The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-31
THE GALLONS.

EXECUTION OF SMITH, THE NEGRO, AT CHARLES
TON, YESTERDAY -''DIs NIGGEB GONE
COON
CHARLESTON, S. c., July 80, 1875.
The proceedings at the execution to-day were
very quiet and orderly. 1t was witnessed by fully
5000 persons, mostly negroes from the sea
Islands, but, unlike the last hanging, negro
women were not admitted to the jail yard. At
eleven O'Clock the proclamation was received
from the colored Lieutenant Governor, who in
the absence of the Governor from the state, re.
prieved one OF the prisoners, Gbbes. and com.
muted his sentence to twenty years In the Peni-
Tertiary.
A CONFESSION.
Before leaving his cell for the gaows, Smith
made a confession reporter, saying 81 did
the murder but | didn't know wnen did it. ]
thank the good Lord for having mercy my soul,
ana hope that ali OF you, white and colored. VIII
take warning from me-" In reply to the question
by the reporter whether he struck the fatal blow,
he answered, 'Ot course did 1t; de debit fooled
me, and done 1t; that's all got to say"
THE EXECUTION.
Upon arriving at the gallows the prisoner, who
is mere BOY about twenty years old, appeared
very faint and feeble, and could only move his lips
without artculatlng. The drop fell at haf-past
twelve and the murderer ceased 10 struggle In
forty seconds.
PARTICULARS OF THE MURDER.
Both these men belonged TO the worst and most
nnlettered class OF the black population or South
Carolina, the Sea Island negroes. For some time
previous 10 the murder they had reen engaged IN
running a small sloop between the city ana Edisto
island, and had had frequent dealings at the
store OF the whom they murdered. From
the evidence brought out on The trial. but more
especially from their confessions, 1t APP
pears that the day preceding the MUIR
der they had laid all Their plans TO COM
get their provisions without paying FOR them.
James Geraty, their victim, was an lrlshman, who
Kept country store on the island, where ne
resided with his vile and children. the night Of
the 2ith OF February, was selected by The black
nends to carry out their designs. They accordingly
armed themselves with stout hickory sticks,
and proceeded TO the store OF their victim. Wnen
they arrived there they found the store closed,
but upon knocking NJ The door IL was opened bv
Mr.. Geraty. The murdercrs entered the store and
called for a quantity OF provisions when Mr.
Geraty served 10 them. After Smith had pat toe
articles In his bag, Globes called Tor soma
w WI san,. and G was gwen a mar PINT by
and while ms victim went to draw the whiskey
ssnt smith out OF the store. Tnls is what Smltn
stated az the trial. Gihbes SAYS that II him.
self tnat went out of the store, leaving Smith and
Mr.. GeratY alone. AT any rate the victim was
lett alone with one OF them OF both OF them, and
while ne stopped down TO draw the whskey
which they mad ordered one of them strucG hun
both men ran away. Geraty's vile, VINO lived up
stairs, heard the blows and heard her
dlately, followed by her servant, "a negro glri.
sue found her husband lying upon the door with
MS skull mashed IN. lie lived long enougn TO give
description OF the murdererS, ana Dulsult vas
at once instituted. It. must be remem.
Dered that Edsto Island IS populated
almost entirely WIN negroes, many OF incm
native Africans, and most Of them entirely
uneducGted and in an almost savage condition.
But posse was at once organized by the resident
magistrate, and the Two murderers were found IN
their soOp vita the identical wniskcy and pro-
visions winch they had stolen Ihe sioop at the
time OF the arrest was lylng high and dry on
she'll bank and the murderers at nist attempted
TO resist arrest. but upon seeing the number OF
tue posse, all black men, and realizing that tnerG
rendered ana confessed TO the deed. Incy were
tried at the June term 81 the Criminal Court In
Charleston, and we're defended by a black lawyer
named +. J. u. Lawrence. rne juries this
county are composed almost entirely OF black men,
and The counsel Tor the defence fought Tor
colored Jnry which ne secured. Twelve black
men sat upon the ury, and, aiter a iull hearing,
brought III y verdict of guilty against ootn men.
The counsel Tor the defence, Mr.. Lawrence, no Ia
a iaIr sample OF the average colorcd lawyer OF
Sou.h Carolina closed mis- speech with the follow
ing
''Gemplemen 90 de Iury-When Kain killed
Abel dc Lord pronounced sevenfold venuin ON
whose should klll INN. Derefore gemplemen.
ak you lor scrptical verdict for desc deendenss
After celebrating for fifteen minutes the jury
rendered the Scrlptlcal verdict asked for, aud tna
murderers were at once sentenced 10 be HANGED
on the 3Oth OF July. Wnen the Court asked mem
the usual question If they mad anything TO say
why sentence OF death should not be passed upon
them smith touched his nanu 10 MS forehead,
sailor fashion. and answered in a very noncnalant
manner,
'Well, boss, recken dis niger Is gone coon,
bat Glbbes Is de man what gill Mr. Geraty'-
which Glbbes at once denied. since their near.
ccration In jan DOta men have Deen
constantly attended by the minister's OF
the colored churches anu nave both
professed religion and been baptized, but both
persisted IN tue statement & at the other had
committed the deed until Monday, The 25th, when
Smitn made a confession to the attending MINIS
Ter, IN whlch ne admitted that he had struck the
blow, but that both OF them went TO the store for
the purpose OF 'knocking Geraty on dc hcadr and
obtaining the provisions without paying Tor them.
TILE uEMPSTEAD RESERNOIR