The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-11
HISTORY OF THE CRIME.
Violating the Person of a Lady
Seventy-Four Years Old.
RECOGNIZED By Els VICTIM.
lie Becomes Pious and Dies on the SCaffOld
"in Peace with God"
CUMBERLAND, Nd, Jan. 10, 1879

was committed at the October term of the Circuit
Court for Anegany county, Nd, OF having perpe-
, trated am outrage upon the person Of an aged
white woman, has occupied much Of the attention
OF the citizens OF Cumberland, az well as other
parts OF the State, for several weeks past
William Craig is young coiored man, about
twenty-three years of age, short of stature and
stout OF build, and weighs about one hundred and
fifty pounds. He Is Of dark complexion, evidently
quite ignorant, but possessed Of q face which
bears no indication OF extraordinary animal pro.
pensities His head is well shaped and features
good for an African, while his countenance has
rather kind and gentle expression. lie was
BORN IN SOUTH CAROLINA,
and lived there until after the war had wei nigh
closed, when he went to Richmond, Va, as q serv
ant of an officer in the United States Army After
the close OF the war he moved about to various
places, wherever he could find employment, until
he reached Allegany county He was employed for
short time as a servant by W. W. McKaig, in Cum
berand, and atterward went to live with Henry NJ.
HutsOn, on that gentlemans farm some seven
miles west Of Cumberland, at Rawlings station, ON
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. While here he
on frequent occasions made himself very obnoxious
by taking indecent liberties with white servant
girl and eventually the girl appealed to Mr.. Hutson
for protection, avOwing that she was in constant
vised HIM to leave the neighborhood which he did
at once.
Craig then went to live with Mr.. John r. Dayton,
near New Creek, West Virginia, but on the Mary
land side of the Potomac River. He had been In
Mr.. Dayton's service some ten months at the time
OF his arrest.
MRS. LOTTIE DAYTON
is the grandmother of John F. Dayton, with whom
Craig was living. Mrs. Dayton is an aged woman,
being some seventy-fou years old, and lived all
alone in SIN il one story house, some two miles
distant from her grandson. She retired at an early
hour the night OF the 25th of August last as was
usual with her, and some time during the night
was aroused by the barking of a little dog, which
she kept on the premises. She called the dog in
and quieted him, and was soon sleeping soundly in
the quietude OF her country home. Az about eleven
O'Clock she was aroused and felt something on
her Leg She was much frightened and
was under the impression that a snake
had crawled into her bed. Putting her hand down
1t came in contact with the hand OF a man. Upon
discovering this she was dreadlully alarmed, and
had been in a crouching position beside her bed,
stood up and seized her person. The moon was
shining brightly through the uncurtained windows
and the open door, and she testihes that she
who was well known to her. He had quietly
raised q window and stepped into her bedroom
after which he opened the door in order that he
might easily effect his escape should hight become
necessary In spite OF the exertions of the old lady
her assailant, who was strong and lusty, easily
accomplished his object and violated her person,
after which he Ned from the scene Of his diabolicai
crime.
the instance of Mrs. Dayton, and on the prelinl-
nary examination 1t was proved that he was ut
church in New Creek on the night previous, but
after that hour he could give no satisfactory
count OF his whereabouts. Upon the testimony of
the injured woman he was committed to the Allie
ghany county jail to await the action Of the Grand
Jury.
TIE TRIAL
on the 18th OF October, the Grand Jury having
indicted him upon the charge, Craig was brought
into Court and arraigned Tor trial, Judges Pearre
and Moter on the bench. The prisoner entered
nesses in the case|Mrs. Lottic Dayton, the victim
OF the outrage, and John F. Dayton, her grandson,
with whom the accused was living at the time the
crime was committed. The substance Of
HRS. DAYTON's TESTIMONY
was to the eject that Craig had silently entered
her house and committed the outrage; that me
moon was shining brightly, and that she dis
tlnctly recognized the prisoner. lengthy cross.
examination failed to elicit any new fact or to
john +. Dayton testified that the prisoner had
worked on his farm for ten months; he did not
know Craigs general character, but he had always
behaved himself well while In his employ. The de-
fence made an earnest appeal in behalf Of the
prisoner; but the jury, after an absence OF halr
hour, returned verdict of
GUILTY"
The court tnen remanded the prisoner to al,
and the day following Judge Pearre pronounced
the sentence of death by hanging The prisoner
did not appear to realize his desperate condition,
and was apparently but little moved after his re-
many days would at times mournuy deplorc his
fate and cry like child. His spiritual advisers
nave oeen constant IN their attendance upon him,
resigned TO his fate, and ready to meet death. lie
has, however, steadily persisted in declaring his
innocence.
AN EFFORT FOR COMBINATION
OF bis sentence to Imprisonment for life was m ade
some two weeks SINCE as many persons were
m IN
the Governor I'm his behalf, but he declined 10 do
anything, unless the Court which sentenced him
should SO ADVISE, as they had originally been pos
sessed of discretionary power as to the character
OF his ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS or death. A
Judge Pearre and made an appeal for mercy. The
Judge was deeply moved by the appeal and prom
lsed to take the case under consideration, and to
his duty. Alter comforting with Judge Molter he
visited the old lady at the scene Of the
lie then declared that the case had not been maze
by the State so clear and conclusive as IL might
have been; that there was no room to doubt the
guilt OF the prisoner, and that the prisoner him.
self was unable to say word in his own defence;
and further mat the public safety demanded that
the law should be carried into effect.
HABEAs CORPUS APPLIED FOR.
on wednesday 1t was rumored that Sheriff Gross
of the younger lawyers applied for writ of habeas
corpus to secure Craig's release alleging that he
would not be legally held, as the sheriff was no
objections. The Court, however, dismissed the
case and pronounced the allegations OF no weight.
THE LORDS SUPPER ADMINISTERED.
Last evening the sacrament of the Lords Supper |
was administered to the condemned man, Kevs, |
Lecch and Nice lwhite), and Watson and Lawson |
(cOlored) ofnciatng. several members OF the |
press and others were present The Sherin has |
been very Kind to the prisoner, and brought him |
into comfortable reception room OF the |
jail, where the impressive ceremony was |
performed. On entering the room Craig looked |
about and, with smile and bow, said, GOOD
evening, gentlemen" and then was seated. After
singing and praying, In which Craig joined, the
tiers then babe him farewell, and Craig with tears
in his eyes and ALTERING voice, chung to the hand
of Rev. Nice for severa, minutes. He, however de-
clared that he was ready to die and after bowling
politely 10 those present, he said, "GO0dby, gem
hope to meet you in Heaven" and was then re-
turned to his cell.
The execution OF Howard two years ago. was a
dlsgracelul public demonstration which shocked
the entire community. Sheriff Gross avoided this