The New York herald., 1870-02-04
CRIME IN DELAWARE.
Two Negroes to be Hanged To-Day for Out
raging White Woman-A Visit to
the OHenders-The Indictment
and the Sentence.


1T has been two years since Armstrong was
hanged for the murder OF his wife," say the minons
OF the law OF the county OF Newcastle, State OF Della
ware, with air OF smothered awe for 80 awful a
fate and due recognition OF the great events the
progress of justice when the greatest or all crimes
was made answerable by the greatest OF all punish
ments. On Friday next-less than forty eight hours
hence-the scafold Will again bring to termination
Of their earthly career two victims. In this case the
crime Ia not the taking Of the life OF another human
being. By the laws Of Delaware the committing OF
rape Is made capital offence and punishable to the
same extremity that awaits the convicted murderer
DETAILS OF THE CRIME.
On the 17h day OF September, 1889, three negroes
were returning from q cattle show at Wilmington
Del distant about five miles from their place ofliy-
ing at the tme On the way they stopped at the farm
house OF John Morrison. The names Of the three
negroes were Joshua Jones, Lewis Carpenter and
William Moore. Morrison had In his employ O
laborer named Meridth. The negroes met Mertdith
and had talk with him. AS the negroes were talk
ing Meridith told them to tell his wife he was not
coming nome that night. Mrs. Meridith, who was
the mother OF eleven children, was keeping house
for farmer named Henry McCrone, who lived
about mile distant. The husband was In the habit
OF visiting his wife at McCrones but when latigued
from toll all day passed the night at his en-
ployeT's house.
the negroes left Morrsons together. On the way
to the larm house OF George McCrone, q relative OF
the owner OF the premises occupied by Mrs. Meri-
ditn, Jones said to hts companions Boys, let's have
some devilment Let's go over and have time with
old Molly Mcridlth The old man isn't coming home
tonight Now's good chance for devilment.n
The other two negroes agreed George McCrone,s
house was beyond the place where Mrs. Meridlth
was living, distance OF two miles intervening. 1t
was midnight when the villains left Geo. McOrone's
Jones cautioned them against walking in the road
because they might be found out. They accordingly
kept on the grass.
AT one O'Clock In the morning they reached the
house occupied by Mrs. Merioith. The woman was
expecting her husband and had left two lights burn
ing-one down stairs, the other MP. The three ne
groes took the precaution to take or their shoes In
the barn, where they also left theu They then went
TO the house, Jones leading. He entered and blew
out the one lamp and went up STAIRS. Looking into
the room Mrs. Meridilh was lying on the bed with
her clothes on Evidently she had been put
ting her babe to sleep and had fallen
the llght. He got upon the bed. This aroused MRS
Meridith, VINO got up. She grappled the person
found the person to be negro. Her alarmed
tne negroes Jones fed and when he got Oack to tho
barn accused his companions OF beng towards.
minutes. Thc lamp had not yet been lighted. Jones
again led the way. In the light OF the moon when
Meridith standing in the middle OF the floor. He
sprang towards her and seized her by the throat.
The woman became unconscious.
The evidence Of the woman, supported by certain
detailed Information communicated to the court,
satisfied justice that the crime had taken place.
Upon returning to consciousness Mrs. Merldith with
her babe, ned to the house Of . neIghbor. Ihe
three negroes remained In tho vicinity. On -fhe
18th Of November the three men were arraigned.
William Moore one OF the party, turned States evi-
dence which was accepted. 1t appears from his
statement corroborated by Jones' own admissions,
hal uyh a Ih n fc
waiting on the steps, Moore renamed below. The
Jones and Carpenter were tried, convicted and SEN
fenced to death, the execution to take place on
Friday, Febr uary4.
THE cULPRrTs
Joshua Jones Ii young man. sixteen years of age,
according to bis own account, but his friends nx
BIN at eighteen which IS probably nearer the truth.
He Is five feet SIX inches In height low forehead,
broad, nat nose, with enormous distended nostrils
q wicked eye ana deep olive complexion. lie was
porn in Wilmington.
Lewis Carpenter is Of darker complexion than
beard and musiache. HIS eyes wore vacant stare
Which indicated signs OF idiocy. lie was born a.
Snamhersylls, Pa. Both characters are about as
near the brute creation IL would be wen to put
human being.
| VISIT TO THE PRlsoNaRs
nenutS suur sr u orrespGndent IN company with
NJ WISE Jr visited the oulprIts IN their cells Jones
ocenpeu ceiL NO is, and Carpenter NO a-both on
,s sMe srounu 80 , moor. The prison Is new structure
puit OF solld masonry, commodiou. IN irs arrange.
nsnts, indeed in every respect was designed alter
| .Ie most spproved plans The jailer ilaviug un.
locheu = heavJ padlocx which hung wei out Ia the
CRATE door opened readily upon It's hinges cntsrsd
,nrougn tue 1aIrow passage. Two pallets Of stray
lay on ine stonc Moor N each OF the opposite corners
A anall window near the ceiling let In 4 few rnya
Of light. The walls we're bare the monotonv
vasssy of srtistlS dsGgas drawu dsu'1 in y ls.s