The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-10-02
The GallOws and the Victim.


and rema in deeply impressed upon the
minds and hearts of the two thousand
{ people who saw Robert BaskiB shrouded
for the grave while yet in tie fullness
| of life and q vigorous manhood The
day was as gloomy and dismal as lower
ing rain clouds and the constant fall Of
water could make it; nevertheless at
/ least two thousand people of both races
assembled to witness the first public ex-
ecution hich has taken pla ce in Harde-
man county for the space of forty years:
Col. J. J. Nicely, Sheriff of the coun
! tY, had every necessary preparation
made, strong guarl selected, and at
one o'clock p. N. went to the Jail. The
/ condemned man was taken from the
prison, seated on his coffin, and driven
to the place of execufion,-a convenient
! spot near the northeast corner Of the
| corporate limits aud about one hundred
and ffty yards South of Mrs Ramsey'S
Spring. Here the gallows had been erect
| ed and here Baskin was to look upon the
| scenes of earth for the last time. Two
uprights seventeen feet high, with cross
beam, short flight of steps to the fatal
board fastened at one end with stout
! hinges and resti ng on a treacherous
prop at the other, and a rope dangling
from above completed the structure.
The prisoner accompanied by the
Sheriff and Rev Mr. Gray alishted
from the wagon and assembled the slip
perry steps of the gal!Ows, the service
rs laid down for public executions in
the Book of Common prayer was read
by the clergyman to which the culprit
seemed to pay strict attention. When
the white gown had been placed upon
him and the rope about his neck he was
asked if he had any thing to say to those
around him. After a slight hesitation
he said "Don't let the devil work with
you If had served God as have the
devil would not be here in this fix to-
day. This is all l have to say"
He evidently was at a loss for some
thing to say. The black cap was placed
over his head and he was moved further
out on the drop. As be stood there in
the beating rain the Sheriff said to him.
"Bob, you have now only three minutes
to live" The hundreds of people who
stood with eyes fixed on the miserable
negro were breathless with suspense
for three min utes. The Sheriff removed
the prop and the body of Bob B4skin
dropped towards the earth. a slight
drawing up Of the shoulders and quiv-
ering of the muscles continued for few
minutes when life was extinct.
The body was taken down and convey
ed to the grave in the old cemetery
Thus passed from life to death tie
slayer of John NARROW, who met his
death at the hands of a man to whom
he had not given the slightest provoca-
ton. Let the fate of Blskin be a warn
ing to every man who raises his hand to
commit murd2 r. Let it b5 a reminder
that the laws of the country will be P3nr
dica'ed and that impartialIy and speed:~
ly.
Two hours before the execution in
company with L. NJ Darlington, A. p,
Tiller and a D. Mckinney, we visited
Baskin at the Jail, and engaged him in
conversation, and we repeat what was
said that all our readers may know what
were his feelings at that time. After
toII;~o, 49, ,ood ornnoJ tLoF mo ,r-;.ba al 70
ask him few questions, giving our
reasons, etc, to none of which he OBJ
jected. we asked
How old are you ?
a. I will be 81 years old 10th of DC.
tober, 1874
Q Where were you raised
a. | was raised near Okolona, Miss
and my first masters name was Robert
! Hiner; he sold me to Mr. BaskiD, of
Tupelo, and that's the name l go by.
Q Did you kill John NARROW?
| A. les
Q. What did you kill him for
| A. l don't know; was mad.
| Q Was you mad with him
| A. No, | didn't know him. ! was
mad because l couldn't get work. had
been to Ubet, aud was.going to Corinth,
| but got to foolin with white man and
the cars left me.
Q. Did you kill him to get his horse?
A. No; don't know what | killed
him for
Q Did you take anything but Mar
lows horse
A. took his knife
/ Q Did you have quarrel with him
or say anything to him before that ?
A No.
| @ Do you think that justice has been
done you That all the witnesses agains t
you told the truth
Yes
q How many times did you shoot
MARROW
A Twice first in the side and then
in the face He never spoke to me alter
wards nor me to him. I pulled him
from tine road into the bushes then got
on his horse and left
O. Have the officers and jailors treat
ed you kindly?
A. Yes got better room in Mem
phis than here but the food was not so
good
Q Have you made a profession ST
religion and do you feel prepared to die2
a. Yes. | was baptised this morning
| professed religion in MEMPHIS last
Sunday. | don't know the name of the
minister, or the church he belonged to.
Q Baskin, at any time during your
confinement here, was there any efforts
made by the colored people to get you
out of Jail?
A No. tried to get out myself but
no one helped me-
O. There was a statement in the Mem
phis AUalanche the other day said to have
been made by you. Did you make that
statement or tell the 1ralanchc mao
]