The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-06-07
tsrec ial Telegram, to the Dispatch,l

RALEIGH, N. c., June G.-simpson morae-
cai and Thomas Griffice were to nave eXp'a-
ted the crimes of burglary, larceny, ana as
sault with intent to kill, by death on the
scaffold 10 this city to-day. The offence was
committed In 1872, and the house entered
was that of William Hicks, aged about sixty
wears. who resides in Wake county about
three miles from Raleigh. : n,s,
AT the January term Of the Wake Superior
Court the trial took place. when Alfred Bry-
ant, one of the accused parties, turned Z
STATES EVIDENCE. = 1,' =.
Mordecai and Griffice were found guilty
on both counts Of the indictment, and they
were sentenced to be executed on the 2sth
Of February, 1873. a motion for new trial
was made and refused, and then an appeal to
the Supreme Court prayed and granted.
The appeal was heard at the Spring term,
1878, and the judgment of the court below
affirmed.
at the last term of the Superior Court the
prisoners were again sentenced to be hanged
on the goth Of May last, but were respited
for one week BY Governor Caldwell on ac-
count of the 3Oth being
FEDERAL DECORATION DAY. f.
At 10 O'Clock yesterday the worknen COM
menced erecting the scatfold in the jail-yard
near the cell of the condemned. At tue first
sound of the hammers the criminals seemed
to give up all hope, and in loud and wild
lamentations
CALLED ON THEIR GOD FOR FORGIVENESS.
The gibbet was originally framed for the
execution of William StinsoD, negro, who
was banged here on the 4th of November,
1870, for the crime of rape.
The Rev. j. V. Mcnamara, of the Catho-
lie church, was the spiritual adviser Of the
condemned; but throughout the morning
iucoherent, ejaculatory prayers and ago
nizing groaus emanating from the gloomy
cell indicated total abandonment to de-
spair At late hour yesterday evening
Governor Caldwell was still considering the
petition praying Communication of the SEN
tence to
LIFE IMPRISONMENT.
The petition was nulnerously signed by
many citizens. including the clergy of the
city. The prisoners passed a sleepless night,
and early this morning friends visited them,
including their wives, who bad taken their
last farewell and had left them with Father
Mcnamara. ..-.ss
Ali was now in readiness for
THE scAFFoLD's TRAGEDY!
when the deputy sheriff, at 10 a. NJ, just
one hour previous to the hour of execution,
entered the cell with Governor CaldwelPs
communication of sentence and read it to
them.
They were, of course, wild with delight,
shouting peculiar ballelujahs, glory to God,
God bless the Governor, etc.
The wives and friends On tie outside Of
the Jail Enclosure quickly caught up the note
OF glad tidingS.
A GENERAL REJOICING
ensued, amid great excitement. Prayers,
handshakings, and wild manifestations Of
extreme pleasure took place. OF the two
who stood tue awful ordeal staring them i'll
the face, Gritiee was strongest. Mordecai
for several days had completely despaired of
mercy. and had laid all drawn up i'll knot,
more dead than alive, and apparently half
crazy from fear. After reading the Cover
ncr's communication OF the sentence to impri-
sonment for life
THE CONDEMNED
were in few minutes taken by deputy
sheriff to the penitentiary, one mile distant,
where they are now safely lodged. J.