The New York herald., 1871-11-09
THE DEATH PENALTY.
Execution OF Mack Swami (NegrO)
in North Carolina.
Brutal Outrage on White Lady, Aged Seven
ty-Arrest Of the Negro Criminal-The
Whites About to Lynch Him-His
Trial, Conviction and Sentence
He Dies in the Hope Of Meeting
His Friends in Heaven.
6MITHFIELD, Johnston County, N. C..l
Nnu u 1871

LIB ITAcuuS IN dedVeu.
SMIrHFIELD, Johnston County, N. C..(
Nov. 3, 1871. !
Within the past two years no fewer than eight
negro feons have either been executed on the scat.
fold or sent to the Penltenary for various terms in
North Carolina for the crime OF rape l call to
memory just now those that were executed-one
at Tarboro, in Edgecompe county; one at Graham,
in Alamance one at Rockingham, In Richmond, ana
to-day another paid the same terrible penalty here
for the same nendish crime. But week
since too, as already reported IN the HERALD, the
Governor commuted the death sentence Of negro,
at Greensboro, for the rape Of girl, only years
OF age and OF his color. That all these crlmi-
nas were duly arrested, tried and convicted by
regular process of law, Is q striking proof OF tho
law abiding character OF the people Of this State,
despite the violence and outrage attributed by poll
tical partlsans to the no longer mythical Ku Klux
Klans. recital Of the details OF the outrage for
day, Is enough to make the
BLOOD RUN COLD,
so horrible, atrocious and inhuman was it. On the
evening OF day in August last Mrs. Kezlah Peeden,
most estimaDe ana respected lady, living In the
Vicinity OF Boon HILL In this county, and distant
about eight miles from here, was spending few
pleasant hours with some Of her neighbors. She
was welcomed by everybody that knew her. was
esteemed for her many virtues and, owing to her
great experience and sound sense, her advice was
sought upon all domestic subjects, for
SEVENTY BRIGHT SUMMERS
ana as many cold winters had passed over her
venerable head. On tile evening In question she
had been dispensing gladness and instruction
among one Of the reighborng families and about
six O'Clock she started In the broad daylight of
summer afternoon for her home, about mile and
half distant She had proceeded quietly nearly half
way the line OF the North Carolina Railroad, when
she passed Mack Swami. the negro. who was stand.
Ing the railroad track. Little did the poor old lady
imagine that he looked at her with the eyes OF end
and that he was tnen contemplating the horrible
crime Of which she was to be the innocent and
harmless Victim. He remained standing on the
railroad track for some time after she had passed
before he had firmly resolved on the commission of
the hellfsh deed, or perhaps something prevented
him from sooner attempting 1t. Whichever Of these
theories is the true one matters not but she had not
proceeded far when, urged by Satanic impulse he
followed and overlook Mrs. Peeden when she was
Just One-quarter Of mile from her home at Boon
Hill. Creeping steathny up behind her, and before
the poor woman was at all aware Of his presence,
the villain seized her roughly around the waist with
one arm and by the neck with the other hand alter
the manner OF galroter, and then
DRAGGED HER ACROSS
the railroad into the woods on the opposite side
where he threw her violently to the ground. Her
voice, sined by the nend's grip on her throat, she
could utter no cry for mercy or help even II such
could avail her; but with her feeble woman's
strength, rendered still more feeble by her great
age. she struggled With ali her might and main to
70 winch s eat 10 anu nrefere as
vain, however, that she writhed twisted In the
scoundreps powerful grasp HIS eyes + slaged upon
against her face, and soon becoming almost power
less from terror ana iant from exhaustion ne held
her with the tenaclty OF savage aud accomplished
HORRIBLE PURPOSE,
after which the fiend fed When the poor woman
recovered her CONSCIOUSNESS she was scarcely able
10 rise. Her throat was swollen and bleeding; ner
clothes were torn In the violence OF the struggle;
from the force with which she had been thrown to
the ground two or her ribs had been broken; her
Tse e. d Msv e got Hp and s
aole to rise, rise she has las been In lingering
orderly and quiet community when her tale OF woe
became known. She mad recognized at first sight
the villain, who was Wen known In that section OF
the country as notorious thief and criminal by
NATURE AND INSTINCT,
and his apprehension was therefore, soon effected
several dexterous ana desperate |
attempts winch he made to escape. He had been SO
punishment which he SO often and Justly merited,
tnat he seemed to &C luire very relish
for violating the law n the On most
suggest, until at last Justice brought him to a
1elons doom on tho scafold: The greatest excite
ment and indignation prevailed among the people
for considerable PERIOD, and threats were freely
uttered OF avenging the 1endish deed summary, |
without regard to other Judge or Jury than that OF
but so repugnant is the idea OF mob law to the !
people that even this terrible crime could not IN
cited and loudest in their demands for summary |
vengeance were held in check and soon queted, |
or nf onA ons1 and
law prevailed, and the criminal was lodged |
in Jail here. Upon presentment to the Grand Jury
place before the Superior Court OF this county at
September term. his Honor Judge Samuel Watts
assigned by the Court to conduct the defence; and
the jury empanelled to try tho accused was CON-
Blk WHITES AND SIX BLACKS,
according TO the most approved demands Of loyalty
and reconstruction Feeling ran so high in
tested in it that the court was thronged 10 its
utmost capacity during the trial. The evi-
Ing. even Was to most remarHabs % %
OF the prisoner by his lnflrm and helpless victim.
When the case was given to the Jury there was little
by the foreman's announcement when they reap
peared IN thsir box.
was the simple, solemn and awful word-the unani.
nous verdict OF that mixed jury-and buzz or ap.
for every living soul felt Convinced before.
hand as to That verdict. The doomed man heard
Of Of hardened criminal, never once exhibiting exhibiting
q symptom OF emotion. lie was desired to stand |
up, and when asked by HIS Honor IL he had any |
thing to say why the sentence OF death should not
be passed upon MIN, he replied In 1rm voice that
he was
"NOT GUILTY,u
and II he was hung he would be hung for nothing. |
The learned Judge was not OF the same opinion.
In a solemn tone and amid most impressive
silence the Judge then, after few appropriate re.
marks, pronounced the awful nat OF the law, the
crimnal standing meanwhile looking His Honor
full IN the face with stOlcal, meaningless but stead
fast gaze The condemned man was then conducted
to jai, where he remained manlfesting the
UTMOST INDIFFERENCE
as TO his approaching terrible fate. Last night this
Indifference took the form OF desperate sang Jfod
and even this morning he assumed this character
with a success That was absolutely startling Every
provision had been made to afford the condemned