Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-05-16
DAILY GAZETTE.
n NecutiOn of n Woman In GeOrgtR-1 he
Victim of ~ DcacOm's Crime.

XsCOtiOn Of q woman in GeOrgiO-1 he
Victim of ~ DcRcOn's Crime.
Susan Ebsrhart, OF Webster county. Georgia,
no assisted Il. +. Spann to murder his bod ridden
lte on May ith. 1878, was hanged ON the ID
astant, at Preston, Georgia. dispatch from
resiOn Gays:
THE DEAooNs CRIME.
Spaun engaged the services OF Susan Eberhart,
'no was prepossessing girl, then under eighteen
years OF age to help hia wife in the house. Spann
became onamoTed Of the girl, and soon gained a /
atrong influence her. Being IL deacon he /
represented to Susan that it wOuld be wrong for |
them to live together while his wife was living, |
and that therefore their plain duty was to help
tue poor woman enter tho world v here the weary
were at rest aud the wicked cease from troubling
Spann made several attempts to kill his wife, one
OF which was frustrated by Susan. He finally,
however, prevailed upon her to assist him in chok.
1Gg n9g hSr to 'th They placed cloth around
Mrs Spann 5 neck, inside the cord, thinking there
would bs no marks lett to tell the talo.
THE FLIGHT.
They committed the murder in the evening
lho next moaning there was vid mark around
ne victims neck that grew deeper tho more they
ilsd to eilace Il. Spann aud Susan fed in terror
rom the scene OF thOir crime. They were caF-
ured, tried and found guilty. Spaun was hanged
some weeks ago, and OH the second instant Susan
EDerhsart was hanged on the same gallows and
Whh the same rope that suspended Spann. There
were about seven hundred persons present, halt
OF whom were negroes. None OF her kindred wera
present Much sympathy was expressed for the
unfortunate girl, and the Georgia papers say il
was the saddest day ever known in Preston.
sUsAN's CONFESSION.
The following confession and accoun. OF the
hanging is from the Louisville Courier-Journal:
AT her request statement OF what she did in
connection with the murder was written and will
be published. Init she says she did nothing ex-
cept being present and handing Spann hand kOr-
chief when he called for it to I'LL his wiIes mouth
She states that eho arose from her bed and accom-
panied him, beng held by the hand, at his COM
mand and cOmpulsion and through fear and that
she begged and entreatod him not to kill his wtIe
| lie said he would il he were hanged live minutes
/ after, and he forced her to do what she did. He
abo forced her to go off with him. She begged
him with tears to leave her, but he said "It you
dont go VIII pick you up and tote you of. "
md all the journey she begged him to let her 60
lAck home. She said she made no such confess
on as her eaptOra swear 10; aud she believes that
Il only the actual truth had been given in the
tostimOny, whatever might have been her punish
uOnt she would not be hanged. But, eonsid eTing
NsS condition, she thought It was best for her tC
die now. She was perfectly willing; she did moi
bar death. She believed that she would be bettei
81, and that it would be better for her kindred
When she was first brought to iail she detsrmine net
v sesk earnestly Gods forgiveness aud salvation
Some Fix months ago she found peace, and nov
regarded death as II delIveraneo to bo desired
rather than dreaded.
GoINd TO THE 0ALLows.
At IL o'clock guard Os forty men assembled a
the jail, and forming a hollow square, marched /
the gallOws The prisoner won't In the oeuter q
the square, in buggy, with the sheriff, The min
isters walked Miss EbcThaTt was neatly dTssse
ia a white, small-tgured cambric. Her tine, lon
black hair was plainly arranged in two long pla
cd hralds, one 0n each side OF her head, with tn
ends tied together and pendant on the back. Sh
had on calico sun-bonnet She told the shcri
as they rode along that she It'd not dread death
the least, but felt happy al the prospect OF 500
being better OF. She ahghtcd and took a seat O
the steps of the gallows
The Rev. Mr. Cawond read to her the S3th an
l30th Psalms, aud addressed her few words
comfort The venerable George Stapleton, of Je
ters6n county, led ia prayer Miss EbeThart toe
leave of her friends. She said she hA no fea
hut was ahle tn rejoice in this hour She thank,
all who had ever wronged her She felt in h
heart she loved all mankind. She desired to me
her friends in peace in.IIeaven.1
NEIAREABLE GOODNESS.
As she ceased speaking the sheriff asked h,
"Susan are You reldyf" She replied, yes, Il
ready" and walking firmly up the steps, stood
the platform OF the gAllOWs. Not tremor shO
her form as the sheriff adjusted the rope and bll
cap. Sha quietly said to MIR. Mathews the she
III, that the rope was too tight around her nee
adding, IL don't want to be choked to death. -
The rope was thon looSened slightly Susan, n
your hands behind you" She did so, and he tt
them. lie again asked her it she was ready s
replied, "Yes, ready and willing" Tho platfOl
dropped precisely at thirty minutes alter elevS
She iell five feet and struggled but little. ShO "
pronounced dead after fifteen minutes expirAtlC
She was cut down in nineteen minutes. Her ne
was not broken. The doctors made an effort
revive her by an electric battery but failed.