The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-21
A NEGRO EXECUTION.
Much Ado About a Savage
Murderer
INTERESTING TO HOMICIDES.
How an Incorporated African Laxdri-
ated and Died.
THE WAGES OF SIN.
Religious and Ridiculous Ending OF
an AtrOciOus ScOundrel.
UNDER THE GALLONS.
Sympathy Inspiring Ceremonies iOs Gen.
fral Instruction.

wilmington. About the centre OF the town, which
numbers between eight hundred and nine hun
bred inhabitants. stands arespectable Court House,
honting north; directly 10 the southeast stands
common looking pump, az supposed, but upon
MORE carefu examination it proved 10 be the far
famed
for whieh Delawa are is 80 widely reppted. The post
In question is an old one, and has done good ser-
vice In Its day; it rs about seven feet high. The
prisoner is made 70 hug the post, and his hands
ere handcuned to IT by means of iron pieces which
Armly bold the arm against the post. hole in the
cost allows place for
THE PlILoRY,
in which, under the law, the prisoner tas generally
10 stand before being nogged, supporting his
neck and arms weight OF about fifteen pounds.
There are but lew persons whose constitution can
stand this punishment one hour and 1--we. still the
people OF the town claim these rites of barbarian
are. the only remedy they have against filing their
tails with set Of worthless rascals VINO would pre-
Ter to let the county support them than to work
themselves Directly in the OF the Court House,
abOut one hundred yards, stands
TIE JAIL,
. substantial looking two story building the yard
or which is about thirty forty feet and is enclosed
On three sides with brick wall sixteen feet high
and ON the third by the jail building Within this
yard is
TIE GALLONS
erected for the execution OF Green, alias Burton.
This structure is also worthy OF orefathers and
would have probably answered excellcntly fifty
gears ago swift means OF transit into the next
world. 1t is however, somewhat behind Tor
ahead y the inventions OF the present age. 1t is
made OF two Embarked oak saplings, sixteen feet
high and SIX inches in diameter. These erected
about eight feet apart and the top placed
md hn1fo A HrypJv Wit hn1t III Inrr
hewn about six inches square. In the centre Of this
large iron hook is placed, to which the rope was
tied Pieces OF timber are nailed from the uprights
TO the jail walls about two feet distant, about eight
feet from the ground. Upon these cross-pieces are
placed three sixteen feet pine planks thus forming
platform. In front of this and directly in the
centre OF the gaows is the trap,
large hinges attach it TO one OF
the planks forming the platform, and it was sup
ported by three pieces OF timber about one and
half inches thick, extending from the ground. To
the centre piece was attached rope. At the
clusion OF the services and after the cap had been
drawn over the face, the two outside posts were
removed, and at given signal the remaining one
was suddenly pulled out and Burton was launched
into eternity.
Directly in the rear OF the trap was cell in the
by eleven steps, extending from the Jail yard and
within one loot OF the window OF Burtons cell.
Guiding clergymen, twelve jurors and reporters,
only thirty persons-this being the number pre-
ecribed by law IN recent act or the Legislature.
THE CRIMINAL
was young man, twenty-ihree years OF age, but
would have readily passed Tor twenty. His eye
was clear and ntelligent and his face bright and
cheeriui-looking He was compactly built with
stout short neck, five feet seven or eight inches In
height, and weighing between a hundred and sixty
and hundred and sixty-tive pounds Within lew
days past he proiessed religion, and expressed his
entire Willingness to die and face his God, declar
lng the while his entire innocence Of the crime.
While In confinement his statements have con-
ficted with each other, he at times declaring that
he never saw Hannah Lunk until the day OF his
trial before the magistrates, and again he has told
that he saw her In her uncle's store at Rehoboth
Public opinion was strongly against Burton, the
evidence leaving but little room for doubt TO his
guilt.
HISTORY OF THE CASE.
The facts III the case are:-0n the morning OF
Monday, March "A, 1873, young girl named Han
nah n. Lunk about thirteen years OF age was sent
her mother being dead) TO neighbors named
Wall to exchange some eggs" Having accom-
stopping at the store OF her uncle at Rehoboth sta.
fion, on junction and Breakwater Railroad. When
she entered the store Joseph Green alias Burton,
not until alter the train passed, about ten O'Clock
The little girl passed out OF the store in gay and
that devil IN human form was lying in wait for her.
She continued on her way until when within a half
OF pines Burton presented himself and made an
INFAMOUS proposition TO her She did not answer,
but attempted to pass by him. he then seized her
and alter terrible struggle in which the ground
was torn up Tor the space OF ten feet and the cloth
ing nearly all torn OF the child he succeeded in
throwing her down and accomplishing his heish
design, after which he ran OF into the woods. The
poor girl. in great distress modification. and com.
pletely exhausted, dragged herself home and cal.
ing her aunt from the house told her the story OF
the outrage that had been committed upon
her. The child was sick for some time afterward
but at once recognized the negro Burton when
taken before him at the Magistrates Court, and
again on the trial, before Chief Justice Gilpin,
whefe she told the story OF her wrong In a pain
and ineligible, though modest, manner infinitely
describing both Burton and the clothes he wore.
THE ARREST.
The news spread like wildfre and q party OF
citizens started In pursuit or the villain Tue place
oi the outrage was soon found and the evidences
the time pair OF heavy boots, and the ground be-
Ing soft IRON the incessant rains In March, he was
easily tracked and arrested about two miles from
Inc scene OF his crime. The boots he had on when
arrested eorresponded exactly with the tracks the
party were in pursuit OF, in addition to which his
dress gave evidence Of struggle and the knees
Ol MS pants were covered with mud. Ii was with
dinicnlty with all these evidences OF guilt point
ing AZ Burtonl that the pursuers could be re-
strained from calling in Judge Lynch and execut-
ing summary justice on the spot. Calmer judy
NED by ms victim ne was committed to the jail in
THE TRIAL.
On the 18th OF April last an indictment having
been iound Green, alias Burton, was brought into
twelve inteliieent men was obtained and plea of
not guilty set forth BY the culprt. The case com.
menced at ten A. M. apd continued through the
day. Alter able arguments by both the counsel for
the defence and the Attorney General OF Delaware
the case was given to the Jury at forydve minutes
past twelve A. NJ, April 10. AT two O'Clock the
Jury returned, and through their foreman, Theo.
d. Price, rendered q verdict OF guilty. The pris
oDer was remanded to Jail until next morning,
when, at halIpast eight O'Clock, Chief Justice GIL
pin sentenced him TO be hanged ON Friday the Goth
OF June, between the hours OF eight a. NJ. and Jour
" NJ IL may be as Wen 70 state here that the alias
OF Burton arose jp this way:-Hs family called
themselves Green, but having formerly belonged
70 the Burton family. he Was az often called one
abe other, hence the ALIAS.
OTHER EXECUTIONS.
may seem strange that there shond now be
negro under sentence OF death TO be hanged on the
9Th ipsfant, In Dover, charged with an attempted
e0trage and also out OF the four last that
have takes place In the jail yard az tins point three