The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-09-17
&C., &c. &C., sc.
ISLE OF WIGHT CorRTHoUsF. VA.,2
Snrnfnnni.n,, 1l-n

the Scaflold here to-day. witnessed only by
a privileged few, though the asSemblage
could not have been less than two thou
sand OF all races, sexes, colors. and condi-
tions Of people. The four negroes sell
fenced to be executed for the murder of
Joel Gray, Of this county, in December last,
paid the terrible penalty Of the crime with
their lives.
Among the people of both races the en-
ctement was intense-the whites being
gratitied that the law was Vindcated. and
the blood of a valued and esteemed citizen
avenged while the negroes were inlllria-
ted, even to the pitch of meditatinga rescue,
that 50 many Of their brethren should he
thus Summarly ushered into eternity for
the murder Of just one white man.
CAUSE OF THE MURDER.
Like n number of other crimes, this MUIR
der had it origin in political grievances
on the part Of one or two negroes, whose
votes Mr.. Joel Gray, Us a challenger, had
prevented being accepted at an election.
Added to this. Mr. Gray had been success
ful in detecting and bringing to justice
several negroes who gained 4 subsistence by
oySter-tiShing in the daytime, and 10y chick
cn-Steally at night.
For these outraoeS" on their rights
and liberties as free and independent citi
Zens the negroes had sworn to be avenged
on the mau they regarded as their perse-
cutor, and a most serious obstacle to the
course they had marked out in "thc pllr-
suit of happiness An opportunity at
length presented itself on the evening of
the 18th OF December last at ChannelfS
store, in the lower portion Of this county,
where the negroes usually congrcgatcd for
the purpose of selling fish and oysters and
making purchases. Unluckiy for himself.
Mr.. Gray came there thar evening, and had
an alteration with one or two negroes,
which, however, terminated without be-
coming serious.
AN ATROCIoUs MURDER,
About Q o'clock. the night being dmly
lighted bv partially obscured moon, Gray
LETT Channcll's store and proceeded in the
direction Of Bunkley's store, some two
miles distant. Not long afterwards, six ne
groeS, named Guyannetta Meers, Alfred
Bunkley, Peter Nuby, Moses Nuby, Henry
Costen, and Jacob Wallace, followed. They
were met by party of negroes in the road,
of whom they inquired how far Gray was
ahead, and upon obtaining this information
they started atrcSh in hot pursuit Of their
intended victim, whom they soon overlook.
As if apprehending danger. Gray, when he
heard them approach. commanded them
TO halt. which they refused TO do. and Guy-
annetta Mcers advanced and struck him I
powerful blow on the head with club,
which fcl!cd him to the ground.
Wounded and stunned rs he was, Gray
threw up his right hand, in which he held
lone-badcd knife, in IN attitude Of de-
fence, but the negro again struck him, and
he became seuseless. He was then set upon
and beaten by the gang until his head be-
came mass of broken bones AND bruised
flesh and blood. Before departing, the
1iendS robbed the body: and when they had
gone some twenty yards off one of them
proposed: Lets 90 back, an if he ant
dead. lets cut his dam throat" 70 which
another replied "No danger oh dat. He's
done gone dead long afore dis; Shu !" On
the following morning, which was the Sab
bath, citizens going to divine service at
Bcrn's church were appalled, by the dis
covery ot
4 HORRIBLE SPECTACLE
lying in the road, which proved to he the
manglcd and dis1gurcd body of a man. The
facial bones were all sticking out, bare. the
flesh having been eaten off hy hogs during
the night !; the frontal portion Of the skull
was completely crushed and broken. the
brain being exposed and oozin@ from the
large apertures; the hair OF the head was
matted with bruised blood and dust the
clothes on the body were tattercd, tom,
and filthy : and the hands, arms, and shout
! around were evidences of 4 most desperate
and sauguinarv struggle. Papers were
found in lhe pockets oi the man, who had
evidently been murdered, which 1T once
identified him IL Mr.. Joel Gray, one of the
best citizens Of the county, and SyTultane-
ouSlv with this there was Il thrill OF horror
in the crowd, followed by an ontburSt of
indignation and great excitement. AT once
there was an inquest, jury, witnesses, YER
dict, warrants, and posse, and that very
night all
THE MURDERERS OF GRAY WERE ARRESTED
save one, and that one was Guyannetta
Mccrs, the leader of the gang. They were
all arrested at their homes or in the houses
of neighbors where they were visitors, and
were taken and lodged in the county Jail. If
youask here what became of MeerS, the lnva-
iiable reply is escaped" but few be-
lieyc this, and the more knowing will tell
you that
"MEERs WAS LOST"
n very significant expression, which, pro-
ncrly defined, means that he was lynchcd
iGc very night that the capture of the
others was effected. This is, however, Il
mystery that is destined to remain so until
Mcers makes his appearance in the flesh.
At the trial in August last Alfred BunkleT,
one of the prisoners, who, 1t Is alleged,
i,lmped over the fence and took no part IN
the murder, was used rs
STATES EVIDENCE,
and n0lLe ,,rosequi in his case was entered
by the prosecution. Twenty-siX witnesses
besides him were examined, and the case
was given to the jury after brief argument.
In a Short time verdict of guilty OF MUIR
der in the first degree" was returned
against each of the prisoners, and on the
day following they We're sentenced ITO be
hanged by the neck until dead, on Friday
the 16Lh September" Owing to fears OF an
ATTEMPTED RESCUE
by the negroes of the county and those OF
Elizabeth City, adjoining, the condemned
men were removed to the Jail OF Norfolk
city, where they remained until this morn
Ing. when they were brought here IN charge
of large posse. In anticipation, however,
of rescue to-day, the sheriff, a few days
since, applied to the Governor for lnstruc-
tions, receiving in reply a letter Informing
him that "the law must be carried OUT W
all hazards, if it took the military torce OF
The entire county to do it." Untn this
morning the prisoners scarcely scenlco 10
realize thcir horrible doom.
The condemned men were taken from
Norfolk this morning ut 9 O'Clock, ana con-