Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-06-21

SKETCH or THE CRIME OF JOSEPH RuRroN'
ALIAS uREEN-iiis TRIAL AID CONVICTION
-PHErARiNG FOR DEATH.
Especial e1Te-I oalenes Of EVERY EvRSISd
dEuRGErowS, June lg-To- morrow the
gallows here Will claim as its victim Joseph
burton, alias Green, who WAS convicted At
the April Term Of the oyer and Terminer
Court for this county on the charge of com
hitting rape on Miss Hannah Lank.
The crime was committed on Monday
March 23d about II o'clock a. M Miss
Iiauk, who II but 10 years Old, lived near
kehuhoth station, on The Junction anu
BrrHkwHter Railroad. about sis miles from
Georgetown. Al out 10 O'clock ON the morn
ing nf the 23d she vas sent on m crrdnd TO
her uncle's, a short distance from her home,
and while returning through small piece
OF pine thickCt was met BY Burton, VINO, II
seems, had seen her leave her uncle on
her return and had secreted himself with
the evident intention Of committing the
crime for which, tomorrow, he wall die a
ielOn's death.
When the girl arrived at the thicket, and
the point opposite which Burton hAd Sc
GREETED himself she WAS startled by the
rustling Of leaves and twlgs lying upon
tire ground, aud in another instant she was
sciked by Burton, and dragged from the
road and 10 clump OF bushes. Tie girl
screamed for help but Burton held her
tightly. and soon stopped the noise she was
making by taking her handkerchief ana
/ examining il in her mouth. lie then ac
cOmplishcd his object and released the heip
/ less girl from his iron grasp. The girl i'm
! mediately returned home and made known
what had transacted in the woods.
/ Burton instantly LETT thc nctghhorhoni
! but Ia an hour after the girl had toli hel
story the people of the whole community
we've In active pursuit ui the VILLAIN, ant
in u few hours they surrounded him ~ O
! small piece OF wood aud soon captured him
The crowd threatened TO lynch the prs
oner, but Constable Marshall, in who's
a.. ..aNH laaa Ian H.raa
tested against any violence nnd succeeded
/ in having him carried before justice %
the peace and committed 10 deOrgetuwi
Jail and placed Ia a secure cell,
Burton remained in prison up 70 Apr
18th, seemingly uucOncerned. On this ia.
he was Arraigned on the indictment touh
a few days prev iuusly, charging him VIII
the crime for which he was arrested. II
plead not guilty, and wished TO be tried D
! his God and his country. Jacob Moore
Esd. was assigned MS his counsel and IN
trial Immediately began.
, Bat little time was consumed in ohtainin
Jury and as there was very little eNidenc
tobc had on either side, argument oil coui
: sci was aeon commenced and, Tor that ma
: ter, soon concluded. MIR. Lore, On behalf {
1 the State, made out an excellent case an
! insured certain conviction. MI. Moore a.
all that could be done for his client nut u
, had uphill work Of II and doubtless va
1 convinced in his own mind that his eitol
. would prove frutless.
g The court House was crowded all da
A and until the case was given to the JURY
one O'Clock in the morning, there We
. barely room to turn around.
! The Jury, after proceeding to their room
4 deliberated for an hour and Al two o'cloc
a the Court House bell told slumberii
/, Georgetown that the jury had agreed upu
verdict A large crowd Immediate
: gathered inside the building, and wheh y
C Court was prepared the bailiif cOnductt
&c the Jury to their box. and in answer to Y
10 query OF the clerk, NJ to whether Nerui
had been found or not, the foreman oil "
Jury answered yes, and declared the prison
Is "Guilty.m The Jury was pOlled ana til
= found to be the verdict of them All.
" Chief Justice Gilpin then sentenced 49,
N ton to be hanged IN Friday, June Nth a.
. the prisoner was remandcd to jail. He d
y been securely chained and constant
Is watched ever since. At trst he did q
G. seem to recognize the position in which
Ne | was placed, but his spiritual AdNisers, WI
~ have been constant In their atiendan
upou him, have wrought change IN !
mind, aud he now Processes 10 believe
ie sins are forgiven and his road to brig
ir eternity clear and unobstructed.
nj The gallows, which is very like tn,
or used in this county for years, was oOmplcl
H. Yesterday, and the Shetih has JUST De
&c Notified that the coffin for the prisoner !
Ar been flushed. Burton has been pray
he most OF the day. His appetite has he
of good all along and In appearance he !
a much imprOy ed since his confinement. I
y" new law relating TO executions. when
nc stricts the number of persons allowed 70
up present to 80, will be enforced. \ gul
on will he on duty, and but few except the J
m. nhvsician, the coroner, jury and report
," viii be allowed inside the jail yard. II
he aEoRoETowN TODAY 49, rhE ENtcurl
l. TkKFs PLACR-THE PRISONER DErLAi
MS lNNocENCE On THE scAFFoLD.
nd sreeiai Telegram to EVERY EvsSiSd.
as ORonaErowN, June 20.-rhe appeal Of
ny | combined clergy 10 executive cleWt
,rr based on the prisoners proiessed chahs'
..r heart and his persistent DENIAL ul "
" avAiled nothing. -,
ire THE Sheriff was hesieged by Applicant
viii for admission to the prison enclosure
law limiting the number allowed Ia be
sent To thirty. Long before ten O'Clock
lawn was full Of IDLE. curious people
the surrounding houses and tree tops o
" a looking the sesne oi the execution "
all lined with spectators.
- a Early this morning the prisoner arose
70 dressed, alter which he smoked cigar
~ evident enjoyment, and called Tor LOOK
l ol glass. renal king. Its a big day Tor :
are lie was very composed, HIS spiritual
ter, visers accompanied him to the scan
Ia where Divine help was again and n
40 implored, thu prisoner Joining audlbl
er "a fter tie cap and rope were ADJUSTED
E TO was expected. he denied his guilt.
,ere Inst ut y 40 the drop fell, the tall .
A. six.nnd.a-hnli feet. and the prisoner pa
. H., TO the great beyond with not muth slru
u" save few death throes or muscular ei
Had The pulse at the wrist ceased in ~
rtie- utes death having ensuea from SUM-
this Inc prisoner uouS was u'''''''N
friends.