The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-20


THE MURDERED MAN, DAVIDSON.
had relatives friends living in Nova Scotia. His
wiies maiden name was Burton. She has connec-
ti0ns also In Nova Scotia.
EXECUTION OF JESSE FOUKS.
BRENTsvILLE, PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY VAIL
March 10. 1875.
At twenty minutes past twelve O'Clock p. NJ.
Sheriff Goodwin brought Fouks. the negro MUIR
derer, out OF jail to the place OF execution, which
was in the Court Green. The prisoner WAS
guarded by posse OF twelve negroes in command
OF Major Thornton. Fouks walked from the Jail
to the gaIlows and assembled The steps with
steady stride as cool man as was ever seen under
such trying circumstances lie was attended by
the Rev. Mr. Marsh, OF the Baptist church, who
offered prayer In behalf or the prisoner. At the
conclusion OF the prayer Mr.. Marsh read an ad-
dress to the crowd in behalf OF Fouks, In which
he confessed his guilt, and stated shat he had NO
unEind feelings TO the witnesses who testified
against him. the prosecuting attorney, the jury
who found him guilty, or Judge Kirth, who sen.
fenced him to be executed. He died at peace with
the world, and hoped for pardon for his great
crime. The trap was sprung at forty minutes past
twelve p. M. He struggled convulsively Tor some
minutes. Alter hanging eight minutes the heart
continued 20 beat, at nine minutes to one O'Clock
Leach ana Simpson pronounced Jessie Fouks
dead. When cut down It was found that his neck
had been broken. About thousand persons, OF
both races, witnessed the execution. There was
some excitement, but no disturbance worthy Of
note.
The place OF the execution was about quarter
OF mile from the jail OF Prince william county,
in q grove Of tall pines, where few years before
the war three saves-a mother and her two child
ren-were hung for the murder Of their master.
THE HISTORY
of this atrOCOua crime OF Jesse Forks has
already been fully reported in the HERALD.
but brief sketch OF the case at the
present time Will serve to eniignten tho
reader. Some six miles west OF this point
lived an aged couple named Herndon, the man
over seventy and his vile over sixty years Of age
They lived in log structure with a porch
covered by shed-roof running Its entire
length. Two rooms comprised the apartments OF
the house, and though Mr.. Herndon was reported
to be worth over $4,000 in real estate, outstand-
ing debts and cash, the furniture OF the estao-
lsnment was exceedingly scanty and OF tho most
primitive description. As an attendant or house
servant there lived with them little coored boy
named Add Russell, aged ten years, and, as Q farm
hand, o grown negro named Jesse Fouks, about
eighteen years old. Mr.. Aernd0n had six sons,
all or whom lived on rented farms OF their own on
his estate. On the morning Of the 4th OF Decem.
Der last Sommerdeld, one OF the sons, entered the
dwelling. and when he Unmatched the door
was shocked at the CHASTITY scene pre-
sented to his view. Lying across the bed,
with her clothes on, was old Mrs. Herndon,
WHITENING IN HER BLOOD-srAINED
garments, but still alive In the corner near the
door gray army blanket lay little Add Russell
cold in death, his head cleft In twain and bloody
axe lying at his leet The old MANTLE head OF
the house-was not 10 be seen, but half an hour
aiterward he was discovered about half mile
from the house bareheaded, In his stocking feet,
trembling with intense cold ana covered with
blood which had flowed from several terrible
gashes In his head He could give no account as
to how he came TO be wandering there, and was
carried to the house. where he afrerward returned
to brief consciousness. He tnen told the tale,
already confessed by the murderer, that Jesse
Fouks had stoien piece OF meat; had been
informed upon Dy the little boy Add; was accused
OF 1t by him, and, when threatened with punish
ment, had, for
REVENGE AND ROBBERY,
resolved upon the murder OF the whole family.
Mrs. Herndon had eJected or pushed Fouks from
the front door IN the midst OF quarrel with the
old man, and they all then resumed their accus.
toned places round the fire at eight O'Clock In the
night On the side OF the fireplace nearest the
door sat old Mr.. Herndon. IN an ancient splint-
bottomed chair; on the opposite side sat his vile
fire, lay little Add Russell on his pallet when the
murderer entered and did his bloody work. About
$500 IN greenbacks were stolen. the nexs morn
ing the little boy still lay there, but IN the
COLD EMBRACE OF DEATH.
Mrs. Herndon's knitting was found near her
chair, where she had let 1t fall, the ball OF yarn
having rolled across the floor to the door. and the
unwOund threau was buried IN concealed blood.
This very bail OF yarn seems to confirm her state
ment when she said. ~ stepped between my
husband and Jesse and pushed Jesse out Of DOORS"
ior the poor old lady lived three days and Ger.
1t she returned to her seat that the assassin
grasped the axe handle ON the porch, and opening
the door without the slightest noise, began his
fendisn work by striking ner blow. The two
chairs were found In the position described. the
with
MARKS OF BLOODY FINGERS.
The walls and mantel also bore the marks OF
bloody hands, where the Old man CROPPED along,
ana with del1rlous brain and blood. bedmmed
eyes tel MS way OUT OF the door; ana where ne
bleeding hands left their stains on the walls
around, and out into the yard the blood streaming
limbs OF the peach trees IN the yard bowed down
and gave evidence OF that bloody night. and. until
gray hair and ciotted gore Of him who had once
plucked their iruit.
On the evening OF the 9th December following
the tragedy Mrs. Herndon died, and a postm0rtem
examination disclosed the fact that sue had re-
ceived two cuts with the edge OF an axe. one
over the forehead, Jour inches long. extending to
toe Drain, ana the other in the temple; either OF
killed an OK. MI. HerndOn diea on the Friday
night iOll0 wing. post-mOrtem examination " as
held and 1t was found that q blow Just above the
right eve haa fractured The skull In two different
directlons-one across the forehead and the other
extending to the ear. The Boys head was
crushed into snapeless mass by two blows with
the back Of the axe, and MS body laid where he
had retired to sleep on tnat terrible eight. Fouks
was At once arrested and committed to Jaii, to
await his trial, which took place IN January last.
HIS TRIAL AND CONVICTION.
The accused did not succeed In employing coun-
SCI. and Judge Keith appointed Messrs. Elisha +.
Meredith and James Il. Williams 10 detena him.
These gentlemen TOOK the case and performed
their duty earnestly and faithfully, and so lntenty
that Mr. Williams, at the time OF Fouks' comics.
sion, was engaged In trying TO get the case to tne
Court o! Appeals.
Fouks during the trial presented the most stole
Indifference not seeming 10 take the Sigh est IN
IN he VIZ q A rel IN