The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1873-08-09

Ingly severe, aud were generally enfor :
ced to their fullest extent. The stealing
OF slave was 'then considered to be
one of the most criminal of offonses and
was punished with hanging. About this
time there came to Orangeburg Span
lard by the name Of La Crew. Said La
Crew was Of a wild, rowing disposition,
and addicted to frequent drinking. He
formed an Intimacy while here with ne
gro named Edmund, belonging 10 Thom-
ms Cross, an intimacy which afterwards
cost LA Crew his life. lie was charg.
ed with attempting to steal this Edmund
and sufficient proof having been found
against him he was tried, convicted and
sentenced to be. hung. Popular feeling
ran high in his f; vor, and it may be re-
memberod by some now living how up
to the very last La Crew protested his
innocence, and declared that the time
would soon come when they would find
that he spoke truly In corroboratio IL
of this statement in after years, it is
said that Edmund upon his death bed
called his master to him and there told
him Of the conspiracy that had hccn
formed against the unfortunate La Grew.
| The facts OF the case as he is supposed
to have told them are as follows
1t seemed that LaCrcw in some way
! had incurred the anger and Jealousy Of
two prominent characters OF the village.
aud they determined to rid themselves
of his presence. They hired this
Edmund to 60 to LaCrew and tell him
that there was person across the river,
who wanted to sec him on snch nj. h;
ut certain hour, and oiiey to conduct
him thither They then, acting out the
other part of the plot, informed the
authorities that they bad lsc,rd THAT on
Il certain night, banning the Que, LaCrew
WAS going with Edmund on foot 10
Charleston where he was to sell him
and divide the profits. The authorities
set watch. The night having arrived
the unsuspicious La Crew set out wit.
Edmund for the purpose of haviry an in
tcrvicw with this person, "a lac supposed,
hut in fac, walking right into the very
trap that had been set for him. They
were cveriakcu just this side Of TIC river
bridge and La Crew being found in the
company of Edmund was sufficient proof
Of his being guilty of stcullng slave,
hcvcr mind how murl. he protested to
the contrary. lie. was brvus lit back,
tried for his ligc, ard condemned to be
lung. This is he story it is said
Edmund told his master and it may be
rcnentLcscl by soree OF tho olicss citi
zcns Of Orangeburg who were present
at tho hanging, how upon the ga!ows
I.a Grew himself declared he WIS the
victim Of conspiracy. But ciTcumst.
antial evidence was strong against him
and, whether gully or not, the wr!ortun
ate man was coudemurl to su'fcr death
by hunsing.
The day Of she execution having ar.
rived La Crew WAS brought out OF the
Jail AID placed in n car, sitting upon his
conn. All the way to the grllorrs he
kept talking necessarily saying lie worl
die chGcriully il only allowed his freed
ON long cnoug to k II his two enemies
whas had bccs las bittercst acuusers.
He ggra one OF the men, wro was
serving as marshal, to give him ii sword
nnl set him free for only two minutes
On arriving ab the spot, s'f old field
down near the banks Of III. EIisto, he
WIS taken cut and placed upon the
I gallows. THIS consisted Of I've rouy!:
posts standing suise six feet aTtrt, win
IA brans ut tho top xtcAlns across, to
which ~ rope was attlcael The pltai
| upon which the duorscd nplu. stood WIS
llaced upon brackets nailed to each
| post. On being asked if he had any
thing to say he replcd:" Yes, there are
two men standing in this crowd VIII,
know thrt am innocent. Though they
may oxult now in their hearts over my
downfall yet the time is coming when
worse fate than mine will overtakc them
TO one of them, Mr. l wish to
say this: You sir will be vagabond
upon the face of the e1rlh, Stunned Of
men, and detcstcd by all who know you.
70 the other: You sir will die the death
of a dog, and the buzzards will pick
your eyes out" Turning to the Sheriff
he exclaimed "Murk my prediction
and see if it does not come true" Then