The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-16
Execution of q COl0red Murderer
at Alexandria, Va.
RELHIOUSLY CRAZY on THE SCAffolD
Great Fears Of Death and Wild Plead
ing for Mercy.
bidding the World an Ever
lasting Farewell"

spectacle execution" Even hanging has IT.
Degrees Of comparison, hence, l suppose, The re
bpectability may be allowed without q grea
stretch OF conscience The victim was william
jackson, colored, an ex-slave and recently an en-
ploye OF the Potomac Brick Works, on the Potomac
and Washington Railroad, some distance from this
city. On the 18th OF February, 1872 JacksOn's wife
annoyed him somewhat by persisting IN sitting up
IN bed against his expressed wish to the contrary.
Mrs. Jackson had given birth to o child twelve
nays previously, and was consequently get
ling stronger each hour and probably would
have been "up and doing" but for the per.
Rersity OF her brutal partner. On this particular
uay, however, he came into the house, and per-
ceiving the woman in an upright position on the
bed demanded that she should instantly lie down.
As he had previously averred his utter adherence
Of the unfortunate woman it was not his regard
Tor her health that led to this apparent anxiety
Mrs. Jackson attempted to explain her improved
condition, and, like any other sensible person SINH
larry situated, maintained she would sit up no
longer than she felt would do her good. Here the
brutal portion Of the mans nature developed it,
sef Regardless OF the previous suffering Of the
woman, and needless Of her utter helplessness, he
seized billet of wood lying near and struck her
dreadful blow across the top OF the head. She fell
yenseless on the pillow, from which she never rose
pgain.
7HE DAY FOLLOWING SHE DIED.
woman, living on the same floor with them, sub
sequently entered the room and found Mrs. Jackson
dead Meeting the murderer few minutes after
wards, she asked him what he intended to-day
He cody replied that he could bury her, but he
wanted no one to enter the place until his return
rs he said he was going short distance to secure
assistance. But he did not return. The woman
Aforesaid at once informed police justice, who
mr. IN Jar
The postmortem disclosed the fact that the skull
Of the deceased woman was fractured, rom which
bhe had died. He admitted the striking but insisted
that the skull must have been injured by fall from
The bed, which, it was Proved did not occur
Evidence was obtained showing that he
Intended to kill his wife, and on No.
tember 12, 1877, Judge Keith, In the Circuit
Court, sentenced him to death, fixing
lhe date Of his execution for January 81, 1873. The
Ease was carried to the Court Of Appeals at Rich
mond, but the Judgment OF the lower Court was
Rfirmed and the execution dated forward to July
H. Another effort to obtain executive clemency
to-day.
MORAL CONVICT.
Twas with the condemned man yesterday, and in
The course OF brief conversation he declared his
hnwilngness to longer tread this mundane sphere,
and intimated that though the sound OF the car
penters hammers in erecting the scanold re-
minded him OF the inevitable course OF the law he
wouldn't finch peg. He was prepared to meet
ehe God of all the EARTH he said, and knew that II
he must suffer in tie body the unerring Judge
would take him to himself He looked upon all his
trouble az the result of breaking faith with God to
whom he once made VOW that he would walk in
she straight and narrow pain, but from which he
believe that but for the murder OF his helpless wife
he would never have been in condition TO meet
his maker.
HIS LAST HOURS ON EARTH.
Las: night at eight O'Clock the jail committee OF
the Christian Association visited the condemned
man and engaged in devotional exercises until
twenty minutes past nine O'Clock, when they
took leave OF Jackson with PERMISSION to re-
turn in the morning Alter their departure
to him he said, "Please raise up the light
little, 80 that can read" The hight was suited
30 as to shine full into the grating Of his cell, and
jackson was quiet until ten O'Clock, when he
raped again.
sleep. am at peace with God, and hope have no
snemies in the world and will lie down here
and sleep my last sleep in this world"
The light was extinguished as he had requested.
For an hour silence, unknown for week before,
reigned in the building SO marked was the change
that the Keepers began TO lear that Jackson had
committed suicide, and when going to the door OF
his cell they could near no sound, even OF breath
ing within, their fears were confirmed. The door
1as opened softly, and they crept In and found
jackson in deep sleep, breathing as softly as q
little child. They crept silently away and closed
the door softly upon
JACKsoN's LAST SLEEP ON EARTH.
He sept until four O'Clock this morning, and
halfpast five O'Clock, Jackson had arisen and
dressed himself and soon alter ate hearty break
last prepared as ne mad requested the night DC,
tomato. He was removed from his cell to the cor.
tdor at hali-past nine O'Clock. several members OF
the jail committee and the Young Mems Christian
Association accompanying him.
At ten O'Clock there was outside the jail yard
policeman sitting upon the porch, with, perhaps,
moi nj N ~
neghborhood, Within the jail: on the rear corri-
dor, sat the condemned man, with one or two
memoers OF the Young Mems Christian Associa-
lion, singing hymns In lugubrious tones. The Jail
yard was empty save the HERALD reporter. Where
the reporter stood rift in the cloud let few rays
OF sunlight through, which came, strangely enough,
through the open drop in the scafiold and fell uon
the wall OF the jail where the doomed man, with
MS spiritual friends, sat singing
ALL WAS SILENT
save the m0notonous rise and fall or the hymns,
and the cackllng Of a brood OF chickens that ran
2 black pine comm that lay under the scaf1old.
Very soon a number Of washingtonians, accom-:
panied by the Washington reporters, arrived, and
at eleven O'Clock the yard contained considerable
number OF people, and at the same time numOer
pr coored ministers came in and entered the cor.
ridor where Jackson and his friends were
praying; few drops or rain here admon.
ter within. The rain continued to increase.
considerably diminishing the crowd which had by
this time gathered In the neighborhood. Three
colored ministers-Revs Henry Marshall, ]. A.
Aldridge and Alexander Ewenson-entered the
corridor where the condemned man sat, and the
devotional exercises were renewed with redoubled
rervor. The exercises consisted OF hymns exhorta.
fions and prayers. There was the same urging
upon the condemned man to accept the free prom
lses OF salvation, and the singing or hymns that
promised meeting on the joyful shore.
"Why do we want and fear to die" was the bur-
den OF the inquiries, whether IN plain prose SOL
emn verse,
A few minutes after eleven O'Clock the following
despatch was handed TO sheriff O'Neale THE
Governor declines TO interfere with the exc
cution OF the law in the case OF william Jackson
This removed whatever lingering hope still re-
manned. All this time the jail yard was full OF
people, the rain pouring upon them In torrents.
: Al twelve O'Clock Sheriff O'Neae entered the
room aud told the doomed man that his time had
come.
"rhank Co.." replied Jackson, 'the Lord is near
At hand.r He then asked that the hymn 'Other
Refuge Have Monet be sung. At the close OF the
~ mn the sheriff saying snst IL was RAINING MI, very