The New York herald., 1872-08-31
BLACK NURDERERS EXECUTED.
Two ktrOcious Assassins Hanged
at Columbia, 8. c.
BILL LUCAS AND NED HARRIS.
Resume of Their Career and
Bloody Crimes.
Simpson and Murphy Butchered for
Revenge and Plunder.
Interviews with the Com
dclnncd.
SCENES BEFORE THE GALL0ws.
Police and Military Called Upon
to Maintain Order.
THE LEGAL TORTURE.
The CulpritS Strangled to Death After Ten
Minutes OF Horrible STRUGGLING,
Interviews with the Con-
dcmncd.
SCENES BEFORE THE GALL0ws,
Police and Military Called Upon
to Maintain Order.
THE LEGAL TORTURE.
The Culprits Strangled to Death After Ten
Minutes Of Horrible Struggling.

MlIllleS 0I H0rrlDlc NLfuSgllnS.
COLUMBIA, S. c., August 80, 1872.
Contrary to the general opinion expressed here,
tho two murderers, Bill Lucas and Ned Harris suf-
fered the extreme penalty at this place to-day. 1t
is true that to have committed the sentences OF
these two men the Governor would have practically
turned loose upon the community brace Of the
worst Williams that ever cursed civilization. There
was not a redeeming circumstance in their favor,
that they were black not an incident of their
career that could appeal to Executive clemency,
save that some Of their friends might be deferred
from voting for personal favorite OF the Governor
IN mere local election. Lucas, by his violent and
bloodthIrsty disposition, had succeeded In gaining
for himself the unenviable cognomens Of ''despe-
RADIO, thicfand liar" and he was generally Stunned
by the respectable portion Of his own race. The
brief resume Of their crimes Is as f0ll0ws:-
THE LUCAS MURDER
The victim OF whose foul murder he is guilty was
. simple laborer named John Simpson, an employs
Of the Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Railroad
Company, so inOIcnsive and harmless as to CON-
nand the respect and esteem of all his neighbors.
On the night of the 11th Of April last simpson was
drinking at one OF the many small rumshops near
the depot Of the railroad In whose employment he
vas, and unfortunately for him he became greatly
i
men generally enjoy themselves after their weeks
toll before going home to their families. Lucas,
too, was excited by the vile, poisonous fluid, but
was not drunk. About ten O'Clock the murderer
and his victim met in the groggery, ana quarrel
took place, which was provoked altogether by
Lucas about an Insignificant quantity Of powder
and shot which Lucas claimed
SIMPSON OWED HIM.
The latter, seeing there was a prospect of q
aihlculty, escaped from the groggery and sought
safety in a grocery store some distance on. He
had not been long there when Lucas discovered
bis whereabouts and soon made his appearance,
and at once resumed the quarrel with horrible
0aths, the vilest eplthets and threats of taking
Simpsons life Lucas was accompanied by party
Of negroes, which made him bolder ana more de-
termined In his menaces. At this juncture the
proprietors OF the store, fearing a row, remon-
strated with both parties, and, not succeeding in
restoring harmony, had Lucas and his crowd
elected from the house by the police. Shortly
after this Simpson left the store feeble and stag
gcring from the continued influence Of excitement
and pine-tOp whiskey. He had just got fairly out
upon the sidewalk when he was violently assaulted
by Lucas, who all the time had been lying in wait
for him. brief but desperate struggle took
place, and some bystanders ran to the spot and
separated the combatants. Alas 1t was too late
TO save poor simpson. Tne lnIurlateu DlaCk savage
had
PLUNGED BUTCHERS KNIFE
into the groin of his hafhelpless victim severing
the iemoral artery, and In q few moments after
being removed into the store he bled to death.
The assassin then tried to escape but the Oflcers
OF the law promptly arrested HIM. Before taking
him to prison Lucas was brought into the room
where his victim lay, his life fast cbbing into
eternity, and as he looked upon his bloody and
nendsh work he fairly gloated and exulted over it
IN manner that shocked the spectators and made
them boil with Indignation. He expressed the
utmost and most dapolical satisfaction at the re-
suit of his murderous deed, and swore the most
blasphemous oaths that he would do it again, and
that he hoped the then dead man was In hell.
MrRPHY's ASSASSINATION by HARRIS.
e than tSe Rap the vct
was ay,headed old man OF quiet and secluded
ns S7 d e eS SOUTH ssp aTna S %s
TO attend the pumps at Hampton station,
six miles below Columbia. Being by nature a
amassed a considerable amount OF money, which
was supposed to be concealed in his little cottage
retired life for many years, until on the fatal Sun
day morning before Christmas he was found by
some railroad hands
few steps from the door or his humble dwelling.
His skull was broken and crushed in and his body
found large hickory club, with which the blows
were doubtless inflicted The murderers had evi.
IDENTITY met with no cowardly and willing victim,
patches OF his gray hairs found upon the floor
plainly showed that the old man had made brave
only ended with his life. The attack had evi-
dently taken place in the cottage. and the blood
found upon the steps proved that the brave old
man had been dragged
WHILE RESISTING,
ont into the yard. His watch and small amount
OF money only were taken, rs Murphy had not been
paid Off for some time. The pay train had passed
on the preceding evening and no doubt this
circumstance led the murderers to expect large
6eorved 6eo the poor @ old man was thus Tutnessy
suspicion at once pointed to three negroes Bill
Jenkins, Butler Johnson and Ned Harris. from their
tSe mnrS the night preceding and the day
seemed to take possession Of Bill Jenkins and he
9nletly ana secretly sought safety in flight. His
and Ned Harris. and they were arrested and con-
victed py a chaln OF clrcumstantial but
IRRESISTIBLE EVIDENCE
before Jury OF their cOuntrymen. jenkins and
Johnson were employed by a Mr. Sims To hauI
wood to tne raroad no at Hampton station. In the
named Hops. and young negro lad, and It was
upon the evidence OF these two that Johnson and
Harris were convicted. Ned Harris lived here in
spoken OF above In earnest conversation with len
kins and Johnson the evening before the murder.
the negro lad in the woods, and there resolved
upon the commission Of the terrible deed which
they proceeded to carry into speedy execution
that
After the conversation Harris LEFT, and jenkins
Johnson, Hops and the negro lad all went to bed
In the shanty which they In common occupied.
Harris came back to this city and was soon
followed by Johnson. AS soon as 1t was discovered
arrested. Harris explained the the blood on his
pants by saying he had had a fight In Columbia,
but he could not produce the name Of his antago-
mist OF any person who had seen him after late
saturday afternoon. Johnson tried 10 prove an