Smyrna times., 1870-02-09

THE HANGING OF THE NEGROES AT New
CAsFLs'-Joshus. Jones and Lewis Carpenter,
negroes were hung at New Castle on Friday
last, for outraging the person of Mrs Mary
Meredith, living near that town, in September
last. All the parties lived at Henry McCrones,
aud the act was perpetrated one night whilst
Mr. Nee. and the woman's husband were gone
to Wilmington. Mrs. Nj. is an honest, upright
woman, but uneducated, aud seems to have been
to free with the hands,-very innOcently, how
ever. She is about 40 years of age-the moth
er of twelve children. The negroes were both
young men. Jones was about ~ and Carpcn
ter. 81. The former was a rather shrewd,
qnick-witted, mulatto; the latter was not at
all bright, though not idiotic, as some OF the
papers have it, Jones confessed the crime
whilst in prison, and took the responsibility OF
the deed upon himself He tried in every way
to exhonerate Carpenter, before the day OF the
execution, to all with whom he cOnvel sed. He
was cheerful clear up to the time OF the execu-
tiOn, and either did not care or did not realize
his situation. Carpenter was cast down. Both
Of the prisoners professed their readiness to
meet death, and they were baptlsed by the
Rev. e.. s. Spencer of lmmanuel Episcopal
church, in New Castle. At O'Clock Mr..
Spencer administered the communion to them.
At about ii o'clock those who had tickets of
admission commenced passing through the Jail,
and though nearly one thousand people curious
to see the horrible spectacle must have gained
, admittance, there were hundreds outside, vain
ly seeking admission, and many were Offering
81 to 81 50 for tickets Reporters were present
from Herald and World, Of New York; Butc-
: tn, Telegraph, Post aud Inquirer, OF Phlladel-
phia; the Con.mcrcidl of Wilmington, and
possibly from other daily papers. At five
minutes after II, says the Commercial all be
ing In readiness, the prisoners were brought on
into the corridor, and the mOurnful procession
formed At tn: head walked Rev. Z. j. Spen
cer, in tull surplice, reading the One hundred
and Thirtieth Psalm He was followed by tn,
e prlso .ers, hand-cuffed in the custody of Sher
: iff Richardson. They ascended the scaffuld
when the clergymen ceased reading, and tn
O Sheriff asked the prisoners if they had any
K thing to say. Joshua Jones Immediately step
e ped forward and spoke for about minute in
clear and steady voice. He said he cOmmitte
the crime, and he alone. Lew went wit
e me into the room; that was all. he the
. briefly told anew the circumstances and agai
= declared that Lew" (meaning Lewis Cal
- penter,) was innocent. He expressed his viii
ingness to die and bore himself with glea
d firmness. Carpenter shook his head In re
ponse to the question as to whether he had an
ct thing to say The prisoners then kneeled an
l. Rev. Mr. Spencer read the final prayers aftC
which he pronounced benedictiOn on theu
ly shook hands with the prisoners, and left II
ng scafIold The Wardens then arranged Il
K. ropes around the prisoners neeks, pulled Il
e. white caps over their eyes, and they and Il
Sherlffs then shook them by their manaclt
hands, and bade them ''GOod-by. The
yn were then guided forward upon the fatal ira
a Just then Jones said Things is seriol
~ now" All now was breathless silence, Il
i whole vast crowd holding its breath II
10 Sheriffs hatchet descended once on the rOl
W Wnu sustaining the trap, without effect. A secoI
ia' blow, and with the horrible thud' and crea
ing Of timbers, always heard, the trap tell, al
Ia at fourteen minutes after II O'Clock the M
le- were dangling in the air. At about half pa
II DIR. Ferris, the Jail physician pronOunc
en- them dead, and the bodies were cut down al
ne. the crowd dispersed.