The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-08-05
frRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT i

BARNWELL, 8. g., August z.
To-day brought another scene OF horror to
our quiet little town. Not quite year ago,
In this place and upon the same spot, colored
man named Andrew Brown was hanged,
being the first public execution In this county
In many years. To-day Ell G. Chavis eIplsted
bis guilt for the murder Of an old negro man
named Adam Jackson. The
49,. CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE MURDER
are not exceeded In bloodthirsliness by any
ever reported, and 1t is difficult for the mind
to conceive how they could be more afro
cious. On Christmas eve last Chavis and q
party offriends were riding In wagon on
their way to orangeburg. When about mile
from Blackvllle, on the South Carolina Rail-
road, they were met by another wagon con-
tainlng the deceased and followed by two or
three other colored men. The sons of Adam
Jackson were driving the wagon, and the old
man, accustomed all his life to show respect
to white men, directed his sons 10 "tnrn out
of the load and let the gentlemen pass.'
Hearing this ChavIs jumped from his wagon,
knife 10 hand, exclaimipg, "What is that you
say :" and Without waiting Tor any reply drove
the blade TO the old mans heart 1t Is alleged
by Chavis's friends that when a boy he re-
celved an Injury in his head by o fall, and
ever since he has evinced
WANT OF MENTAL CAPACITY,
aud that he is 9 ravlng maniac when under
the Influence OF liquor. He was unquestion-
ably drunk upon this occasion. he certainly
displayed more stolidity upon his trial than
can be explained upon any other hypothesis
than uusoundness of mind. When the Jury
came out with their verdict and was being
empanelled, those moments of awful anxiety
to any culprit seemed 10 possess not the
slightest concern for him. While the clerk
was reading The verdict, and every heart
vailed to hear the doom Of the prisoner, be
composedly turned round and splt mouthful
of tobacco juice In the spittoon. When the
Judge was pronouncing bis sentence he
seemed perfectly uncOncerned, and as those
terrible words, "Hung by your neck until yon
are dead, and may God have mercy upon youI
SOUL" were being uttered, be casually glanced
out Of the window.
PREPARING FOR THE EXECUTION.
This morning The crowd, mostly negroes Of
both sexes, came pouring into the village. ano
at ten O'Clock 1t was estimated that three
thousand people had come to crafty al
commenced raining, and continued to do 80 al
day. The gallows was erected 9 short dis
banEs 81 ofio gu. aS5ggautifhI creek The 6f6@a ny
paired there at twelve o'clock, and remained
| standing upon the wet ground 10 the rair
until halcpast two o'clock P. NJ, when iour
sealed spring wagon containing the sheriff
| two deputies and the condemned man came II
sight, followed by company OF the coloreC
militia. Arriving at the foot Of the galloWs
religious services were held; at the conclu
sion of the prayer, Chavls arose and addressed
the crowd In a few appropriate remarks. HI
| spoke OF the awful solemDity OF the occasion
| and confessed himself ready to die, saying h'
| believed his peace with God had been made
He then prayed aloud In very impressive
manner. He then descended from the Wagon
and bis arms were piniened.
TIE DOOMED MAN
ascended the scaffold and surveyed the crowt
with that same imperturbsble expression
which his countenance wore at his trial. H
| be seen, as he was shrouded In white, read.
| for sepulture. He was superb looking man
ak feet two Inches In height, O dark olive, bu
clear complexion, raven black hair, graceful.
brushed from his high, bold forehead, ant
weighing Two hundred pounds. The cap wa
adjusted, the rope put around hls neck, ant
The block was jerked from under him. A feN
spasmodic shrugs, and all was over.
The peace Of society must be preserved
| Human life must be protected; but every sen
timent of the heart can but revolt at the spec
tacIe of a splendid specimen of man being
taken out into an old field, and there being
peaceably, quietly aud coldly put to death IL
nav ''' o A. D. C.