The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-05-23
Hanging in West Virginia.
Execution of Buck johnson in
Monroe County.
DETAILS Of THE MURDER.
Arrest, Trial, Conviction and
Execution.
Extraordinary Speech Of the Murderer

Correspondence of New York Herald.l
Union Court HOUSE, Monroe Co.,
w. Va, May l9, 1871.
William johnson. negro, to-day ex-
plated upon the scaffold the murder OF
George II. Hunter white, committed
OIL the oath of October, 1870, near the
Big Bend Tunnel, on the Chesapeake
and Ohio Railroad, in this county.
GEORGE H. HUNTER,
the murdered man, came of most re-
spectacle family in Albemarle county,
Virginia. He was twenty-eight years
Of age, and at the time OF the assasslna-
ton was a contractors clerk, near the
Big Bend Tunnel about 40 miles west
Of the White Sulphur Springs on the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. The
murderer,
WILLIAM JOHNSON,
was a jet black negro, not over
twenty-five years Of age, five feet
eight inches in height, of stout build.
with rather pleasing ceuntenance and
a native of Louisa county, Virginia.
whose general character for the past
two years has been exceedingly bad.
He was recognized by his associates as
q gambler, swindler and professional
thief, too lazy to work, and who obtained
living among his sable brethren 10y
his wits
On the evening Of the 9th Of Octo-
ber, 1870, Mr.. Hunter, with a view OF
improving his fortunes, had settled up
with his employers and had been paid
up in full all the money due him,
amounting to eighty-five dollars. His
intention of leaving the works was
known only to few persons at first;
but when Hunter was paid off it soon
spread rapidly, and by night it was
common talk among the laborers, white
and black. On this fatal evening
Hunter walked from his quarters at the
works to the store at the Big Bend
tunnel, abort a mile distant. He re-
mained there but short time necessa.
ry to make some trivial purchases, and
between
SCND0WS AND DARK
he again started on his return 10 hi.
quarters. Hunter was seen by one
white man only on his way nome.
About midway between the store and
Hunters quarters was deep uncover
ed culvert fifteen feet wide and ten feet
deep, paved with sharp stones at the
bottom, and across which was laid a
narrow plank, which served as foot
path for pedestrians. Steadily pursu-
ing his way in the darkness, Hunter
was met by the negro, William John
son, some distance from the culyert.
They passed each other, and in an in
stant johnson conceived, with devilish
ingenuity, the idea of
MURDER AND ROBBERY,
as he knew that Hunter had been paid
off, had a considerable amount OF
money on his person, and was about to
leave the works. Losing no time, he at
once proceeded to put his plan into exc
cution. He picked up large billet Of
wood, retraced his steps, and steadily |
pursued his unsuspecting victim. He
soon gained upon him, and then crept
up behind him, and when
near for his murderous pur.
pose he gave Hunter
ONE TERRIFIC BLOW
on the right side Of the head. from be-
hind, which instantly felled him TO the
ground as tree would fall by the
woodman's axe. Not satisfied that
death would result from that blow, the
assassin then took still more effective
hatchet-and struck his
victim with its blunt edge on the left |
temple; infictng a most fearful cash,
which left him to all appearances a
lifeless corpse. As quickly as possible
the murdered man was then
PLUNDERED
and robbed of all the money and valua-
bles he possessed, amounting to eighty
five dollars, a gold ring, silver watch
and other articles of more or less intrin-
sic worth. Then with that devilisb
cunning peculiar to nearl y every muir
derer, to insure safety, and which lulls
them into temporary security from de-
lection, the murderer johnson and &C.
complices, if he had any, then carried
the body Of Hunter nearly to the edge
of the culvert and there left it. This
was done to produce the mpression that
Hunter had fallen into the culvert, had
seriously hurt or killed himself, and
crawled to where he was then laid be-
fore dying Next morning the body Of
Hunter was discovered at this spot by q
small negro boy, who at once ran back
in terror and reported it to the mana
gers of the works. Without loss Of
time they repaired to the scene Of the
tragedy. A scarcely perceptible move |
ment OF the chest indicated that the
murdered man was still breathing, but
he was beyond all power Of human aid,
and was totally incapable Of utterance.
The skull was crushed in behind at the
right side, the left temple was indented
with cash Of some sharp deadly weap-
on. and the black clotted gore displayed
itself in places through the red mud by
which it was almost effectually covered.
In less than an hour from the discovery
OF the body life had ebbed away and the
soul of George H. Hunter, without the
slightest premonition, had been ushered
into eternity. Itwas a cold,blooded and
terrible crime, and the excitement crea-
ted among the workmen upon its discov-
ery became intense. Threats Of sum-
mary vengeance were freely given utter
apce to if the murderer could be discov-
cred, as Hunter had been universally
respected among them. Amid all this
excitement
JOHNSON DISAPPEARED,
but as he was a migratory character,
having no regular employment, this
slight circumstance passed unobserved.
ue ualksd the entire day and reached