The New York herald., 1870-03-16
T H E OW S.
Execution of Negro in Georgia for the
Murder Of His Employer.
The Crime, Trial and Observation-Disclosures Of
tina Criminals Punishment

WAYNRsBORO Ca, March II, 1870
On Yesterday tho usual quiet Ol this town was dts
turbed by the excitement incident to the execution
OF criminal for the murder OF q fellow being
Early last summer Ben G0dby. negro OF Indifferent
character AND noted Oh o desperate since the eman
Oipatton OF his race, brutay murdered his em.
ployer. man OF standing named Adkin Lewis
The manner Of che deed was such a. to
shock and horrify any civilized community.
and 1t has since been characterized as one OF the
most cod-blooded butoheries ever recorded. With
q CONSCIOUSNESS OF his terrible guilt and the awful
doom such crime merited as the hands Of his fe.
low citizens, the murderer fed the vicinity. taking
with him his wife. Finding 1t impossible to escape,
80 great was the hue aud cry raised against him.
uodby surrendered himself to q radical magistrate
In Augusta, where ne had arrived, In the hope OF
mercy from that source owing to political friend
ship. But the blood OF che murdered man cried for
vengeance and IN due time 1t was meted out
CONVICTION AND SENTENCE.
Godby was ut once lodged IN jail In Augusta,
where the mopotony his Imprisonment was re-
llevsd By the syIipaihlz1g visits Of large number
Of his sable brethren who made every eaertion for
his release. Even the radical authorities in that
city buoyed him up with the hope that he would
be pardoned by Governor Bullock II convicted, as II
was nothing IN their estimation for loyal
nero to kill an unreconstructed rebel. The
winter term OF the cours arrived at last
and Notwithstanding the assurances OF ms
friends that ne would come out with lying oolOrs
by evasion OF = trial in some manner, the officers
from this town went there, demanded him and
brought MIN here, where ne was put ON his trial.
While thus was in progress the greatest excitement
prevailel among the people, and the court room
crowded 10 It's utmost capacity each day. The EVIL
dence was clear pointed and convincing In strlk-
ing degree t established ,sile 5esGnd the shadow
having premedtated the murder Of MIR. Lewis
and Afterwards Carrying 1t into execution in the
most brutal and cOld-DloOdcd man Ter. After q
short absence the Jury brought In verdict In ac
cordance with the eyidence-"Guilty OF murder III
the first degree" The doomed man received the
awful announcement with the callous demeanor
characteristic Of the hardened criminal and amid q
solemn silence among the crowd OF eager spectators
the terrible fiat OF the aw-.That you hanged by
the neck until dead the 12tn day OF January, 1870
and may The Lord have mercy on your SOUL"
A RESPITE.
The condemned man was tnen returned to the jail
at Augusta, wnere he had been imprisoned, and
there confined until the day prior that set for
execution here. At that tme-the appointed hour
the Sheriff Of TINS county again made his appear
ance and demanded the scarOld's victim; but
through the exertiOns OF GOdby's friends. resDite
for Sky days had been granted by Governor Bul-
lock- In addition to this the strongest hopes were
held out to the condemned OF an ultimate and final
pardon from The Executive OF the STATE. At length
however, the murderer met
HIS JUST DOOM.
On Thursday last the Sheriff or the county again
repaired TO Augusta aud this time he did not claim
his victim IN vain, Tor there was no respite, Gov
ernor Bullock being absent IN washington attend
ing to political AFFAIRS. In conformity with the law
the jailer delivered up the condemned, ana he ar
rived here yesterday, the last day or his earthly
istence manaced and closely guarded. rude
o large crowd or the curious had as
sembled to witness the dying agones OF the
condemned wretch. Between the hours Of eleven
and twelve A. M. Godby was led to the scanod, at.
tended by the Sheriff, his deputies and guard sut
Gent to enforce the decree or the law He ascended
the structure to the platform and without any con-
fession OF his crime awaited calmly and st0dly the
last moment prayer was Onered, In which he
seemed to join. and all now beng ready the fatal
rope was adjusted, and III another instant the
murderer was ushered INTO eternity The entire
affair passed or quietly, ana after life was extinct
the crowd dispersed.