The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-18
Execution OF Four Negroes
at Townsville, Ca.
Failure of the Invading Parties
to Rescue Them.
THEIR CRIMES REVIEWED.
A White Planter Assassinated and a
Woman Poisoned.
A DISGRACEFUL SCENE At the SCAfFOLD,


tragic, laundering, demorallzing scenes on the
Railows for which the South Is weekly becoming
notorious Emmanuel Mccormick. Nmrod Austin
and Charles Walker (negroes) suffered death for
the murder OF Mr.. Hail. white planter well
known in this (Thomas county. Webster Lyons,
another negro also suffered the extreme penalty
for killing his wife by administering strychnine to
her. To witness these TOUR murderers within the
little palisade enclosure, shoulder to shoulder with
muffled heads and pinioned limbs, surrounded by
prison officials and police officers clergymen,
physicians, representatives OF the press and all
the sickening paraphernalia of death, would in
your Northern regions doubtless leave beneficial
impression. Here The more frequent the execu-
tions the more daring and reckless the colored
rustics become. Crowds hock to witness the de-
grading process OF legal strangHlaton with all the
ardor and hiarlty attending country fair. There
were here this morning many who had been
familiar with boodshed and carnage during the late
rebellion, but who turned aside with disgust and
horror from the view OF these TOUR human beings
swinging in a row into eternity.
THREATENED RESCUE BY ARMED BANDS.
A KIND OF spice had been given TO the affair." how
ever from the fact that the criminals, though pro-
Tossing their innocence and readiness TO die, as
usual, had really been made the centre Of a plot.
They were to have been rescued by large band
graphed you in substance yesterday, some 400 ne
groes left the vicinity OF. Monticello in Jefferson
county, join the main force in Leon county, from
where they were to march directly for this point.
This body was in communication with the negroes
in prison. and by this means their project was
frustrated. Reports were circulated that the Gov
ernor OF the State had ordered several companies
or infantry from Atlanta and Augusta, cavalry from
Macon and infantry and artillery from Savannah,
which were to rendezvous here until after the ex-
ecution. These reports were at once transmitted
to the proposed rescuing force, with the view OF
lettering them from their purpose.
Two white companies of militia were under arms
near the jail last night, and the approaches to the
jail were guarded. Companies Of videttes on
horseback patrolled the town and country roads
also during the night, but no rescuing bands APP
peared, and the inference was that the scheme
had been abandoned as being useless and danger
Gus.
THE MURDER OF HALL
occurred on November rs, 1873, and after the
scene OF to-day 1t may be classed among the most
remarkable OF criminal events OF the South. Mr..
Hall was both wealthy and highly respected prior
to the war, but since that unfortunate event in
our history he had retained little else save the
respect, his slaves and property having been sum-
marily disposed Of In order to support his fam
lily he had to dispose Of at an immense sacrifice
and for quite nominal sum, his plantation and
other personal property. This enabled him to live
o while longer, that is, it kept himself and family
out OF the poOrhouse; and he began renting q
plantation rom year to year, working 1t on shares
with the owner AMI the negro hands employed
upon IL, system now greatly in vogue In the cot
ton States. Upon the success OF the cotton crop
and upon the price which that staple would bring
In the market when sold depended the hnan cial
salvation OF the tenant, for the owner had to be
paid his share in cotton and the negroes had to be
paid theirs. II any surplus was LETT then the ten
ant in Tor it; but, unnappilv, this has rarely
been the case OF late. Added TO this the
tenant had to negotiate with commission mer
chant for the necessary supplies for himself and
hands to work the farm the year round, giving
him lien upon the crop for the amount OF his adj
vances, and 1t will be seen to what straits this
class OF planters were reduced. In this way and
upon such precarlous method Of living Mr.. Hall
last year rented the plantation known as the
"Wyche place." about sixteen miles from here. in
o southweserly direction, employing five negroes
as his help and STIMULATING certain portion OF the
crop as their share, out OF which the amount OF
the cost or the food, clothing, &C., should be de-
Quoted at the sale OF the cotton. With this der
standing they went to work, but, unfortunately for
all concerned the crop was .short" one and the
the current expenses OF the year. This latter fact
was not known to the negroes until the eventiul
18th Of November last when the remaining four
bales of cotton were placed in wagon
and hauled to town to be sold, accom-
panied by Mr.. Hall and his five negro
employees, who had expectations OF real
izing a handsome profit from their years.
work. The wagon drove up to the ware
house OF Messrs. Kubitsheck Il Brother where
the cotton was discharged, and by Mr.. Hall sold 10
that firm. When settlement was then had and
accounts on all sides balanced it was found that
rent and supplies had swallowed up the entire
proceeds OF the cotton.
THE CAUSE OF THE QUARREL.
without knowing the disastrous turn affairs had
taken the negroes presented themselves to
Mr.. Hall, demanding the amount due them out of
their share, and upon being informed by him that
their Indebtedness exceeded what their share OF
the cotton realized, they became very much en-
ragged and violent In their expressions Of indgna.
ton, intimatlng also that they nad been ''swin-
died, outdone,n &c, but no threats were made at
the time which could at all f0reshadow the awful
deed they had In contemplation from that moment.
With money they had left from previous
instruments and advances paid them they Dough.
cheap whiskey, which they drank freely, and
thereby adding to the frenzy OF their rage and dis
appointment. About two O'Clock In the afternoon
the negroes started nomeward IN the wagon fol-
lowed In an hour and half by Mr.. Hall, who rode
brown-colored MULE Before leaving town Hall
met an old acquaintance named Hudson, whom
he begged to accompany him home and remain at
his house that night; but Hudson's engagements
not permitting this delay he drove of, leaving
Hall still in town. The latter purchased bottle
Of whiskey which he carried with him, and at
about halfpast three he was last seen in Thomas
vile homeward bound.
when Hudson, riding in his buggy, had got as far
from town as the second mile-post on the Duncans-
vile road-the same which led to Mr.. Halls planta-
tion-and It was then IAN hour by SHUTDOWN" he
overlook the wagon In which were the five negroes
who had worked for Hall that year. Two OF
them ne knew by sight, the others he
had never seen before. Upon coming up
behind them he observed they were talking in