The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-08

others, also present. were at large. Steve Lowery
and George Applewhitc were condemned to be
hanged when prematurely the majority OF the pris-
oners. among them the condemned, dug their way
OUT OF the prison.
When Henderson Oxendne was hanged there were
about thirtyhve persons present IN the small jail
yard, but the tree tops overlooking the enclosure
were filed with whites ana negroes. The gallows
was of the rudest construction, built against the
high picket fence Of the jail, with trap, which was
held up by a rope passing over the short beam and
secured behind the upright oist by wooden clamp,
that 1t could be severed by the blow OF Ratchet
Oxendne's mother came to the jail the morning Of
the execution and condoed with her boy. He was
a thin jawed, c0lumnar -necked, wild, whltsh mu-
latto, with ears set back like keen dogs, good
forehead, piercing, almost staring round eyes. with
dark, barbaric lights In them, nose eminent for Its
alert nOstri, and longish, pear bottomed Chin set
with thin, dirtyish beard and mouth of African
suggestion. Pride and stocism were In his express
sion, and. negro-lke, he sung couple OF hymns on
the gallows out OF the Baptist collection.
His executioner was Northern rough, named
Marden, or Marsden, waif from somewhere, who
resembled sailors boarding house runner, and
was OF lower estate tnan the Lowerys. This Is one
Of the beings who has rung himself In on the peo-
pie of Robson county, ostensiby as detective.
He pinioned Oxendine and then severed the sup
porting rope with the Ratchet. No attempt at res.
cue was made
THE MURDER OF OWEN G. NoRMENT.
The first murder committed in cold blood for re-
venge was upon the person OF owen G. Norment,
who lived four miles from the hut OF Henry Berry
Lowery and eight miles from Red Banks station.
His house was also three miles from Afordsville on
the road to Lumberton and not far from the dwell
ing Of white desperate called Zach McLaush him.
Aaron Swamp, feeder Of Back swamp, was near
Moments house. This murder was committed by
Zach Mclaughlin, by order of Henry Berry Lowery,
who with his command, was posted near. It was
the first white man killed by the gang since 1864,
lapse OF more tnan i've years.
Norment was an overbearing ex-slavcholder, who
had shot man dead at Charlotte. N. O., for calling
him liar and had been tried for 1t and acquitted.
He had very black hair, whskers and eyes, and
weighed about one hundred and sixty I'VE pounds
HIS offence was raising the people against the Low
erys, charging robberies to them ana threatening
them. Hearing loud noises, as OF the stirring up OF
domestic animals. the rafting OF wagon chains,
&C., outside OF his house, NOrment walked out In
the dusk OF Saturday evening and asked VINO was
present Hearing somebody moving In the DUSK
he called for his wife to give him his gun. Almost
IMMEDIATELY GUN WAS FIRED
only ten feet from Norment and he was shattered In
the lower members and elsewhere with shot and
ball. He fell instantly, and being removed to the
house, servant was despatched for physician. Dr.
Dick obeyed the summons, ana being driven in a
mule buggy by one Bridgers, they greeted, one
mile from Moments house. with adischarge OF fire.
arms which killed the mule and forced the driver and
the doctor to take to the woods The same night
Archie Graham, a neignbor was shot and danger.
ousy wounded, and also Ben Macmillan, another
obnoxious parsonage. The house OF MIR. Jack
son, OH the Elizabeth road, was also fred into and
his dog killed. The robbers held carnival that
night and resumed the reign Of terror
Normenps leg was anputated, but the doctor was
nervous, as the wounds were fatal, for he died on
Monday morning, tbirty-six hours after being shot,
leaving o wife and three children.
MURDER OF JOE TMoxpsoN's SLAVE.
The Lowers had once been slaveh olders, and
Heury Berry always refers 70 tpe full blacks as