The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-09-13

At nine o'clock on Friday morning last, Jesse
Watkins was hung in the jail-yard OF Sa-
| vannah, for the murder Of little white boy
named Charlie Wilson. %es
About the first of September, 1868, Charlie
went out hunting, and when about two miles
| from Savannah came suddenly upon Jesse and
| another negro. who had gone out 10 kill COW.
Jesse, without any proyocatfon whatever, shot
Charlie dead with o musket he had; then hid
the body in the bushes, and carried of the de-
ceased's gun and accoutremente. Charlie not
coming home at the usual hour, his mother be-
came uneasy, and search was commenced.
His body was not found for three days. al
though over hundred persons we're out
searching for him. About two months after
the murder, Jesse's companion turned States
evidence. As the case was carried through
the various courts, other evidence was intro
duced, which fully established the guilt OF the
accused and IL May last Judge Schley, Of the
Superior Court, sentenced hlm to be hung.
The cashier Of the Freedman's Bureau in So
vInnah interested blmself very much in CO.,.
lecting testimony to prove the innocence OF
Jesse, after he had been sentenced. He IL
duced Governor Bullock to twice respite Jesse.
But on last Thursday the Governor, by tele-
graph, ordered the execution.
The scaffold vas in Il jail yard, to which
only the clergy and the reporters were at first
sented that the crowd outside should como in.
Rev. Fathers Hamilton and Laugaree oficiated.
When the cross, the sacred emblem of the re-
ligion he had professed. was held up to him.
he pressed bis lips cpon it with zeal for the
moment, oblivious of all other circumstances
or surroundings. Father Hamlton then whis-
pered the last words in his ear aud bidding
him good bye, to which Jesse respouded VIII
much feeling, descended few steps On al
dressed the spectators, saying: e. Tue ltor.
tunate man who i. now abont 10 meet his q I'd
desires me TO say that he dies truly sorry fof
all his sins; that he hes prayed for yru all anil
as his soul goes into eternity, he des res eacn
of you to say short prayer for it's roDose.
While Father Hamilton was speaking every har
was raised in solemn aud respectful attentl0n.
Just before adjusting the cap, Sheriff Doouer
asked, Jesse have you ANYTHING you wish to
say to those present ?" After o moments hes
itation. the condemned man stepped forward o
few inches and replied, Yes, .slr, will say .
few Words" then to the e.crowdo"Gentlemen.
this is solemn occaslon.' feel that it is Gods
will for me to die. Ileave all in Bis handsj His
commands mnst be faihlled. wish yoi would
all pray for me, as I have prayed tor yot: all.
am sorry for ali the sing msy have commit
ted. forgive every one. The man who swers
have % prayed for hfm,n
After the speech, the cap and moose were ad-
asked, Jesse, are you ready3" to which be
fatal % hstchet l fell, seVerins with one blow the
cord that held up the trap. With quick.
sharp fall, and dull thug, the body hung sus-
pended In mid-a,r, while the terrible struggle
with death began: Thou{h the fall was fully
seven feet, it failed to break the victims neck.
and death ensued from strangulation. For
few seconds, not the least motion was percepti-
BILE; then the arms drew up, tightening the
rope upon them almost to breaking the skin:
two or three violent efforts to expand the lunge
were followed by drawing up Of the lower
to external appearance, the spirit OF Jesse
Watkins had left the body forever. The heart
still beat. however, full and strong. At the
expiration Of ten minutes, the heart was still
beating at the rate of forty pulsations TO the
minute. Five minutes more passed, and the
surgeons pronounced life extinct. i1