The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-04-01
of his guilt II the first
case weighed like amill-st neabout
his neck upon the second trial.
DRINK THE CAUSE OF ALL.

The prisoner said that lie had been II
the habit of drinking for the past sever
or eight years, and attributed to thu
habit all the troubles which had come
upon him; that when sober he wa
agreeable and friendly to all was indus
trious and energetic, and received goott
wages-Sl5 a week-which was enough
TO support himself and family quite
comfortably.
NAN WITHOUT FRIENDS.
In the history of crime there ha:
scarcely been Il poor outcast VINO mac
fewer friends than Banks could music
in his last great trouble. During tn
trial. not kinsman, friend OF neiShbo
came to his assistance, and all that wa
done for him was done out of charity
by his distinguished, counsel, Gen: Nc
Gowan and Col. G0thran. 1t is true
however, that his mother, who is very
old, visited him olice during his lmprls
oument and remained two. weeks VIII
him, and that his wife visited hin
twice, and remained tw9 weeks .eacl
time-the last about three weeks. .pcior'
his execution.
$50 PLAN OF TIE scAFEoLD.
Che prisoner some two or three :M'ecks
before his DEATH. drew the plan OF inc
scattold upon which he suffered. when
was accepted by the Sheriff, ana the
made in accordance therewlith,
a description of which is given below.
" ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN A PARDON.
The widow of Banks, some time since
received contributions from the charita'
bly disposed of our community, to beal
her eXpenses to Columbia, and armed
with u petition to which many sigma
lures We're attached, she made an appeal
to executive clemency in behalf of her
husband, but without effect. .,.
TIE MORNING OF THE EXECUTION.
On the morning of the execution the
prisoner was presented with u new suit
Of black, which was secured by the
Sheriff, through the libcrality of our
citizens, when he called for barber,
was shaved and neatly dressed. Our
Senator visited him about half-past ten
o'clock, when the prisoner remarked to
him that he "had not done for him what
he expected, ,"-alluding to Il pardon,
which he expected through his influ-
cnce with the executive. The Senator
replied that "under the circumstances
i was oht of his power to relieve him"
THE FATAL ROPE.
A short time before eleven, the Sher-
If placed tho rope about the prisoners
neck, and exhibiting nervousness and
feeling, the prisoner told him-"do your
duty; don't get excited" After the
'ope was adjusted, the Sheriff was about
o put the black cap upon him, when
he prisoner objected, saying that "he
wanted to wear his own hat. Religious
services were then held, in which the
Rev. Messrs. Capcrs, Pratt and Baker
ook part.
THE GUARD AND PROCESSION.
a guard consisting of twenty-five
whites and the same number of colored,
selected from the best men Of both races,
vas formed at twenty-five minutes after
eleven, in front of the Jail, and the
.otfln being first carried to the scene OF
he execution, marched to the fatal spot,
he Sheriff leading the way, holding
he left hand of the prisoner with his
light, and holding the rope in the other,
md followed 10y the attending ministers
md others. The scaftOld had been
rectetl in the Jail enclosure. to the West
Of the building, and except those taking
part in the execution the guard, the
ministers, the members of the Press,
and few of the prisoners acquaintance
all were excluded from the enclosure.
The scalield was attached to one OF the
uprights 6y hinges, and the other end
sustained by rope which was thrown
ever the cr0ss-beam and secured below
BANKS SPEECH UPON TIE sCAFFoLD
Upon reaching the gsllows, the Sheriff
and prisoner asccnded the steps, and
then the attending ministers, who bid
him q last farewell and descended. The
prisoner was then told by the Sheriff
that he was at liberty to say whatever
he desired. Standing for a moment III
deep thought, and looking first upon the
guard and then upon the vast concnurse
of motley spectators WHO were too tal
off to hear a word of what he spoke
he turned to the guard, and ina coinpos'
ed and distinct voice substantially a$
follows, said:
GENTLEMEN: You all see me, and
know what / am here for. ! am TO he
hung, and for what: For the murder
of Shed. | do not know. that | killed
him, but l may have done so; they say
/ did, and I will not deny it. | regret
that nv death will not restore Shed It
life. Shed and | had previously .had
some little misunderstanding but we
had that day made friends, and taa'
night VIC ate and drank together ias
friends-as brothers. l cherished nc
ill-feeling towards him, and | believe
that he was friendly to me. You vii!
ask the cause Of all this, and | Will
answer, Plantation Bitters did it.
Bad company and liquor have brought
me to what I am. l have often made
nv mothers heart bleed, and have
caused her to weep bitter tears OIL ac'
count of my bad course. 1t was nc
fault Ct hers that I am here to-day
She did all that an at!ectionate mother
could do to have me live as should.
beg that you will not scorn my chill
dren on account of the death | die.
They could not help it, and | trust that
they will not suffer on my account. |
trust the Lord will guard and protect
them from harm, and that tltey may be
lead in the right way. l hope to meet
them in heaven. l feel that the Lord
has been good to me. He has given me
time for epentance-time to prepare fol
death. l feel that my sins have been
forgiven and that my soul will be nc
cepted by the Lord. rely upon him
and him alone. I have full faith in my
peace With God.
Friends, I bid you all an af1ectionate
adietl, and would advise you always to
abstain from the use Of Plantation Bit.
ters and liquor in any form. If it had
noS been for liquor you would not sec
lne here to-day.
A QUESTION WITHOUT AN ANSWER.
At the conclusion Of his speech he
called upon all to ask him any questions