The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-11-04
SAVED FROM THE GALLONS.

Escape OF q Condemned Murderer In
his Wtfe's Clothing.
On Friday of last week Martin Baynard, a
desperate character, was to have been hung
at Hendersonville, N. G., for completely In the
murder OF Silas Weston and his three children,
for which crime George Baynard and Goven
Adair, who we're the first convicted, had
already been executed. Five thousand per-
sous were assembled at Hendersonville to
witness the third ACT In the tragedy, but 1t
failed to take place. A,correspondent gives
the following explanation Of the matter:
During hls imprisonment the wife of The
condemned man was faithful, constant and
devoted In her attendance upon him, 4 day
did not pass that abe was not In his cell for
several hours, and, at the last minute, with a
heroism worthy of more noble cause, she
saved him from an ignomlnions death upon
the last OF Baynard's earthly existence had
arrived, and upon the earnest, fearful and
sorrowful entreaty of his wife the Tailor com.
passlonately allowed her to pass the few re-
malnIng hours OF his life with him In the, cell.
Morning broke clear and bright, and already
| the assembled multitude were astir, eagerly
awaiting the arrival Of the hour when the ex-
ecutloner and the scafold should do their
| terrible work.
About ak o'clock A. III. the woman came to
the Jail door to be let out, with her bonnet
drawn down over her face aud handkerchief
pressed over her mouth, through which her
heart.broken sobs burst as the jailor passed
| her through the outer door of the prison. She
walked slowly off with 9 feeble gait, bowed
figure, and waillng pltliully, giving vent 10
| her great grief, and she was soon lost 10 the
sight of the gaping guards and morbidly curl.
| GUS spectators Breakfast time came at eight
| o'clock, and the confident and compassionate
TAILOR. with meal-the last the doomed man
was to have esten-compr entirely OF
i tempting delIcaoiea, repaired 10 the cell. The
bara were removed and the heavy iron door
was swung back, and the laslor entered, when
sight that made him shake like an aspen
| leaf met his astonlshed gaze. In the further
end of the cell, instead OF the condemned
Imam. crouohed UP In corner, was Womap
| In her night-clothes. The plates and dishes
with the breakfast tell from the jaior's hand
to the floor and were broken into fragments.
| He tried to speak, but could find no words ioI
utterance, and, as he stood In actual despair,
the crouchlng figure arose, and, In the tones
of woman who thinks she has done praise
worthy action, said: swell, as Martin Is gone
| l reckon had better eat the breakfast" and
she forthwith began picking up the scattered
| portions of the meal.
Baynard had escaped in his wite's clothes
and was doubtless by this time far beyond the
reach of the county officers The sheriff, al
soon as apprlsed of the circumstances, Set Out
In pursuit OF the criminal with posse, but ir
vain; for, after securing the country for miles
they returned without their prisoner. The
assembled crowd gave expression to thei
chagrin in various ways, none the least o.
which was an anxious desire on their part Il
see the woman hanged In the place OF hel
husband, and, indeed, many of them wer,
Arm in the impression that such would be the
case. Having come to see '.hanging," the!
were not particular as to whe the victim was
whether guilty or innocent, as long as thei
morbid curiosity was grati6ed. 1t Is believed
now that Baynard will never be reoaptured.