
thus describes the scene at the cXccu-
! ton -
New Years. Day being from time I'M
memorial holiday in with the ne
groes, large hunters had thronged to
tom, as well to enjoy tucmsclves and
make purchases, as to see the " hang
in" These began TO collect in the vi
cinity of the scallold at an early hour,
and by ii a. IN. Il large crowd were
massed on the side from which the con-
dcmned man was most exposed to the
public view. The guards were sta
toned in egular order around the
scafl0ld, and besides these large num-
Der of persons had been admit Il With
in the Jail yard enclosure. Shortly after
he was seated, Holmes requested that
somebody would pray for him, and at
the suggestion Of party near the seat
fold, as the con emned man had en-
braced the tcncts OF the Catholic faith,
Mr.. James Michigan, a very venerable
and respected Irish gentleman residing
he.c, was asked to make the desired
prayer. This he did, though Il profcs-
sional Baptist clergyman was present,
and as he repeated, with uncovered
head, his gray locks shaken by the
wind, the J. ord's prayer in all it's simple
beauty and purity, f flowed by the
belief and another short prayer, the
scene was exceedingly solemn and i'm
pressive. But this was not long to re-
main so. The condemned man then
asked that somebody would sing a
hymn, and askeu that IIillard Chap
man and his wife, negroes, be sent for
| 'Nhic ~
but while the messenger was absent
number of other negroes volunteered to
sing. Accordingly they came, men and
women, climbing over the fences,
splashing through the mud and as
cending the scaliold, until at ore time,
there being ten people upon the scaftoid
besides the condemned man, fears were
entertained that the rope 10y which it
was suspended, would give way. One
negro woman, who at first spoke calmly
enough, became fCarfully excited and
broke forth into a fit Ct uncomfortable
religious enthusiasm, which for while
created quite a commOtion. Then
another religious enthusiast, II male
negro, "gave out hymn and invited
all, whether inside or outside the enclo-
sure, to come forward and " line il de
singin'" which invitation many ac-
copied, and the hymn was chanted with
all the wildness and fervor peculiar to
negroes Another negro preacher,
who was ambitious and did not wish to
be eclipsed, then made a semi-praycr
and speech, which, for richness of dia-
let and absurdity of English pronun-
ciati IN has no equal. Nearly dozen
negro women had meantime assembled
the scaflold, and were engaged in speak,
ing to the condemned man, shaking
hands with him, and taking last
farewell. Next followed anoth Il hymn,
differing little from the one previously
sun, and while this was in progress
Mary King, the wife of the murdered
man, with her child in her arms, came
splash!ng through the mu towards the
scaffOld. She climbed tie steps and eX-
tending her hand, shook that of the
condemned man warmly, and told him
she forgave him. The scene was quite
affecting. Again and again Holmes.
evidently unnerved, os'led if he was
forgiven, being assured in the affirma-
tive each time. He shook hands with
the child, a little girl about six years of
age, said that he had killed its lather,
for which he was sorry, and hop ed that
God and everybody else woul 1 forgive
him. These curious, though solemn
scenes, ended at the request of the con-
demncd man. Mr.. Phillips. his coun-
sci, read from the scaffold the confess
sion, which was heard by the eltire
crowd. Thus, instead CT private, this
was one Of the most public executions
ever witnessed, notwithstanding the law
to the contrary. 1t was made an actual
exhibition.
The scafiold being cleared, the Sheriff
Informed the, condemned nan that his
hour had arrived, but from tie con-
tinued excitement OF the hour previous,
he was unable to rise to his feet without
quite an effort. The cap was then
placed over his head, but lie asked that
it be removed for an instant to gain
another glimpse of the light of heaven.
Ihis was done, and it was again re-
placed, forever darkening the earthly
vision of Gus. Holmes. The rope was
then adjusted, and when the knot was
placed the condemned man fairly gave
way at the knees, and would have sunk
upon the drop but that he was caught.
AT this juncture the sheriff, who was
somewhat excited as might be expected
under the circumstances, said, Hold
on, Gus, you won't be hurt" A negro
had to be called to the platform to sup
port the sinking man, and as he had to
stand clear Of the drop Holmes became
in position leaning against him, en-
tirely helpless, his feet being towards
the front of the drop. The consequence
of this was that when the drop fell the
condemned man slid Off, the knot hav-
ing worked round to the back of his
neck. Strangulation was the result.
he neck was not broken. There was
a violent convulsive movement of the
lower limbs, !. sting for nearly three
minutes. Breathing ceased in seven
minutes and half, pulsation in twelve
II inutes, and in twenty minutes life
was declared extinct by the attending
physicians.