The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-28
EXECUTION OF SOULS.
South Carolina Justice Duly Melted Ont 10
Drunken Murderer'-A Sad Affair Sadly
Terminates-How Souls Slew Sutton
While Both Were Intoxicated
The Church Services, Pro-
cession and Scenes
on the Scaffold

today by hanging The murder occurred in this
county, some twenty miles distant from the town
OF Marien, S. c., on the 10th February last. Souls
and his victim Sutton were both engaged upon
nat loaded with turpentine, which they were noat-
ing down the Pedee River at the time OF the muir.
der The parties were friendly, but the free use Of
whiskey the predominant element OF all fendish-
ness, mad rendered them nsensible to aught OF the
claims either OF friendship or common humanity.
Other persons were on board, and barrel OF
whiskey being part OF the cargo. high revel OBJ
tanned among these men, who were thus preparing
themselves for any or the worst act OF wickedness
or brutality.
wANToN CRUELTY AND MURDER.
Souls, 1t was shown upon the trial, fired with
pistol in mere wantonness at house on the river
bank, light in a window, 1t being nighttime, at.
tracing his attention. demonstrated vita by his
less reckless or more sober companion sutton, he
became enraged, and threatened to shoot the
latter. Suting the action to the word, upon the
instant he fred, the fatal messenger OF death en-
tering the breast OF Sutton, and Instantly killing
him. The murderer ned but, the next day, was
captured by the Deputy Sheriff OF the county.
TNA-
On the 18th day of the sams month, the Court Of
General Sessions being tlp1 sitting, Souls was
brought to trial. and promptly convicted. Sentence
was passed fixing the 18th day az May inst. for the
execution. Preparations were duly made for car
rying the decree of the Court into effect, but by Q
respite from Governor Moses the time was ex.
tended until to-day. This act OF Executive
clemency was the result OF petition numerously
signed by leading citizens, for the Communication or
the sentence of death to imprisonment Tor life in
the Penitentiary. 1t was believed that the pris-
oner was a person ofweak and imbece mind, men,
tally ncapacitated for due conception realiZa.
ton OF his crime. The testimony taken upon tho
trial was, furthermore OF nature so conflicting,
and throwing doubt to that extent upon the pris-
oner's actual guilt, according to the opinion Of
many, that it an act only OF justice and proper
mercy to spare the life of the unfortunate and mis-
guided man. But the Executive declined to dc
more than to grant the respite which gave Souls
another weeks existence. In the sure progress OF
time the day appointed has at length arrived.
AS early as nine O'Clock this morning,
LARGE CROWD,
fully 1900 people. mostly negroes were gathered
about the Jail in which the prisoner was confined.
IL Is creditable to them that good order prevailed
and conversation seemed to be carried on in no
unseemly spirit OF levity or mirth. solemn i'm
the shadow OF death that lowered so close had its
token in the comparative hush and stiffness that
prevailed
Between nine and ten O'Clock the Sheriff arrived,
accompanied by the Rev. W. G. Power, the Metho-
sions corresponds to the old English CUSTOM and
consists OF . cooked hat white pantaloons, blue
coat, and sword and belt. was kindly permitted
by the Sheriff to enter the jail with his party. En-
tering one OF tue rooms.
THE CONDEMNED MAN
was summoned and soon appeared. He was de-
Gently dressed IN a suit provided for him by the
charity OF various citizens. He appeared very thin
and pale in fact much attenuated and we could
feel only the one sentiment OF pity In gazing upon
the man who had come TO finally prepare Tor death.
1t Is a solemn spectacle to sit with and In the
presence ol man thus about to die, as this man
was. IL allects the heart with q strange and PEE
culiar emotion to behold a man taking part in
service which involves his own preparation for
eternity. The prisoner appeared calm, shook
hands with all present and quietly took mis- seat.
The expression oil his countenance Indicated only
a feeble and inert mind. The Rev. Mr.. Power had
come to administer the sacrament OF the LORDS
erclses to prepare the prisoner for his final end.
hymn was first sung then prayer was offered up
and the administration OF the SACRAMENT followed.
In all the prisoner joined.
Yesterday the prisoner had declared faith in his
conversion to Christ. TO the earnest nterroga-
tories addressed to him by the officiating minister,
the prisoner answered to the effect that he was
prepared for death. realized the forgiveness OF his
sins and was "willing TO go at any moment HIS
composure was remarkable At last all was con-
Guided that the service OF the church required, and
the fatal rope was brought into the apartment. We
here took the opportunity by permission Of the
Sheriff, to interrsgate the prisoner. He gave us.
in substance, the outline or his life as we have
above described 1t, and said that he did not know
anything about the murder, because he was drunk
when IL occurred. He was, he stated in the habit
OF drinking, and II ne killed Sutton he had done
when in liquor and when reason ana Consciousness
were dethroned.
prisoner and he placed his head in 1t himself He
was then led from the jail to
SCAFFOLD
erected at end OF the Jail lot, his coffin being
carried before him. The body guard was charac-
teristic. Four blacks performed this duty, vari.
ously equipped, two OF them having superannuated
snotguns, and the other two old l0gy muskets, one
OF which was dignifed with the appendage OF
prisyner led with the rome about his necE fol-
lowed the sheriff up the ladder and took his seat
on the PLATFORM. The minister present then went
up on the scafold and conducted the services
usual upon the occasion. The hymn that was sung
sweled to q loud chorus with the united
voices OF nearly the entire assemblage The col
ored people were especially earnest in this exer-
else. These people seem to lose seli-centrol and
to be moved BY some ocu NJ me on oc
IRENE excitement Prayer followed the hymn,
and then one OF the most impressive celebrations
was addressed to those present by the minister.
THE PRISONERS FAITH.
The prisoner was now allowed TO address the
crowd. His speech was mere reteration Of wnat
we had already heard and have told oil MS faith
and hope OF salvation. He declared he would not
nere S e WAS 9ons to He ubed out
the same expression over and over again
for long time and and T Gns ipowed
by the Sheriff asking him If he wished
to see any particular person He asked, in
with him. His brothers. appearance was that OF .
poor and uncouth man, and he seemed In nowise
of both men was astonishing, and the looks OF both
plainly Indicated how low degree IN the scale OF
lie nature had assigned them. When the interview
between the brothers over the sheriff went up
to the scafold to make ready for the hnshlng
strske-the fatal coup dc main-to terminate q
scene that had kept all present so long IN painful
and wondering suspense The doomed man was
duly bound, hand and foot, the black cap Drawn,
and the Sheriff descended.
A SCENE OF HORROR.
Souls went up the scanold at fifteen minutes
past eleven. The fatal trap was sprung al
quarter past one. In falling the moose slipped to
a position the chin, resulting IN the meek not
being broken. The most violent struggles were
made by the suspended man. His hands were
worked nervously one over the other, and his leet
we're moved about In nearly similar manner.
Presently he commenced swaying his tortured
body to and fro, with regular swing, moving him.
self thus space OF several ieet, while his
breathing, he slowly suffered strangu-
lation, had the hoarse and husky sound
OF a person loudly snoring This continaed for
six minutes, when gradually relaxing ms strug-
gle, no further evidence OF life appeared, after
eleven minutes mad expired