The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-04-01
Hanging Of Jesse Fouks.

~ ~~~N~
At Brentsvie Prince William county, Va.
on Friday last, Jesse Fonks, a colored boy
aged about Is years, WAS hanged for the muir
der OF the Hern(on family. From a special
dispatch to the Baltimore Sim, Of the Goth, We
take the following account of the crime:
The murderer was convicted on circunistan-
tial evidence and the dying declarations of Mr.
aud Mrs. Herndon. but some weeks after his
conviction confessed his guilt. Whether the
murder was premeditated one, designed for
the purpose Of gain, or was rs Fonks declared
| it. done in the heat III passion, will probably
never be known. On the morning OF the 4th
OF December last the three victims of the MUIR
der were found, the little boy already dead.
| Mrs. Herndon beside him apparently dying,
and Mr.. lIerndon man seventy years Old,
was found out in the field where he had wan
dered, his skull MASKED and his senses nearly
| gone. Both wife and husband lived. however,
| long enough to charge Jesse Fonks with the
| deed, but some doubt was thrown in the course
| Of the trial upon their clcarncss of mind at the
| time the dying declarations were made, The
| horrible story of the murder is stated by Fouka
| substantially as follows:
He had been for some time employed OF
/! Herndon's farm, and on the day of the murder
he had been employed hauling wood. He had
on the day before stolen piece OF meat from
Herndon's meat-heuse, and hidden it at the
| house, Intending to CARRY it home next night.
While he was hauling wood. however. Mrs.
Herndon discovered the stolen meat and car
| rie,l it into the house. This little boy Add
/ Russell told Fouks as soon rs he came in with
| the wood, and he went Immediately TO the
house. asserted to Mrs. Hcrndon that his sis
| ter llai, given him the meat. and demanded
| the cotton handkerchief i'll which the meat was
wrapped Mr.. Herndon who had meanwhile
gone to the meat-house and found the meat
was stolen. came back, and told Fnliks that he
should not have his handkerchief until morning.
! Forks then advanced upon him, saying that
| he did not intend to work there any longer,
that he must have his handkerchief. Dir.
! Herudon there upon seized an axe and told
him that he would strike him with it il he dits
| not go out at once. Mrs. Hcrndon then push
| ed him cut telling him that she did net want
| any fuss there. by this time Fouks says he
| became enraged and seized an axe helxi:
which he found in the porch OF the house, h,
| opened he door again, and with Sudden ana
| sharp blows knocked dowH both MIR. and Mrs.
Herndon before they apparently were able ts
act on the defensive. Then seiziug the AXE
which Mr.. Hcrndon had just laid down, he
knocked both of them in the head with it, and
also t,is,atched, in the same manner, the littl>
colorertl boy Add, who had been asleep in the
corner but was awakened by the noise. Then
while the victims were yet grooming around
him, lie took the keys from the pocket OF Mrs
ucrndou and proceeded to rifle the drawers i'll
VIII CHI the money was kept, taking however.
only the paper money and leaving some specie
behind. lie AYERS he did this TO produce the
impression that some one else had committed
the murder for the purpose OF robbery Tie
then ran OFF and went to the cabin o. his sister,
who lived at Mr.. 0 ,Real's, where lio remained
all night and portion OF the next day, during
which time he hid the stolen money i'll pise
of brush He was soon arrested, however. but
Dursistentlv refused to acknowledge ms gui.;.
until sometime after his conviction, wheh nav
inr escaped from jail on the last day CT 'alilia-
nv, but having been recaptured III q 1oooer
stack Il few miles from the jail, he made WI
! pnrpo.ted to be 4 confession OF ms cohhaetioh
| with the murder, the substance CT Which WAS
that the murder had been committed by Willis
Tibb, another colorel man, to get the money
of Mr.. UerndoIl MEDICATION Of which he had CIV
| en- ribb Information. No one believed tins
On the following day fouks made Il tnis
confession, detailing the facts stated above
| Az first he seemed more intent Oh refItiig the
proofs OF his gnilt than preparing by repcn-
lance to meet his unhappy end. but vi late lie
has been constantly at prayer. and has beels
visited by Rev. Mr.. Marsh and Rev. Mr. Dulin.
| 4 week since upon being informed that Cow
ernor Kemper might probably grant him re-
spite. he said he did not want his execution
,1nt oe. nm honr: the nearer at hand the better
/, wo,ld be for him. Since that time prcpara-
,ons for the execution have been going steaui-
ly forward and on yesterday the scaHnld.
Which is erected i'll the jail yard, was finlslled>
,rhe condemned man retired early last even
inr. but was so occupied with his religious
devotions that he slept but little' AZ an ca1-
" hour this neutrality-suspicious. daybreak-fe
was n, and about The iaiior Mr.. Woodyaris
asked hin, what time he wanted his breakfast.
when lie replied "Isdon't intend to eat any
thing more, and will die fasting" Aaout &
O'Clock some of his relatives called upon NM
when he told them hat he had first deciaea'
aud in fact promised to give his body TO th,:
doctors. for anatomical purposes, but he lla't
changed his mind, and requested thena ina. ne
ha ,,ronc,ly buried. His sister, vino resides
mar nv. q servant of Mr.. Olfear'S, said that Mr..
O,Rear, to whom Jesse formerly belonged
had consented to let him be buried upon MS
farm. That's all right, then, answered Jesst>
land know the county authorities WI sce
that request complied with"
lie walked firmly to the seaffad, attiretl i'll
q long white gown. with his arms plnioned
behind. When asked whether he mad an!
thing % saw. he referred to y gentleman VIII"
accompanied him, who read Il brief statement
confirming lis confession of the crlms' aud en-
messing the hope Of eternal forgiveness,
There were abouts 1000 perons present to
witness the execution.
THE STAMP TAx.-Seyeral OF the PresI-
dents of Baltimore Banks visited Washington
city last week. to compare opinions with Cons
missioner Douglas, in regard to the recent act
4 Of Congress respecting vouchers" &C. Tug
Sun says:
They had a conference there with j. v"
D,urlas. commissioner of internal revenue, to
have explanation Of the meaning nf the IAN
n,,ya used in his decision as to the lnterpret;s-
Ton Of the word ''eoucher.' i'll section 10 OF
the sot to amend existing customs aadtnteiaas
revenue laws, &c , approved Feb. 5, 1919. The
interview WAS a pleasant and satisfactory one.
The commissioner was OF the opinion that wheis
stamped checks pass over the counter OF a bank
the check has done its mission. and he did not
believe any bank would receive urstalnpet
checks. The act provides that bank otseek'.
order or voucher for the payment OF any siIa
of money whatsoever, drawn upon any BANK.
banker or trust company, s,,al be subject to Il
stamp tax Of TIVE cents. r ceipts IN the K
ccipt book of 4 savings bank or ihsttt,'tlo,l ioi
savi,gs, are exempt. Checks drawn ny avg
county or city oacers i'll their Official capacity
upon public funds dep Is ted ma balK arg ex-
. enpt. AS also are ordinary certifcaees ol dep"S-
If and interest coupons.
: There is prospect OF Il very lively campa'g's
: in Ohio next Fall. OF course the Democrats
! vii, ypne,ninate Gov Vim. Allen. and it is