The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-07
THE SCAFF0LD IN NORTH CAROLINA
George Lea, a Negro, Hanged for Out
raging an Aged White Lady.
Revolving Circumstances OF
the Crime.
The Negroes Stolidity and Indiffer-
ence Under Sentence.
PARTING WITH HIS FRIENDS.
He Appears on the Scaffold in a
White Stroud.
The Rope Breaks and lie is Again Tied Up
and Hanged.
PARTING WITH HIS FRIENDS
HORRIBLE SPECTACLE.
VAUDEVILLE, CAswELL CoUTNY, N. c., |
IlA..A 4

one SO repugnant to our feelings or one so horrible
to contemplate as the violation Of female chastity,
but when to this Is added the narrowing details OF
an aged white female virgin, trembling on the
brink OF eternity, over three score and ten years
Old, ruthlessly sacrificed to crafty the brutal lust
OF halfsavage, coal-black negro, civilized hui
mainly shudders, and nature revolts at the fiend-
ish outrage. For such crime George Lea was
executed here to-day the gallows and in all the
crowd OF both races that assembled on the occa.
sion there was not sympathetic express
sion uttered for the wretch or a sorrowlul
tear shed to mourn his terrible but well deserved
iate grim air of satisfaction that the ends OF
justice had been subserved illumed every face as
they moved away from the tragic scene and as the
carcasc Of the brute was consigned to felon's
grave.
GEORGE LEA
was young negro, native OF this county, being
formerly the slave of q gentleman whose name he
now bears, and about twenty-eight years OF age
In stature he about five feet seven inches, OF
slight but athletic build, and having all the physi
cal developments of genuine negro. His features
were remarkable for nothing save total absence
OF any intellectual expression. and the presence
instead, OF every animal characteristic peculiar to
savage, tie eyes being large, duh and heavy, the
jaw large, the lips thick, nose wide and forehead
reclining. In appearance he did not belle his
nature INSTINCTS ana ueeuS as u brute.
HIS VICTIM.
Miss Ann Kearsey Is the antipode in every way
of the above. She is seventy -four years Old totter
ing with infirmity; stopped, decrepid, emacated
and shrivelled; her few and struggling hairs
whitened by her great age; her eyes red, bleared
and sunken In their sockets; her gums tO0thless
and her very skeleton nearly protruding through
the yellOwish and parchment like skin that covers
1t. This poor old woman resided on the road
leading from here to Milton, at the distance of
about eight miles, with her sister, who Is two
years older even than she is They we're very poor.
but Of the highest responsibility. dcvout Christians
and members of the Methodist Church. on the
bounty OF which they had chiefly subsistcd ia their
great helplessness and extreme old age. The
negro Lea had known them from his infancy. and
from confessions recently made by him had for %
long time contemplated the deed which to-day was
| expiated on the scafrold
THE OUTRAGE
has to be briefly told, for the details are loath
} some and the developments at the trial were so
| disgusting as not to bear a published recital on
| the evening OF the Goth March last, just an hour
before shutdown, the old lady, Ann kearsey, tot
tered from her house to q patch OF wood short
distance beyond the spring, Tor the purpose OF
gathering some hrewood. When she had collected
q small quantity ana was quietly returning to the
house she was startled by some whistling as
she thought. behind her; but she had scarcely
turned to see who 1t was when she was confronted
by negro whom she recognized TO be George Lea.
With the childish innocence and simplicity OF old
age and the humility and meekness OF true Chris
the negro and about TO pass on, when he seized
her. The fend's eyes glared with brutal lust and
his breath was hot and slckenlng with the foul
stencil Of the West plne-top wniskey. Frightened
ana terrified Almost out OF her Senses the poor old
creature made faint effort to cry out, upon which
| the negro casped her tightly in his arms, and,
DRAWING A RAZOR
(the favorite weapon OF the newly enfranchised),
made any resistance or cry lie would cut her
throat. Utterly overcome and half stupeaed with
terror, the unfortunate Old lady was
|
exutation the African brute threw her
design after Which he lied by path leading to the
Milton road, leaving his venerable victim more
dead than alive. Happily for justice and retribu-
| ton, a cOlored woman who was passing saw the
wretch as he ran from the scene OF his crime, and
| with her assistance the outraged old woman was
injuries that 1t was some time before she could re-
late the terrible tale oil her woe; but upon the au
thorties being informed of it, warrant was issued
for the apprehension OF Lea, and soon afterwards
| he was lodged IN the county jail. Had that course
| not been pursued
would in all probability, have relieved the Courts
OF disgusting trial and the Sherino the unplcas.
ant duty Of to-day. An Indictment by the Grand
Jury followed and the trial took place at the April
term or the Superior Court for this county Judge
stantiaily as above was adduced. the Identity Of
the prisoner was July proven, and the case being
az se ~ S om h mus on
| three minutes ana half On Thursday, the Sd OF
April, the prisoner was brought to the bar OF tne
| Court, and the sentence OF death was pronounced.
THE CONDEMNED
heard the awful fiat OF the law pronounced with
out the culver of muscle or the visible change OF
q single feature. He maintained the most stolid
| Indifference, although the c0lored audience pres
| ent uttered a deep grOan as the words that con-
signed him to the gallows fell from the Judges
| lips. He was conducted from the court room to
OF people, he exhibited a nonchalant air. ana en-.
| deavored to create the impression by his looks
he was cheerful and not "a, at all depressed ss BY
| freely and repeatedly confessed his crime and
stated That he "triedu to make his peace with his
| Maker, at whose tribunal he was hopeful OF for
| giveness.
/ Yesterday his aged father came from the coun.
try to take last farewell, and the scene between
them in the cell was deeply affecting. The heart
broken parent clasped his unfortunate son to his
breast, both sObbng and crying piteously and after
! long embrace the old man tore himself away, the
tears running down his wrinkied lace
| The morning OF to-day broke bright and cheerful,
but about midday the sky was covered with clouds
| the atmosphere was dense and heavy and general
tragic occasion BY this time large crowds OF col
ored people thronged INTO the town from the sur
tSe and nn om 6ss sm i a
! Another touching scene occurred when Inc
! former young master OF the condemned man
/ visited him this morning TO say goodbye for the
/ last time. The poor wretch was greatly moved.
| He cried and held the hand OF Captain Lee, whom
| he assured ne was prepared to die. and hoped to
meet him beyond the grave in better and happier
world. AS
| he earnestly begged that his young master wou,d
| wait to see HIM hanged. Captain Lee Remarked.
| George, don't want to see you hung.u But, as
| the condemned man repeated his request with
| more intensity OF expression, and as final favor
almost imploring him to grant It, Captain Lee
said, ''Wel, George, / dislike to Witness yonr
death undersu awful circumstances; hut If il is
consolation TO you that should be present viii
! remain.n ~
THE CROWD PRESENT.
BY twelve O'Clock there were not less than four
,nousand negroes present, the majority OF them
being females, who were attired In thor most
gaudy and snowy holiday dresses. The whites
Present were comparatively few, but they were
morbid tastes to crafty as well as their more
Ignorant interiors, the blacks. As the hour for the
execution arrived the adjacent roofs. trees and