The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-02-02
,,THEpoQakER NEaB0R&
r ,rpe C.l1 Of tho SCSondemnsesdd-wnirs At
Peace with Heaven-Balden Penitene
for the Last Act.

= ;. - ~.@s.-'
Peace with Heaven-Balden Peniten
@-Prepsrations for the Last Act.
Samuel White and Ran Baden, the two color
ed men who were convicted on the sth OF De
cember last of the murder Of W. B. Fidea,
Oakley Station, on the Northeastern Railroad
are to-day to suffer upon the gallows the ex
.treme penalty of the law, unless the Execu
tive clemency should intervene. Strong
| eff5rts; we understand, have been made b!
their friends on their behalf to Influence I'M
Governor to exercise his prerogatlye, but a
yet he remains unyieldlng, and the doom o
1.-the convicted men seems Inevitable. Wltt
regard to White, even his friends have hat
but little hope bdtit is thought that Balden1
case presented, some points in palliation OF hi
guilt which might recommend him to mercy.
The prisoners are confined, under sentence
of death, at the Charleston jail, and clest
watch and ward Is kept upon their ever!
movement. The long custom oflookfng forward
TO their fate and seeing it daily draw higher
has had different effects upon the two men
and with view to hearing what the prisoners
smishtshaVe:t to cay, 9 NEWS reporter. yesterda!
paid visit to the jail. Having been courte
oualy admitted by the keeper, the FIST person
to be- seen within thu" entrance was s','
~ ~ = = ,;ss,zg RAN BALDEN, si%s,
sitting blythe cross-barred iron door at the
top Of flight Of stalrs. Hewas decently clat
in suit Of dark rusty clothes, and around bill
shoulders was thrown a common gray blanket
folded several times. He wore
small black felt hat with which the
.unearthly pale ashen hue of his face
was strangely oontrasted. he seemed
weak buf-:if good health, and as he talked
with his wife the wild glare of his eyes, appa.
rently watching some terrible scene afar off
grew more intense. He spoke fol. some time
tohlswaise SoIesrning bis family affairs, With
oat bfgettlng hfs two children, sand after re-
ceiving presents OF cake from her the poor
woman departed. The little cakes, common
I'm every shop window, were handed over to
the turnkey, who scrutinized them as closely
as if each one contained a file, rope ladder,
pair @ pistols, aud alIsthe appurtenances ne
cessary for successful attempt to break out
ef.the prison. After squeezing one and seeing
nSfhing moro Objectionable iha9s baked
faeiasses and afloar;; heSrstIrned TIE poor
boon to the prisoner, who seemed to be
little inclined to eat. Upon being inter-
rogated Baden replied freely TO all ques-
tlons relating the circumstances of the muir
der as detailed to him by White, with which
story the public is familiar, but maintaining to
the last that be was not present, and had been
drawn into it:wlthout knowing what was to be
done. He spoke I'M a. low, clear voice, and.
though detected, seemed quite resigned to his
fearf6i4ate.S While speaking he saw the priest
coming, and. soon retired to make his eace
with God,
The reporter was now admitted into the
penstralIaioflthe prison with ths;turqkey, and
watched with feeling Of Interest the bolting
and locking and barring going on behind as
the twain advanced. Corridors and passage
ways were trayersed aud crossed In the
gloomy. light, until the circular stone steps
told that they.were ascending the tower. This
is the strongest part Of the jail, and in one OF
the closest and strongest cells on the third
story y q an x16irE I I
is confined. After unlocking and pushing
back numerous bolts of iron, the heavy, mar
row door swung slowly and harshly around,
and disclosed the pri-cnAr standing in the
furthest corner OF his cell. He was dressed In
a heavy pink merino stockinet shirt, which
showed off his powerful frame, and an old
brown.colored pair of pants. He wore no hat,
and around his shoulders was swung an old
oyercoat, which hung around HIM like q
talma. White seemed to be 1aooring under
Intense excitement. His eyes rolled fearfully;
his limbs twitched, and the door was hardly
opened before he burst into an incoherent
shouting, telling Of his peace 1'made with
Jesua." The turnkey asked how he fslti Is.
White. feel ready and willing to die, I
feel that Jesus has given me more than Ide'
serve, snd ] had no idea of His mercy till now.
..Kaock and It shall be opened.n Hanging to
me Bepow. q mers frolic.. ALL the trouble 1
RuihaFa more inthiai Horld is stfsYallingto
the gallows.
This was spoken at the top of his powerful
voice, which sounds throughout the tower,
and at each sentence the prisoner seemed to
grow more frenzied. :. = ...,
Turnkey. Have. you repented Of -
White. IhaYe repented Of all my sins. ,sl
Turnkey. Have you repented Of cutting
MIR. Fldea's neck With the sword and killing
HIM.
White. / did not do 1t.
Turnkey: WHO cut hllai I'll
White. The man who did 1t got off clear,
and they never caught him.
Turnkey. Were you there {? ''', =.
White. No, I was at Mount Holly, four miles
this side oft. I did not know Of it.untll long
aAer Il had been done. .,.s5-T, -8s.s Hssa s.
FTofnksS How did sougstthe money ~
White. I met the other boys, and heard
about the affair. took the greater part Of
the money from them. -
During this conversation the other prisoners
about the tower, who were out for time,
flocked around the door, and at this point the
prisoner broke into another ht of religious
ecstaey, shouting, throwing himself from side
to side, and carrying on as If he were de-
mented. He stopped, when he was once more
: z = 4 .