Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-03-28
THE GALLONS.
Execution In Alexandria.
CHARLES MANLEY HANGED.
The Crime for which he Suffered Death
HOW He Met His Fate

Especial Repor, to The Ereniag S,ar.l

hunroe formerly well known on both sides OF
tie Potomac as a travelling tinker and clock
meEder) on the night Of the 5th Of July last, in
the northeastern pert Of Alexandria, suffered
the extreme penalty OF the law about noon To
the yard OF the city JAIL nearly on the same spot
where the colored woman Jenny was executed
in ls5s, for the murder of her mistress, Mrs.
The execution was witnessed by about 400
per- sons, admitted by tickets to the Jail yar,i;
while on the outside of the walls, on st. Asaph
and Princess streets, there was a dense mass of
humanity, mostly eolored persons, who COM
Ineneed to gather early this morning, and were
rewarded Tor several hours waiting only by
hearing the dull sound of the falling of the trap.
THE RUSH FOR TICKETS.
Major james NJ Stewart, the city sergeant ,
supeIintended the execution. So great was the
clamor for tickets to the Jail yard that he has
been obliged TO partially seclude himself from
public view for some days past, to escape i'm
Iortunity. Not only were applications received
from residents Of Alexandria, but from nearly
every county in this section, and some from
distant parts OF the state. Ma or Stewart know
ing that the Jail yard would net hold more
than 100 persons, concluded several days ago
10 issue only that number of tickets. They
were made Of green card board, with admit
lance TO the city jail March %, 49," printed on
ore side and the initials 81. NJ. s." on the re-
verse. They went OFF like hot cakes, the last
one having been given out yesterday. Major
Stewart says he is satisfied that applications for
July $500 tickets were received by him. Hal
TIC thtCuspi Oetn p1pllC Jnere WOulQ no doubt
have been three times that number of specta-
tors.
THE CONDEMNED MAN
was stout robust mulatto. In the language of
an Alexandrian he was of "ginger cake color,
and little dark ginger at that''-whose weight
was somewhere in the neigh borhood of 100 or
zoo pounds He was about feet inches i'm
height He was born slave on the farm OF
Mr. Harrison Cross, on which he lived until the
war, W hen he found his way to Alexandria.
Here he worked occasionally and at times was
IT, II Al N m nd EQQ iT,er hal
The Crime.
The crime of which Manley was convicted.
and for which he was hanged, was the murder
of John Monroe, the old clock mender, on the
night of Friday, July 5th, last. The victim was
sitting near spring in that portion of the town
known as Petersburg, and another person was
near him, both having refreshed themselves at
the spring, being loath to leave the spot, as the
evening was oppressively warm. Here they
were accosted by Manley and two other negro
men-Sam and Lewis Payne-and the Younger
man OF the two at the spring ran away, but
Monroe was unable 10 get away, and sne of the
party of three colOred men having stunned him
with heavy walking stick, the others beat him
with stones and krickbats until he was sense
less, and then robbed him of his watch, boots
coat, hat, and his box containing tools. The
cries OF the victim were heard by residents OF
that section of the city while the party were
beating him, and Mr.. Monroe was found help
less on the ground. 1t was soon noised around
that a man had been beaten nearly to death and
the father-ln-law of Maney noticed that he
ing that he had been drinking and fearful that
bis character might suffer il the articles were
found at his house, early the following morning
informed Lieutenant Smith, of the police. Mr..
Smith immediately proceeded to the house,
where Manley was found asleep, with Monroe's
watch under his head and the victims boots at
his bedside. On questioning him, the officer
could obtain TO satisfactory account as to how
he obtained these things He was taken before
Justice White and committed to Jail, and the
watch and boots were taken to Monroe, shO
HlTa 4lu.rN 1t
on Friday night and Monroe fingered until
o'clock p In. on Sunday, 9TH July, when he
died.
MaNLEY's ACcOMPLIcEs.
The Alexandria police state that the Paynes,
who are said to have been concerned in the
assault. and who the condemned man as late as
the numerous blows, are well known i'm Wash
Ington, one OF them having lived near the NAVY
Yard. They could not be found i'm Alexandra
on the day following the assault; but subse-
quently, 1t is stated, adispatch from Washington
was receSsCd in Alexandria asking that a man
he sent up here TO identity them. An officer
was promptly dispatched, and the Alexandria
ponce say That he reported that the Washing
ton officers did not have the men, but could
get them whenever wanted.
THE TRIAL.
AT the october term OF the corporation court
Of Alexandria an indictment was found against
Marley, and his case was continued to the Jan
rary term. when be was tried. Capt. ID. l..
SmOot veEy ably but unsuccessfully defended
him. The jnry brought in a verdict OF guilty
within ten minutes after the case was given -
them A motion for new trial was entered.
victed man was sentenced to be hanged by the
neck until dead.
Manley's Story Of the Murder.
Yesterday, representative of TEx STAR
called 10 see the prisoner, and Mr.. Kline, the
Jaiior, showed him to a room in the second
story. where Manley had been allowed to have
talk with some OF his relatives. AS there were
number OF these present who had come
to bad farewell to the condemned man,
the Interview OF the reporter with him
was necessarily brief. The prisoner was attired
in well worn light grey pantaloons, coarse white
shirt, and thick light waistcoat. To each leg
were heavy irons. to which were alta ched the
ends OF heavy chain, (nearly as thick as an
o, chain,) about six feet long, the middle OF
-.hich was fastened to a waistband or strap be-
hind, rendering the prisoners locomotiOn slow
and painful. His face was round and full, and
his features quite regular. He was somewhat
nervous, as he had just taken leave of some OF
his relatives, and had fearful parting fromhis
wife and child.
The reporter taking a seat on the side of a
bed Manley stood resting on the corner OF it,
and the following conversation took place;
RePoIter-Well, Charles, have called to see
you with a view to obtaining any statement
YOU would like to make concerning the murder
and viii ask you few questions.
drinking.
DRINKING WAS THE CAUSE
OF my getting into il.
Rep.-Was you alone?
Manley.-I got to drinking with the Paynes'
kn9YS3 Lewis a long time, but didn't knsw
the big one, Sasa; very long. He lived at the
Navy Yard. in Washington.
kep--Did you strike the man?
Enthusiastically and emphatically,) / did
rot Hill the man am charged with killing. We
bad all been drinking, and when We went to
the spring we saw two men sitting there. Lewis,
he dra"e6 rnrre or razor and cut the mo-,
sam .sst halloed TO them 70 "S"f up and 60
away" and one run UP ever the hill This man
I'm 'eused of killing; before God my maker
did not kill. "a pausc.)
Rep.-Weli, who struck him, and what with?
Manley.-The old man was
HIT WITH A BLACK CROOKED STICK,
and halloed. Sam did that, and Lewis cut his
pocket off. 1 begged Lewis not to cut the old
man. Sam struck him with the tin box, and
Knocked him down. Sam beat him while kept
Lewis from using the razor. (The prisoner here
made another pause.)
Rep.-well did you leave him then?
Maniey.-Yes we left and separated. Sam
gave me the watch to take home, and they said
they would come to my house in the morning
and we would all 60 to Georgetown.
Rep.-wel did they come?
Manley.-No, sir, they didn't come to get the
watch, and Captain Smith came and arrested
Pen yt mos had for von that xo,, fool- the