The New York herald., 1870-11-16
TEE GALLoWs.
Execution Of Two Negro Murderers
in South Carolina.
Horrible scsns at tho soafrold Bungling worS
Of the Hangman.

NEwBURy COURT HOUSE, 8. O., Nov IL Ism
terrible scaffold scene has Just been witnessea
here by an immense crowd OF ciLizens OF all races
and colors, buL mostly black Lewis Berry and John
Sweedenburg both colored, we're executed for muir.
der committed some months since.
THE CRIMES
for which they paid so dear penalty were distinct
though they perished together. Berry was one OF
the parties to the murder OF a man named Dun-
woody, while Swecdenborg was convicted OF the
murder OF his own Guild by drowning. Both were
atrocious crimes; the evidence in their respective
cases was well weighed; they were found guilty and
sentenced without the hope OF executive clemency
for either OF them, and no one seemed to question
the business OF the terrible penalty fixed by the law.
On the morning OF the execution the people from
the surrounding country came thr0nging into town
in great numbers with idle ana repiehenslble
m0rDId curiosity, to witness the dying and agoniz-
ing tortures OF the miserable criminals. There were
at least =, 900 persons cOngregated around the
which was a rude structure erected near the ran
road depot. AT about haif-past eleven A. M: tho
condemned men were conducted from their cells In
the jail tightly pin.oned and placed In wagon,
which were to receive their bodies when their
spirits had taken night to the regions OF immor-
a saaTd HSuna o soldiers Wagon Outside Of wSics
was the crowd OF eager. curious and half
excited negroes ana Indeed many whites. Ine
ready, the solemn cOrtcge moved slowly TO the place
OF death, both the condemned men singing hymns
and calculating prayers to the throne OF mercy al
ternateiy. Arrived ut the scalfold they were con-
Quoted upon the drop upon which every eye In that
vast crowd was then turned. Berry was perSletent
III denying his guilt, ana declared he knew nothing
OF the CRIME ior which ho was about TO suffer until
the morning after II was committed; and ne even
named. were the real actors III the tragedy. He ex-
pressed strcng hopes OF forgiveness, basing them
upon the fact that he was nn0cent ana with these
few remarks he said he was prepared to die calmly
and like man In accordance with hts verdict,
which was hard and terrible. Sweedon-
burg, his companion In death, mad nothing
TO say TO the legality or illegally or his sentence
except to the clergyman VINO aenaea M & 1Tta Ia unes
crowd upon the subject. He made the usual seal
fold serlnon-warning his hearers against crime,
them to repent and turn from Their eYh ways ING
time-halipass twelysAi,xea SISA1, sosSN S! tue ~
now rapidly approached, and as q last favor, tho
friends and relatives OF the condemned men were
allowed to come within the guard and take an
eternal farewell THIS sad ceremony concluded. the
caps were drawn over the heads OF both the msn,
who stood erect upon the drop bound. and looking
like living enges OF rctrbutive justice. The n00sea
were then adjusted on their necks. In momenttne
scaod was ~ Se .u
Another instant and the drop fell, the bodies OF the
two miserable wretcles springng out INTO tne IAN ar:
them, and then dashing heavily upon the ground.
There was s
from that vast crowd upon Witnessing the awfuk
scene and HE mass Of excited humanity rocked 10
and fro like the pillows OF q tenpesu0us sea. Every
cheek was banchcd, and the soldiers themselves
stood almost tran sfxed with horror. The two hal.
murdered wrctches wrlthed and twisted In ther
deatnbonds, and Q rattle or gurgllng could
turned away from the awful sight sick ana faint
ing. But the law must be carried out.
whether the case Is one OF legalzed brutal
murder or not. Again the condemned wrotehes
were walked upon the drop and the same prcint-
nares or death, before, had to be gone through
In the tying OF ropes fixing the caps and making
finally ready for the lawful tragedy. 1t was too
trying to the nerves of many and now the crowd
was perceptibIy smaller than before Alta At last the
the ropes this time being Of sufficient
strength the bodies OF the two men dangied
IN the air, where they remained hanging until life
was pronounced extinct by two physicians, and
they were cut down. Berry, during the whole Of
this awful and trying scene, maintained mis- calm
ness but his companion seemed to be fearfully agi
tated and terr0r-strlcken. 1t was q brutal public
exhibition, which II was never intended should be
witnessed by vast cOncourse OF people; and IL II
another strong argument against public executions.
more horrible or revolving sight was scarcely ever