National Republican., 1873-03-28
J. MUNROE'S MURDERER.
INTERVIEW WITH CHARLES MISLEY,
Who will be Executed at Alexandria To-
day-ue Declares that He 10 Innoccpi'
aud Aeouas- the Pnires-A Talk with
william jackson.

william Jackson. h
The execution Of Charles Manley, colorod, ioI
the murder Of John Munroe, peddler, on sne
night Of the 18Th Of July last at Alexan1ilh, Vs.
,ate, place to-day in the jail yard at that city
between the hours OF 10 and O'CLOCK " Wih pe
remembered that on the night above mentioned
Mauioy, with two boys, waylaid the pcddler on
one Of the dark and lonely streets IN hehanuna
and after slabblng him with knife, roboeu MN
Of the valuablcs he had. Tue two boys escaped,
but the condemned man was apprehended, tried
In January last and sentenced to be executed To-
day. A reponerot the REPUBLICAN yeatetdN
visited Alexandra for the purpose Of finding
the closing Incidents in this case where man Is
about to pay the penalty that justice eHaots.
Tho jail, located at the corner OF Princess ana
st. Asaph streets, Is certainly an ancient appear
ing structure, and no modern improIeinon,.' ,.
have ever been added to change Us old syie'
Il is two storIea high, constructed OF BRICK the
front lying on ST. Asaph street, while roomy
ward, surrounded by high brick wall, auorus
space for walking 10 those prisoners permitted
the nriyIleuo Of the yard. the prison Is divided
into two parts, sheriff o'Neal, OF the county,
having the nrst moor for his prisoners, and
shcrin Stewart, OF the city, those on tho seoonn
floor for his convIots. Tho cells on the nr" hoot
aro somewhat narrow, allowing only small
spaoe between the wall and bed for the move |
ments Of tho inmate, while all the light enters |
,hroush the closely grated doorway, which has |
A small aperture at the top, sufloicnty large 70
admit Of the passage OF hand. The cells on
tho upper hoor are large and more roomy, espc-
claiy that occupied by ManieJ, which would
compare IN size TO q regular bsd-ehamoer.
The condemned man, Of tho time our reporter
called, was in consultation with hs wife, and
during her stay visit was paid TO the jan yaru'
where -
had been erected. II ls situated about 20 ieet
frots the southeast corner OF the building and
fronts west, and, beng intended for future use'
Ia a substantial structure. u ls u feet square,
the platform being about IS foot from the
ground supported By six-by-four timbers ~ the
corners, extending feet above the moor OF the
platform, 9 railing N that height extending
round It. In the centre Of the platform h the
trap, by 0 feet, nuAh with the noor. on the east
aide a piece OF plank inches long and VIDE
extends an inch above the door THIS piece rcsh
on the end OF an Iron rod attached 70 the curved
iron, the ends Of which support tho trap, and
foot being placed on it, the trap Is sprung.
fight Of twelve wide steps Is on the west side OF
the structure, near the southwest corner, and In
the centre Of the north aud south sides two up
right tlmbers extend to height OF 20 feet, sup
porting tho cross-beam Of four-by-cight timber,
from the centre Of which the fatal moose hangs.
The rope hal not been put In place, bat one
end will bs made fast on tho north side OF the
sca1fold and then run through the eIoss-beam,
near the end, and along the top TO the centre,
where II runs through and termlnatos In the
fatal moose On returning 20 the jail and finding
that ManIey's wife was stnl In company with
him, sherir o'Neal invited our reporter to walk
through his portion Of tho prison. After passing
two or three cells. the one occupied by william
Jackson, eolored, convicted Of the murder OF
his wife at Preednlans Village last fall, was
reached. The Court Of Appeals granted stay
Of proceedings In bis case until the argument
for new trial could be heard, and consequently,
though sentenced 10 be executed last mOnth, he
obtained a lease Of life. Since that time the
argument has been heard, and the motion for 4
new trial denied, but as the court does not meet
again until next May, Jackson will not be sen-
fenced TO he hung PROBABLY before June.
As our reporter approached hiA cell Jackson
came TO the wicket, where the following conyer-
sAtion ensued. The prisoner seemed ANXIOUS to
tax, although every wori was uttered with a
tfemulous tone, and he appeared very much
excited;
"well, Jackson, are you feeling well to-day :"
"In pretty good health, thank you"
'I supposo you know what they are doing In
the jail yardf"
"Does Manlev7-
''he ought TO know and be prepared TO 60"
''how about your case Z"
81 wish To aec my counsel. have not seen
him for AOEIetlme, aud think he might do some
thing to stlll help my case"
'In what way7"
"Why, have two more witnesses th,, woult
contradict much that was said against mo-
Didn't you do the deedf"
81 am Innocent, and ought to have another
trial, because there was much ssld on INC othel
knew anything about law, and when they tolC
lies upon me 1 did not know that could tell mi
EC3 ina al s sna s sssm 70 ansaa az
now know better, and think ought to be sivci
n new trial."
"Do you think the court did yon any IN
"No, cir; don't suppose they meant to; bu
then the Witnesses testified against me, and ID,
Judge did not know when they were vrong. Thi
other witnesses have no" would change the
appearance Of hings."
"WelI, you ought to consult your counsel; but
fear you Will meet the same fato as mat mar
II expeet l will, sir; but don't think h will be
right, for ! am innocent"
visit was then paid to Manley, who was
found In his cell, sitting with his vile u bright
intelllgent-looklnR woman At the foot OF the
he'd. The interview was brief, as the condemned
man seemed deslrous Of returning 10 hia wife.
side. aud took little heed Of me crime ior which
hours. After making known the object OF the
visit, the following Conversation took place;
"liAye you had any visitors to-dayf'
"No, SIR don't wish to see many persons
"YOu are preparing for to-morrowT
"As well as / eau. j snail 10y 10 DO btrOnl
enough until the end" voice qulVeTing.)
els there anything connected with that act you
would ike the public to know that they do not 2
ayes; would like 10 have them know that
did not murder that man"
"Who did III"
.sThe two Paine boys did It. saw them cut
the man about here" tprisoner placing his hand
on the right side Of the reporter Just above the
abd0mSnJ
"whers Eere you theng"
81 was standing In the street begging them 10
stop.n
.What did they do altar the cuttingf"
'TThey ran away; left the gity; an1, as ] did
not, was arrested, tried and have got TO suffer
forhS
"Iayo you written anything, or Will you speak
when you 20 out t0-IEOrrOH7"
al don't know that | eau say Anything more
thaa have TO you. ! am innOeent Of having
done pythlng wrong to that man."
"Ty 10 keep your courage tomorrow"
II viii bssf IL As well as can"
Seeing that the prisoner did not desire the IN
teryiew prolonged, our reporter bade him good
day, passed down stairs and then Into the street
Ashe came to the Jail wall groups OF ooloret
people were gathered here aud there, talking oi
the execution that was TO take place to-day
while others, more curious, were attempting Il
peep through cracks In the large safe ahd SCI
The scAnold within.
The execution to-day was the subject Of con.
yeIaatlOn yesterday throughout Alexandra.