The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-07-22
VOL. XLIII.
gs- TIE CIRCULATION OF THE DIS
rATC!i Is LARGER THAN THE CONFINED
CIRCULATION OF ALL THE OTHER DAILY
NEWSPAPERS or THE CITY.
Double Execution in EaendcFsonvliic'

\ letter to the New York Ecrdid, dated
Hcndcrsonvillc. y. g., July 18th, says:
The brothers, Columbus Adair and Govan
tdair, cypa;cri the crime Of m,lrdcr by suf-
.rring the extreme penalty Of the law on the
clliowS, i'm the town OF licnderSonvIilc, Hen
dcrson county. \. c., on Friday, the 18th
day of July. 1872. This town is situated i'll
the western part Of the State, about two hum
Grcd and forty miles from Raleigh, in the
midst Of thrifty and intelligent population.
The murder OF the Weston family. for which
the Adairs were executed, did not, however,
take place in licndcrsonYi'ic or in Hendel-
son county. but in the adjoining county OF
Rutherford, some eighteen miles from auth
crford,on. Ii was committed on tho night
OF the 2fti Of April. 1871.
The Weston family consisted OF Silas WcS-
ton, his wife Polly. their three children
DAVID, ThcodosIl. and an intant=-and Wiz
liam Herbert St,sulmmil, GiiuS Lee, son OF
Polly Weston hy another man. These wero
a killed except Polly Weston and her in
t;nt. SilaS Weston was Il mulatto, but an
uoncSt and industrious man. lie was about
forty wears of age, His two children, David
and Ihcodo>ia, were respectively about clsht
and six years OF age, and the boy William
was some ten or twelve years old. SiE's and
his family were comparatively poor; but
they were at peace with all the world and
lived happily together till the terrible night
that brought such overwhelming ruin upon
them. The arrest of Martin Baymrd and
the two Adairs rs-Columbus and Govan-waS
made 10y officer H;,ne> and his posse III the
house Of Henderson Adair, father OF Column
bus and Govan. on the morning after the
murder. the 2Tth Of April. 1871. They were
tried and convicted on the evidence ot Polly
Weston. the survivor OF the family. Bay
uIrd, while under sentence Of death, made Il
confession Of his connection with the muir
dcrs. and has been rcspited until the 18th of
October next.
Fifteen minutes before II O'Clock the pri-
soncrs Govan and Columbus appeared with
the sheriff and his deputy OH the Scatlold.
They ;,sccndcd the steps with firm step
Govan'S eyes were fixed on the ground; !;
Columbus looked anNiously over the i'm
menSc crowd present. On reaching the
ukttlorm they sat upon chairs between the
sheriff and his deputy. They were both
dressed in black suits, and wore white shirts,
| with cravatS. Columbus had red ribbon
, fastened to his coat: Govan black one.
| soon II" minister came, and, standing on his
trct pr,ved ,crycntly for the prisoners. They
|
! FOR water. and. having drank, addressed the
| crowd. He denied having committed the
murders: denounced the confession Of Bay
nard rs false and said that it was unjust that
| he should he hanged and Baynard reSpitcd
Having concluded his speech. Columbus
requested tie sheriff to show him his coffin.
The lid being removed. he gaZcd moment
Hpon it without The slightest apparent feel
ipp and tbrn ,poE hi. seat,
GovAS's Address.
Govan immediately stood upon his feet
and addressed the crowd. He said ii had
fallen to his lot TO die on the gallow>; that
he would not sly much, as he had nadn n
Statement to the newspaper reporters that
would hc published, and also an affidavit.
But ! am not guilty of murder. The slain
i not on my hands. though have been tried
| and convicted; but that does not make me
guilty. The murder of SilaS Weston and
children WAS Il most atrocnllS crime, but did
not commit it. Baynard has made con-
ir>>ion. and charged the crime on my father
and brothers. He is Il coward, and
confessed to save his liir. But | will never
confess. not to save my own life. When
say thing | mean it. What my brother has
said about the Governor | indorsc. He
could pardon Il coward, but he could not
show cicIncncy to brave man. Some peo-
pie don't like the looks Of 4 brave man, but
| would run over him. Well, will show YOU
| that there is one man in western North Caro-
| lima who is not afraid 10 die. | am glad so
many OF YOU have come out TO see ne die.
must have some friends, as it is not usual for
| so many people 10 20 to see man die. !
| have no more TO say.
These speeches having been concluded,
the minister again appeared on the scailold
| and addressed tllc crowd in il most eloquent
| ana Impressive manner. The minister then
offered last PRAYER for the condemned,
humhiy knccn~ Gil the platforms. Colum-
bus also knclt. but Govan sat erect in his
Chair, Notwithstanding Columbus asked him
10 get OH lis knees. The prayer having been
said, the minister bade them farewell. The
sheriff "nd his deputy also told them good
bye.
PiACISG THE MOOSE.
The sheriff told them to stand up. They
arose with aiacrity and stood erect while the
McoScs We're lcing placed on their ncckS. No
change Of expression could be seen on their
iaccS-not Il nerve qlivercd. The sheriff now
bound their arms behind their bodies, and
thea tied their feet together just above their
~
under aud little behind the left cars, and
the sheriff and the deputy descended from
the scatold, having first put OH the white
caps.
TIE TRAP FALLS.
The process of the drop was hidden be-
meath and behind the scatiold but it was a
simple lever. so connected with the main
suDport of the platform that it could be
II r,1n
at the end of the lever, and Columbus being
asked. Are YOU ready" said EYES," when
the sheriff touched the lever with his foot.
\ dull clap was heard, and the bodies of Co
lumbrs and Goyan Adair were seen dangling
in the air. In few seconds slight conrul'
sive shudders passed through their frames
and they were motionlesS.
DEATH.
III ten minutes the pulse ceased TO beat,
and in another minute or so their hearts
throbhed no more, and their souls TOOK thell
everlasting flight. In fifteen minutes they
were cut down and placed III tilef colllhs.
'rbn people then-some three or four thou
sand of thenl-quietly dispersed.
GovAS's CONFESSION.
The Herald reporter visited the prisoners
cell the day before; ,he execution. tie found
Goyau Adair combing his hair and looking
quite cheerful. Columbus Adalr was Slttlng
ON the floor of the cell supporting his head
between his hands, and evidently III refiec-
tive mood. Henderson Adalr ana ms
Younger sons, Criyton and Avery, were also
in the Slme cell.
THE condemned men at once began the
conversation. They inquired Of the reporter
whether he thought the testimony OF Bay
md would convict their father and broth