The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-12-14
belonged to G. r. Meudenhall, q aresrs.

belonged to G. p. Meudenhall, OF Greefifs
boro', and was only returning to visit tile old
familiar scenes where the days OF his boys
hood were passed, was brought back to this
place. Upon arrival here he was Identified
BY the victim and by others as the person
vino, on the afternoon previous, had passed
through. The shocking crime had such
terrible effect upon the negroes along tns
route of the return that 1t was with extreme
difficulty that the whites could
PREVENT TEEN FROM LYycHHc TEE pErsoHEa.
The condition Of the victim was at this
time very precarious, the severe choking
having nearly ended her life, and her ey.
treme age rendered her recovery still more
doubtful The jail at this place being
deemed insecure, the prisoner was removed
to Salisbury to await trial. at the ensuing
October term Of the Superior Court he was
arraigned for trial before bis Honor George
Cloud. Upon affidavit Of want OF, witnesses
the case was continued till the spring term Of
the court. The cause was opened, and
never 10 the history OF criminal iurispru.
enee was more positive and onyinciDg proof
adduced. aat 80 -. go
THE EVIDENCE =
of the aged victim caused great emotion
amongst the audience. Her, neat, lady.like
appearance, her age, and trembling voice
whilst on the stand, aroused an intense In.
terest. She fully identified the prisoner as
the person. The prisoner, although de-
Tended by able counsel, was convicted BY
the jury, aud sentenced by bis Honor Judge
Cloud to be banged till dead. From this
sentence the prisoner
PRAYED An APPEAL,
which was granted. The cause was then
taken to the Supreme Court, aud the judg.
ment OF the court was affirmed, and to-day
the sentence was carried into effect. While
the cause was in the Supreme Court and the
prisoner in Jail at this place ne came very
near efecting an escape By cutting through
the walls with a cold.chisel.
DESCRIPTION OF TIE PRISONER.
The prisoner was about five feet eight or
nine inches in height, weighing about 100
pounds, of dark-brown COLOR. wide, high
cheek-bones, small eyes, narrow chin, bumpy
flce, low forehead, and large hcad--a perfect
embodiment of brutal passion.
THE DAY OF DEATH.
The hour for bis execution having arrived,
Johnson was, at 1915 p. d., conducted from
his cell to the scaffold, In the jaiLyard. He
was neatly dressed in suit Of black, had
his hands in his breeches-pocket and walked
with rowdy air across the yard to the scat.
fold, the steps to which he nimbly ran up.
After prayer and hymn, and sermon by a
colored preacher, the condemned man was
informed by the sheriff that bis hour had
come, and that 1t became his painful duty to
execute the stern decree of the law.
AN ADDRESS FROM TIE scAFFoLD.
johnson then addressed the crowd az fol.
lows: "Ladies and Geptlemen,- II stand Mt
the point of death. ALI you people, black
and white, heed this warning: am inno-
cent of the crime for which am now about
to die. was arrested and convicted on an
upiustiGable charge. I again want you all
here to take warning by this, that die On
innocent man !" After a halt he repeated
substantially the same speech, aud concluded
by saying don't know that have got any
more to say. johnson then took his seat,
when the preacher got up aud sang auother
hymn, in which the crowd joined. AtlP. u.
THE WHITE CAP
was pulled over the face and the rope was
adjusted, though the condemned man en-.
deavored to stay his doom to tho latest mo.
meat. A final farewell was taken, aud all
the officials left the drop. AT ten minutes
past O'Clock the sheriff with an axe severed
the rope which held the drop, and Jobnsor's
body shot down into thespace and rebounded
about six inches, he struggled for taree
minutes; pulsation lasted fifteen minutes.
Al l l9 there was yet action OF the heart, and
in TWENTY-FIVE minutes he was pronounced
dead by DR.. Il. L. Payne. Guilty OF lnnocen,
Johnson's soul was
AT THE JUDGMENT-sEAT. -.
At 80 his body was cut down and placed
in coffin for interment. -, jt....;E.
The crowd present numbered LOCO at
least, although the execution was private.
France. . .9s. gf.a. Z. 3. 49,.