The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-26

Of L0uls Wilson, n sc. Louis.
| The telegraph has already communicated the
fact Of the execution, on Friday last, OF William
Edwards for the murder OF Louis Wilson. In st.
Louis The following, from the st. Louis Democrat
OF the 2ad instant gives interesting particulars
Of the case ana The condition OF the condemned the
| night before his execution:-
william Edwards, who is condemned to die upon
the gaowe to-day Tor the murder OF Louis Wilson,
appears 10 De resigned to his fate Rev. Mr.. Peck,
colored Baptist minister, spent time with MIN
III ms cell yesterday preparing him for the dreadful
Governor should interpose executive clemency. OF
| this there seems to be little hope, as but feeble
EFFORTS nave been made In behalf or the condemned
The murder was committed last winter at ball.
AND the cause was colored girl named Nancy
thompson, whom Edwards claims as his lawful
wlie, but who now says she was never married 10
hun.
struck Nancy, and Edwards resented It by stabbin2
Nun with knife. Edwards himself gives different
lived in a room Of a house Occupied by William William
Walker and vile and Mrs. Philips. l and some
wile there; was married to her AT Lexington. The
fight took place about twelve O'Clock. Nancy (my
wile) was on the moor With Wilson making up set.
Wilson made an insulting proposal TO her, ard she
told hun she wasn't that sort OF woman. He SAID
sne was. and she called him liar. lie told her II
she called him liar he would slap her. She called
him liar again, and ne knocked her down. went
up To him aud asked hun what he struck Nancy Tor.
He said had nothing TO do with It, and hauled of and
Knocked ae down. 1 tod him not TO strike ME any
more, and he put his hand behind nim rs II he was
going to pull out ungsilot. lie made at me .sand
struck me with slungshot In the neck. went
into the yard. and Allen Payne struck me with
CHAIR and Henry Johnson threw a pitcher at me.
Saul Prince threw rock at me. Allen and Wilson
botn jumped on me in the yard and Wilson stamped
on iae: got up, and wilson caught me oy sne COZ
Wilson said he would fix me himself. Wilson beat
me Is long rs ne could aud stopped down to get
u stick, and then cut him with the knife. l am
sorry Tor 1t, but 1t can't be helped.
Edwards was born III Hopkinsville, Kentucky,
ana at one time belonged to Mr. r. Z. sharp, OF this
city. His master called hlm Roach lie came to
this city ABOUT the time of the war, aud followed
steamboatins. Mr.. sharp took interest IN him at
first, but found him dun ana unsulled to house.
work. Edwards Is a small slender man, OF copper
color ami is nearly twentythree years OF age He
was sentenced TO be hung Oh the l2tn OF june but
the Governor granted respite unlil to-day.
When arrdgned for sentence before Judge Primm,
have words say He me first After that
struck Nancy for He struck again. and knocked two Of
Breast ss When ". to tue door, baued Oh with sans
osn sn
on me They had me down. and one OF them stamped me
said aLet get at the Of "a" then him with
tine ne tried TO get out OF his way and could not That
Inc execution viii take place about noon and VIII
be Witnessed by about fifty citizens, VINO have been
invited, and the Bohemlans OF the press.
THE observation-disclosures AND REVOLVING SCENES
Ist Louis July a. special Despatch to the oincin.
natl Gazetta.l
| Another Of those revolving scenes which have
| come Gown to u3 from DarDarOuS ages was enacted
! here inns afternoon, and has caused shudder to
peryade the entire community. poor negro boy,
| win but molety OF intelligence, expatiated the
| crime OF murder upon the 2aiUws.
William Edwards, alias Roacn, at a ball last WIN
ter, defended his wife against The insults and blows
OF another negro man named Lewis Wilson, and IN
the ARRAY, III which three or four men strucS beat
and stamped upon Edwards, he stabbed ana KILLED
Wilson. lie was tried and convicted Of the murder,
and about month ago was resplted by the Governor,
been White he never would have been convicted for
no jury could have been found who would have
found him guilty under the circumstances; but as
he was "only niggern and o poor one at that, he
was adudged proper victim for the gibbet. Seve-
raj EFFORTS mad made To procure Communication
OF the sentence, but Governor McCiurg mas turned
deaf ear to tue appeals in behalf OF the culprit.
This morning the District Attorney, Chief Of
| Police anu the County Marshal telegrapned the gov
ernor that Edwards did not deserve to nang; that
| the ends OF justice would be suoserved by commut-
ing his sentence to imprisonment for life to which
Claws safeguards only when strictly enforced"
| And so the execution went on.
At half-past one O'Clock the condemned man was
taken from the CELL and, preceded by three coored
clergymen, he was taken to the scafrvld reared
we're plnlonsd and other preparations the cxecu
Marshal asked Edwards Hpa Abe. death warrant the
and he replied as follows, exhibiting good deal OF
ii have not much to say, and what have to say
| do not suppose VIII do much good. But ! WIN say
that / have no enmity against any man
| on top OF the grouad, but still think !
been treated un o od VIII me g court H9.
| tice. God sees when all things are rlgn, ana
he knows that they did not give me justice, ard so
| do not think OF complaining here. 1t Is concluded,
| and as 1t is l am content here with Cod Chris
| tian,s God Is with me. He has given HIS strength
| to me. God ID with me right here. and thank God
ior it now All think OF me. Brothers. If you have
| anything to say would like to hear It,"
| x hymn was then sung by the attending minister
| during which Edwards manifested much emotion
ana gave constant expressions to exciamations
which gave evidence Of the most fervent religious
very eloquent prayer was then offered by one OF
| the clergynien, during which Edwards wept and re-
sponded with That inlense emotion winch Is charac-
terisc Of the negro under strong religious excite
| ment.
| trap sprung and the poor, iriendess wretch hung
! between heaven and eartb.
For moment he was perfectly stlll, put the next
| violent cOntortions began and fearful struggle
commenced. 1t was then discovered That the rope
was too long and That the mans toes touched the
ground lie threw his arms aud legs wildly about,
| attempted to tear the cap or and cutched at the
rope as though he would lift himself up, and when
his feet touched the ground he would spring Up
several feet. The struggle was fearful, and the spec
In a moment or two however the rope was drawn
up from above, the struggle gradually ceased, and
after the lapse OF thirteen minutes, which had ap-
peared many hours to thewitnesses OF the scene.
the victim of judicial murder was pronounced dead.
An examination after the body was cut down
showed that the neck was not broken, but that the
doomed man had died OF strangulatlon.
The body was placed IN comm and given to the
city undertaKers for burial THIS spectators dispersed
and thus ended one Of the most narrowing, barbar
Gus and revolving scenes that has ever occurred IN
| TINS or any other city.
Almost everybody present expressed disgust and
adherence, and scarcely a man could be found who
did not heartily pray FOR the abolition OF capital pun
tshment.
TIE CASE Of THE REV. Mr. CHENEY N CHICAGO.