Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-10-08
THE scArroLp.
Execution Of Lewis 0ivens for the
Murder Of John shaw.

Execution of Lewis 0ivens for the
Murder Of John shaw.
To-day Lewis Givens. negro, " shat
fed of this mortal coil" on the SAINT
gallows on which Calvin and Moody were
hung on the 10th OF August last. Hs
was accused with having killed with an
OK, on the Goth of December last, in q
shanty belonging TO q Mr.. Howard, in
the rear of the Francioli building on
Union avenue, colored man named
John Shaw. He was examined before q
Magistrate and committed to Jail. o.
the llth Of August be was tried before q
jury IN the Criminal Court, and found
guilty Of murder in the FIRST degree. with
q recon mendation to mercy. On the
2lst of the same month he appeared be-
fore Judge Hudson to receive sentence,
and being asked what he had to say why
sentence of death should not be pro.
nounced against him. replied in rigma-
role about Hoodoism," which the Court
did not understand, and consequently
sentenced him to receive the full penalty
of the law to-day. All the time he has
been in jail, before and since his convic-
ton aud sentence, he has con-
Quoted himself very quietly, Civ
ing no more than the ordinsry
trouble to Msjor Foster and the jailers
under him-s strong contrast to the con-
duct of Woods, charged with killing Dan
Tucker, and who has escaped hanging to-
day because he appealed to the Supreme
Court. Woods, ever since his incarcera-
ton, has been an annoyance-so much so
that the jailers have found it necessary
to attach ball and chain to his limbs.
He is ferocious. looking animal, while
Givens had good countenance and was
quiet and gentle in his manners. BE
was never known to have stolen anything
while residing on Union avenue; and
the neighbors around the place, having a
good opinion of him, frequently gave him
little Jobs of work, which he performed
faithfully.
CONVERSATION WITH TIE DOOMED MAN.
Yesterday we went to the jail. and
through the kindness of Major Foster
were permitted to see the doomed man,
Louis Owens, and hold conversation
with him in presence of the jsiler. We
asked him a few questions, to which be
replied calmly and without the least hest
tation. The questions and answers were
about as follows:
Where were you born and what is your
sge2
Prisoner was born in Logan county,
Kentucky, and am thirty. one years old.
To whom did you belong in Kentucky
Prisonsr-I belonged to Mr.. Alexander
Givens.
How long have you been in Tennessee
Prisoner-About ten years. ! was
brought here by Mr.. Richard Bennett be-
fore the war.
Are you aware that the warrant for
your execution is in the hands of the
Sheriff?
Prisoner-No, sir.
Are you prepared to die2
Prisoner-Yes, sir; q man can only
die once.
Did you kill John Shaw, for whose
murder you have been condemHed2
Prisoner-No, sir. did not.
Do you know who killed him 7
Prisoner-No, sir.
Did you ever fight or quarrel with
Shaw previous to the murder2
Prisoner-We never had fight, but
often quarreled. We lived in the same
house together, and worked together.
and we're on good terms. When / was
sick he waited on me ct home.
Did you ever owe Shaw grudge of
any kind2
Prisoner-No, sir; be owed me ten
or twelve dollars when the murder hap
pened.
Shaw never injured you in any way
Prisoner-No, sir; he never injured
me nor him.
How came there to be difficulty in
your house2
Prisoner-Shaw whipped one wife and
had taken up with another; the difficulty
was between them.
What did Shaw do for livingP
Prisoner-He drove carts.
When did he 60 to your house to lodge2
Pr;ssnes-0s the lss of jane.
A year ago last June2
Prisoner-Yes, sir.
Shaw was killed in December
Prisoner-I believe so.
You were the first who discovered his
dead body?
Prisoner-I didn't see it until it was
found in the alley. was standing in
my door in the morning and white man
came up and asked me who was the
owner of the house? said / was; and
be said to me then "yop had better go
and report that man has been killed
here" went to town and so reported
to the Coroner.
You didn't look at the body lying in the
alley to see who had been killed Z?
Prisoner-No, siri went straight to
the Coroner.
When you we're arrested for the MUIR
der why didn't you call on some for whom
you had worked to testify as to your good
character
Prisoner-I never saw no one; / had
no mind to think of It.
You had fair trial
Prisoner--Yes, sir, as TO the way the
witness gave in her evidence; but she
swore to What wasn't so,
Why didn't you appeal to g higher
court, like Woodsf
p,,,-ouer-I didn't think about it;
didn't have the l."h; :.
Have YOU ever been subject to dis
ease of the mind-6ts or spells, or any
thing Of that sortf /
Prisouer-rve often had spells, but nc.
very bad like I've seen other folk have
EN-.
You don't know how you got into this
trouble2 /
Prisoner--yes. sir, by having bad
characters around me; bad company did