Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-08-15
,,.u,TuON OF JACKSON.
uoments Of the Condemn eel
The La. La, p,.ntcsts His Innocence
Rsmarks on the Scaffold-
Death Siruggle-Scencs.
Incidents, &C., &c.


incidents, &C., &c.
~ ,h;ra execution which has taken place
Ix,,3ria within the past half century, aud
III .,oJ which has occurred here within the
IT, ,.,r took place at the Jail yard to-day
r.':,m Jackson, a colored man, convicted on
I.,,b Of November last, in the Circuit Court
I'I \, county of Alexandria, of the murder
~ Wary Jackson, his wife. iu the month Of
r,L,n,v, 1872. Jackson was sentenced, upon
WV" ,,ny;ction, to suffer death upon the 10th
u,r.b last. An appeal from certain rulings
" no Court below having meanwhile been
~ the Court of Appeals, the execution
' nm. sentence was deferred for decision of
w., ,r;bupal, which overrulcd the appeal. At
-, form of the Circuit Court, subsequent, the
.,,i,u of the sentence was fixed for Friday,
H.. ,Ith of July, whence it was respited until
.,.I,, Of August and again,in consequence Of
h.. si,,,nce of Governor Walker from Rich
m,alycspited until to-day.
>o,p after his conviction aud sentence he
,,lled to the religious influences by which he
w,s surrounded by the colorei ministers who
came 70 visit him 10 prison, and by the Jail
r,mmjtrec of the Alexandria Young Mems
Christian Association, which bestowed especial
,,,nriop upon his case He renewed couver-
san that he protested to have experienced
many Years ago, and has for many weary mouths
orbi. mprlsoument devoted to religious affairs
and the matter of his salvation, by far the
greater portion Of his time and attention.
He mas seldom been hopeful Of his release
from the death penalty, and never sanguine.
With au uutailiug pertenacity, he has declared
that he vas not responsible for the death of
his wife, and that he had been unjustly con-
dewued Quite docie 10 the Jail, he has Civ
I'll his keepers less trouble than almost any one
Q: the many prisoners who have been in their
gharge since his confinement, bearing, in this
respect, u marked contrast with Mauley, 10 the
earlier days of bis confinement in Jail. He ex-
cited greatly the sympathy of large number
Of persous, and multiplied attempts were made
10 obtain for him executive clemeucy, efforts
which at one time, it was believed would be
rrowoed with success, but which were destined,
IN the eud, to be disappointed.
Jackson has been quite sleepless Of late and
spent on Tuesday and Wednesday the entire
nl.ht in singing and praying loud enough to be
heard throughout the Jail. Last evening the
Christian Association Committee came 10 the
;Ii about $ clock, and remained with Jack
>,niu devotional exercises uutil twenty minutes
ms, niue clock Soon after they left, the con-
,lcmned man called Keepers Cline and Ward,
wyl asked that the light might be put up high
er that it mi ht shine 10 his cell grating so
thu, he could read. Shortly after that he called
again aud asked that the light be put out, say
my it was his last night Oh earth, he had made
his peace with God land had no enemies; he be-
llcvr,l he would take his last sleep on earth.
The Ilsh was extinguished and for some time
the >iuess of death reigued in his cell. This
silence vas 50 unusual that the guards feared
he mad committed suicide, and after listening
at the cell door and bearing no sound Mr.. Ward
opened the door softly and crept in. Jackson
vas in deep sleep, breathing easily. The door
WIS softLy closed again aud the doomed man
sept until 4:2O this morning, when he arose,
aud began again to sing aud pray.
At }! oc.ock the prisoners are let into the
yard for exercise BY this time Jackson had
dressed aud brcaktasted, eating heartily Short
~ after the members of the Christian Assocla-
ton arrived and Jackson sat with them in the
c,rridranl engaged in devotional exercises.
At 10! Rev. Messrs Henry Marshall, j. A.
Adrige aud Alex. Emmerson entered the
rrndoraud assisted in the devotional exercises.
The ram having begun to fall 10 heavy drops
nlouthc crowd outside, the throng, mostly c,l
orcC people were Admitted to the Jail yard,
where they stood patiently looking at the gal
lows and getting as close under the walls aud
under umbrellas as they were able, to keep
themselves from the dreuching showers.
Within the corridor the devotional exercises
contLllcl without intermission.
There we're 10 tickets required; all who came
"nrc admitted, but the heavy rain prevented
the uLduc crowding of the yard.
At II o'clock the following dispatch was
hauded to Mr.. D Neal which cut off all hope
hany had fingered until then:
RICHMOND, Aug. Is, 1878.
10 .Iohn Is. .Smoot::
The Governor declines to interfere with the
EXECUTION Of the law in the case of William
jackson. L. f. OWENS
Colouel and A. ID. g.
Al 20 the Sheriff accompanied by the no.
der Sncntt>, went into the corridor and babe
Jackson farewell, and as it was raining outside,
>.!l AL the tormalitieS would take place III the
cell
The Sheriff then read the sentence under
which the execution was ordered, with the vari
WIS nFders OF reSp;tai. and the kilograms retuS-
Ing interference.
Al TIE conclusion Of the reading of the SEN
wage aud papers relating to the execution
Jackson sald-Wha is that about cursed.
5n Understand that.
HE Sheriff explained that the word was not
T"%d but accused and meant any one
iI ',1 with crime. Jackson then protested
'' T,s >ltl>iicd
"Asuthr juor's wife came in to bid Jack
Al '',rTSI she said, good bye, | hope it will
". ..,S We'll with you
,r,y '"1 grant it, God grant it, responded
,. "u' ,>yphax, of Alexandria county, then
n ''.'E1 aud told Jackson that he was his
c" ,',.'or' aud would carry to the people Of the
~I''y any message he might wish to send