Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-06-12
The Execution at Culpeper.
ESPECIAL to the Alexandria Gazette.

t,ULpEpER. G. H. June II, 1874 The exc
cution of WIN. Jones for the murder OF Mr..
VIM. Durkin in December last, took place
here TODAY. Your correspondent called Oh
Jones, who is thin wired looking negro of
ginger bread color, about feet inches In
height, and greatly emaciated from long con-
fpemept; he has strangely mingled lace, which,
while it smiles indicates that all was not right.
He reluctantly gave any account OF himself
saving he had been interviewed enough tor one
mau. He says he was born 10 Albemarle and Is
as near as he can judge about 50 years old. he
was with the Confederate army on the Peninsula
and was captured He joined the Federal ar
nv and was recapturcd and sold. After passing
through several hands he escaped and again
Joined the Federal troops After the surren-
der he went about Richmond, City Poiut and
other places doing what he could for living
and finally wound up by stealing mule, land
selling il, from gentleman in Caroline. For
this he was sent to the penitentary tor five
wears and was hired out to work on the railroad.
| While at work on Lewis Tunnel he and anoth-
er convict, VIM. Nelson, escaped. They roam
| ed around for about three months and finally
settled down at Mr.. Marshall's farm in Gull
pepper, near Brandy station. Here they de
termined to murder Mr.. Durkin and divide his
clothes between them. He was 10 take the coat
and vest and Nelson the overcoat. This was
fully determined between them. O1 the day
of the murder Nelson was sent by MIR. Mar
shall with load to the lower part OF the coun-
~. MIR. Durkin lived about half a mile from
| MIR. Marshall's and came over quite often lie
WAS very nice young man and lie had nothing
against him,
OLD SATAN CAUSED THE DEED.
Ga the day of the murder Mr.. Durklu came
over to bring back an axe he had loaned him
and was sitting by the fire expecting no harm,
talking pleasantly, when he took cart bolt
and hit him over the head He then took I'd
his coat aud vest, and also found on him IS.
He then went to Durkin's house and found his
overcoat and a pistol, which he took, and re.
turning to Mr.. Marshalrs, found Durkin still
alive, lying on his face, aud breathing heavily.
He hit him another blow and then went away.
lie went down to Alexandria and Washington,
thence 10 Richmond, and afterwards to Char.
lottrsvIllc, where he sad until be vas arrested
aud brought to Culpcper. lie concluded by
telling me that he was ready and willing to die,
aud desired all men to take warning by him,
and not let old Satan get the upper baud Of
them.
When arraigned in the County Court he
plead guilty and asked to have his case traps
ferred to the Circuit Court for sentence, which
was done. On his second arraignment be plead
guilty and asked the Court to fix the day OF
his execution as early as possible, only giving
him time enough to wife a few letters. Ihe
| Court passed the usual sentence, which was
put ia force to day.
For the past few days preparations have been
actively going on for the event, and
THE sCAFFoLD.
a perfectly plain one, 139 feet in height from
the ground, feet to the scaffold floor, and
feet 6 inches from the flor to the beam, has
been erected The platform is l4xlO feet, and
the trap 81 feet square. The scafto!d is reach
ed by six steps, aud the trap is held up by
rope cut at the proper moment by the Deputy
Sergeant launched Jones into eternity.
The scaffold was erected about 4 miles west
of the town, in field grown up with oak un-
derbrush.
THE EXECUTION.
| At IL. 80 the procession moved from the Jail,
Jones, the prisoner, seated 10 wagon 90 MS
coffin, the Deputy Sheriff and Jallor In the
wagon with him.
4 guard consisting of 200 mounted men, un-
der command of Col. Crittcnden, attended.
The prisoner seemed Indifferent and anxious
to die. and contrary to expectation, made no
speech upon the gallows
The procession arrived at the gallows at
- Is, and at 1920 the trap was sprung and
| lava, Gil bpt hiS ponk broke and he
checked to death. The body, after hanging
twenty-five minutes, was cut down.
About three thousand persons were Oh the
ground to witness the execution, but every
thing passed off 10 the most orderly manner.
THE GRAVE
was dug within 20 PAGES of the scaffold, and as
soon as life was declared extinct, the body was
inferred and the crowd dispersed.
AT the last term of the Prince William Coun-