The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-07-27
Execution of shadrach Webster.

der was committed in the neighborhood of
Honea Path; in this county. The victim was
colored woman named Adeline Agnew, who
had quarrel with colored man, Shadrach
Webster, with whom she had been living in
adultery. They had just returned to the house
in which they were living, when the quarrel
ensued. In the alteration that took place be-
tween them, the woman was stabbed with a
homemade dirk knife, the blade of which was
seven or eight inches long. The wound was
mortal, and the woman died in very short
time. The murderer fed instantly after he
dealt the fatal blow. Two days afterwards, he
was arrested at the house of a neighbor, though
not without making great resistance. He did
not deny the charge, and stated that he was
perfectly calm during the affair." until the wo-
man struck him with plank board, when he
inflicted wound with the knife, which was
sheathed at the time; and he subsequently
declared that it was not his intention to use
this dangerous weapon, and would not have
done so, only that his evil passions were fully
aroused by the assault of the woman.
The murderer, Shadrach Webster, was lodged
in Jail, and there remained until the second
Monday in June, when he was arraigned before
Judge Orr, and after due trial, was convicted
of this terrible crime. On Thursday, June
18th, Judge Orr pronounced the sentence of
the Court, that he be hanged by the neck until
he be dead, and that the execution of the sen-
tence take place On Friday, 21st of July. The
prisoner remained stolid and Indifferent, to all
outward appearances, during the brief and
forcible admonitions of his Honor, Who warned
him against entertaining hopes of pardon or
Communication of sentence, as that, in all human
probability, he would suffer the extreme pen
atty of the law on the day fixed. He was
advised to make preparations for the awful
event, and for appearing before the judgment
bar of Almighty God.
In accordance with the sentence of the Court,
Shadrach Webster was executed on Friday last,
21st of July. The awful nature of the crime
did not admit of interference with the judg-
ment of the Court, and if there were any efforts
made to obtain Executive clemency, we are
not aware of the fact. A public execution al
ways attracts large numbers of people, but in
this instance the attendance was far greater
than on any previous occasion for many years.
Indeed, the estimated number exceeds any
public occasion within our recollection. Atan
early hour, the crowd began to pour in from
every direction. We have heard that colored
people were in attendance from Athens, Ca,
Franklin, Hart and Elbert counties, and from
adjoining counties in this State for thirty and
forty miles around Between three and four
thousand persons were thronging our streets
before eleven o'clock 8. m., and as the prepara-
tions about the jail indicated the time ap-
preaching for the prisoner to meet his doom,
that vicinity was one dense mass of human be-
ings, anxiously waiting the movements of the
constituted authorities.
About half-past eleven, the prisoner was
brought from the Jail, accompanied by Sheriff
McGukin and his deputies. He was seated in
a wagon, which was surrounded by guard of
white men on horseback and small detach-
ment of the colored militia-all wearing side
arms. BY the side of the prisoner, we noticed
the attendance of Rev. D. E. Frierson, pastor
of the Presbyterian Church, and Rev. F. S.
Morris, colored. The procession moved slowly
to the place of execution, an old field just
opposite the mile-post, south of this town,
where gallews had been erected only few
days before.
On arriving at the place designated, the
wagon was driven beneath the gallows and
halted just beyond. The guard formed a hollow
square, around which the spectators of the ter
rble scene drew in large numbers. After a
few moments spent in conversation with The
ministers and others, the prisoner ascendcd the
scafIold, and Deputy Sheriff Mcconnell ad-
iustcd the rope. 1t was then made known to
the prisoner that he had the opportunity of ad-
dressing the crowd, if he desired. He called
for his brothers and sisters, who were present.
and bade them goodbye, and turning to the
crowd, expressed his willingness to expiate his
crime upon the gallows, and asserted that he
was prepared to die, believing that God had
]pardoned his great sins, and would receive him
in glory. He wished every one, white and
cc,lored,, to take warning from this day, and to
prepare for an eternal world. This is the SUBJ
stance of his address, which was delivered in
firm, clear voice, and in an intelligent manner
The cape was then drawn over the face of the
prisoner. At this moment, there was death
like stiffness upon the scene, amid which Rev.
Mr.. Fricrson offered brief and appropriate
PRAYER, and as the word "Amcn" fell from the
minister's lips, at 1915 o'clock the Sheriff re-
moved the pin sustaining the scanoid, and the
body of Shadrach Webster was suspended in
mid-air, by the rope from the gallows-beam.-
The fall dislocated his neck, and there was no
struggling of any consequence. After few
moments, the body ceased to quivcr, but it was