The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-28

Bradford were accessories before the TACT. Upon
| By the Grand Jury.
this body, Iour-anhs OF whom are colored. found
true bills against all three OF the prisoners and al
tue March term OF the Circuit Court Vincent and
Furman were tried Nearly the whole week was
| taken up with this remarkable case the people or
both races nanlfesung the greatest interest IN It's
| progress, aud the court room being densey packed
! each day Judge Aackay presided vincent was
clusivey OF men OF his own race and
color, and he was ably defended By Mr.. Joseph II.
/ Earle, young lawyer OF great aDillty VINO was
the counsel assigned him by the Court. Ine cause
was argued on both sides with decided legal tact
ana astuteness; but all the lacts, gwen suDstan-
TALLY above were established by chain OF evl-
| dence IN which not q detective Ink could be
! lound In TACT the prosecution built up such an
/ eGince OF corroboratlng testimony that when the
| a brief absence, returned verdict OF
GUILTY OF MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE"
Furmap was theu placed on trial, the same evil
| dence conyicting him and the same verdict beng
! rendered IN ms case On saturday, the 7th OF
! Marcn, Judge Mackay, IN very solemn ana im-
! pressive manner. sentenced the two men to the
! doom which they met to-day, invoking at the same
! time the mercy OF God upon their souls. Neither
OF them evinced the slightest visible emotion when
the awful hat was pronounced The Jail mere having
! been recently burned, the prisoners were placed
III SgIali wooden building IN rear OF tae market
house, which Is Known as the Guard House,
where they have since been closely guarded day
and nigat. Spencer Bradford has not yet been
| tired.
SPIRITUAL CONSOLATION.
BESIDES the constant and regular visits OF clergy.
men OF 10th races and all religious denominations,
past The recipients OF nightly religious serenade
and prayer Offering from large crowd OF coored
syInpatnlZerS. This began on Monday night last,
and has been kept up without interInisson ever
since. AT about eight O'Clock the coiored brothers
and sisters assembled IN front OF the small edluce
III which the condemned men were confined,
hfe OF hght wood being made round which the
crowd gathered.
Like all negroes who are found guilty OF great
crimes IN South Carolina, and some OF whom be-
heve they can plumber and murder with IMMUNITY,
the doomed man had until Wednesday a lingering
hope oil receiving either respite or communication
OF sentence from that apostle OF their race Governor
Moses, though no one had made an application for
either. Tne Governor, however, Knowing that
they would certainly LOOK to HIM oF something, on
Wednesday gratuitousy telegraphed the Sheriff
that he would not interfere; that the law must
take It's course; that there was no hope. TINS de-
spatch surprised the Sheriff and, ia fact everybody
else, as nobody expected had but as 1t had come,
the Shern TOOK 1t to the prisoners and read II Tor
them. Furman burst into u loud laugh, and said
peace with God and was ready TO 90, remarking,
The sooner the better" Vincent was not so en-
thuslastc; but he TOO, said he was prepared TO
die, and he hoped to be forgiven.
AN EYE TO BUSINESS.
On Tuesday last Furman's brother called on the
Sheriu, and, after introducing himself, asked:-
''oherll1, can have Aaron's body when de hansin'
is Ober ~
"Will you allow me to put 1t in de coffin ~
Yes" said the Sheriff, Twill"
"Well, den, can dig de grave 7"
eyes, you can dig the grave too"
Chow much Is you pay1n' for dat?"
This ended the conversation, which proved to be
a pure speculation on the part OF Farmans
brother. He did not boldly ask Tor the job of dig.
glng the grave, but that being his sole object, the
sheriff dismissed him without further ceremony.
THE SCAFFoLD
was situated IN an old field on the western side OF
the town. IL was the ordinary rural structure,
with two heavy posts, crossbeam and swinging
centre. the crOssbeam was fourteen feet high
from the ground, the drop seven, allowing fall of
rope was attached, and this hltched to mule At
signal the mule was driven OH, the post came out
and the drop iel. This was the operation OF the
scarold.
THE MORNING OF EXECUTION.
The population OF this county is some 10000,
over one-ourth of which, 1t is estimated, eXcu-
sive OF the townspeople, were here to-day to wit
ness the execution. The visiting crowd were eX-
clusively negroes, OF every age, sex, shade aud
was difficult TO even elbow ones way through
them, ano, as the sun poured down his rays with
the intensity OF midsummer, the Odor from this
mass OF concentrated African humanity was any
thing out pleasant to the ollactores Under the
combined supervision OF A. w. Suder, the lntendaut
oil the town, and sheriff fyndal, OF the county, the
preparations for the tragedy were complete at
guardhoUse all the available space was densey
packed by ten A. d. Carts, wagons, fences house
eagerly watching the advent OF the condemned
men; AT eleven O'Clock wagon, ontaining two
the door OF the guardhouse. The Sher1n and depu.
ties then entered the respective cells OF the crlnl
mas ana arrayed them n, In long white h9wg
Soon afterwards the two condemned men
emerged rom toe guardhouse. Vincent, who
was the talest, came hrtt, ana, stepping
into the rear OF the wagon took his seat on one
OF the black collins. He raised his head, took
survey oil the vast multitude and the shock to his
nerves was so great that he covered his face with
his hands ana began crying. Furman sullenly ana
doggedly Jumped into the wagon, seated himself
on tue other coffin, rested his elbows on his knees
and calmly viewed the crowd A guard, COM
posed OF twelve men, mostly the police OF the
town, surrounded the wagon with its death freight
the sheriff, wearing ponderous sword. With an
enormous brass hit, winch IN this county is his
N nftin moi nfnda hnr md fia nrIa
'Forward' being given, the solemn procession
moved OF.
OFF TO THE GALLONS.
The route was first TO Ialn street. down Main to
Liberty out OF Liberty to the place execution, the
tragic cortege moved on Arrived at the scafod,
which was enclosed by a square OF stakes with
ropes passing round, the condemned men were
conducted to the steps leading TO the drop. The
guard was posted within the square, the crowd
pressing up to the ropes all sides. most earnest
anu impressive appeal for mercy on the soul OF the
criminals was offered by coored clergyman, fol-
lowed by several hymns and closing praJer
expressions Of pity IRON the negroes. The scene
became unusually solemn at this stage Of the pro-
ceedngs--the criminals kneeling the crowd with
uncovered heads, the mourniul waiting OF the wo
men, the chorus oiresponsive "amens' which came
swelling up from thousand bosoms and the armed
ohlcers o. The law standing rigidly with bowed
heads, at their respective posts.
SCENES ON THE PLATFORM.
At the conclusion OF the religious ceremonies
the clergyman and friends Of the condemned men
TOOK nnal farewell and they assembled to the
CROP vincent taking his position on the lett and
Furman on the right Vincent stood erect, but was
very much agitated, while Furman cooly leaned
ms shoulder against the post OF the scahold and
threw his left leg across the right in the most
less manner. me sheriff then informed them they
had thirty minutes IN which to address the people
first to speak, which he did for ten
minutes in very confused and almost unintel-
Igaoie manner, wringlng his manacied hands and
gesticulating with MS arms. substantially he said
ne was an innocent man. that he not only did not
commit the murder, that he was not present when
he N w ar 1
until he was arrested. he frequently appealed to the
crowd crying as be spoke to them TO take notice he
was innocent, which brought forth such responses
as :-"De good Lord here dat LORI mercyi'
1Did you eyer?' and "Ant dat pity ?'' When
vincent had finished PurDan, moving from his
leaning posture and standing upon both stated
In his ordinary tone OF voice. and In cool self