The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-01


PIrrsYLvASIA c. H., Va, April 30, 1875
ice Clarke, the murderer. was executed here
to-day, in the presence OF an assembll2e OF not
less than i've thous nd persons, composed princi-
paly OF negroes, about equally divided between
the sexes with small proportion OF white men
and few dlsreputabe white women. IL was tue
largest crowd ever seen in tue village, and
the most disordevly one ever seen a.
an execution here. Clarke was taken
from the jail at ten minutes to eleven
O'Clock A. NJ. and conveyed to rhe ganows
in q wagon. seated on his CONN. Arriving at the
place OF execution the Rev. Mr.. Nelson onered an
impressive prayer, after which he delivered q
short but earnest address, reminding the crowd
OF tue solemnity OF the occasion aud severely re-
Duking them for the levity displayed. Clarke then
repeated the same confession previously made,
aud expressed his hope OF future salvation.
At forty-slx minutes past eleven A. NJ. the tran
was sprung and the soul of the murderer
launched into eternity, the final act creating
scene OF indescribabe confusion and excttement
in the crowd wild cries, shouts and Rroans being
uttered, and several negroes-men and women
falling into convulstons seemingly agitated by re-
hgious ecstacy.
THE CRIME.
on the night OF the 9th day OF March. 1874 In the
nelghborhood OF Chatham, Pittsylvania county.
Va, was committed one or the most cold blooded
and brutal murders known to the records OF
crime.
Albert Barksdale. q harmless inonensive, indus
trious colo ed man, who was highly respected In
the community in which he lived by ali classes
was decoyed from his home in the village OF Chat
ham by Joe Clarke the paramour of his tBarks.
daie's wife, VINO, after getting his victim Oh
about mile, crushed his head with stone
The circumstances anterior and succeeding the
murder invest IL with somewhat OF romantie
character, some OF them possessing dramatic In
terest. For several months previous to the
murder II was generally known In the COM
munity that Clarke and Nancy Barksdale,
the vile OF the murdered man. were ON
terms OF criminal intimacy. Clarke exhibited the
greatest devotion to her, following her almost as
closely as her shadow and beng extremely
asslduous IN his attentions Though tue fact
must have been patent to the wron1ed husband
he continued on good terms with Clarke allowing
him TO DO RI at lbs house. aad In the G. Sc OF an
absence o. several months from his home, wniIs
employed IN Baltimore on the Western MARYLAND
Railroad, committing MS wife and Guild TO the
care and protection OF Clarke From the evidence
produced on the tria, together vita Clarke's con.
fesson OF his crime, MADE since his onvlctiun II
appears that Barksdale, on his resurn home, be.
came FESTIVE unaer the existing state OF AFFAIRS,
ana complained both to his wife and to CLARKE and
declared that tneir intimacy must cease and
Clarke must leave his mouse, which seems to nave
LED tue nnal elimination resu ting III his tragic
death.
THE CONFESSION.
On the evening OF tne 9th oil March Clarke told
barn about mile from the Village anu desired
him 70 40 with him for iEem 10 when Barks are
opened the door, and as Barksdale entered CiarKe
struck hun witn Jun force on the back oil .he head
with stone which he had secured Tor the pur.
pose, feliiny him iDsde the door. sup osing ne
had Killed MIN, be returned TO me village aud took
seat In the o1ice OF the hotel wnere ne re-
NAMED Tor some nalf an hour, wnen ne started
back TO the scene OF his crime. Getting ne it,
IS ne toId the story in MS concession, II was
astonished 10 meet Albert IN the path near Mr..
John Gllmers. ms lace was all bloody, and
know what ne was about. asked MIN
where he was going, but he didu't make
any answer only mumbed something. | tOOk
hold OF his arms anu told him would carry MIN
home. ! led him up INTO the woods ABOVE Mr.
pushed Nun ana he ien on MS nands aud noes,
aud picked up large rock and hit him on the
but Tell and rolled over and died almost i'm medi.
atey. then let HIM and wen back TO town, and
morning, about day, went rOund TO Nancy BarEss
dae's mouse, the BACK way. As entered sue SAID.
4 never expected 10 see you again. l told her
that had killed Albert, and that we were lree
put on clean shirt and sue wasaed the one cad
on which was very bloody. tnea ate prea. last
and went and borrowed spade, aud vent over to
where had let Albert and buried him."
THE DISCOVERY.
Albert Barksdale was missing for some two
weeks before any suspicion was aroused. Clarke
anu Nancy giving out that he had gone on a visit
Inc c0lnred people tnaL a stone nad oeen louud
near the balm before menuoaei, covered wita
blood, aud that lock OF Aiberps hair had Teen
found near 1t. Upon the rumor coming TO tha
ears Of Anthony Cole. a colored man anu q friend
ol B4rAsdale, ne set on loot au investigatlon
which resulted IN disclosing the iact that Albert
had not gone 10 ms motner's aud tnat she knew
nothing OF him. THIS, with the conluSed ana
contradictory replies OF clarke ana Nancy ia
Coles questioning, led 10 their arrest aud con.
mltment. 20 great had the puDlic interest tneD
become that almost tue entire pc aUlatIon OF the
village aud vicinity turned out IN search
who mad noticed the fact that clarke had vita
The usual iniatuaton Of murderer been IN the
habit OF taking apparently purpose ess strolls IN
certain direction, one OF the searching parties lol
loweu tue dlrecJlon indicated aud came upon tue
spot. Noticing taat the earth had been freshly
moved, lhet prooed u and rai-et nand OF the
murdered man, ana few inmates work o. re.
moving the soil aud brnsh, WITH whicl It was
covered, revealed the ful evidence oi a horribie
crime. Tne body was removed TO the vlEaae,
passing the jan IN wnlcn tue murderer and MA
win aows apparently unmoyed Is The gnastly bur-
aenwas bo.ne past their sight.
THE INQUEST.
An investigation was opened next morning
before a Joroner's inquest, which disclosed an
almost unproken cham or circumstantial evi-
dence pointing 10 Clarke as the murderer There
being no evidence tncu oatiug Nancy in the
crime, she was discharged from arrest and
held In recORnizance as a witness. In
her testimony she showed feeling or desire
OF sympathy with her paramount put on,y an ex-
trene desire TO be herself relieved from tha
terrOrs OF the law. Clarke was fully committed
for trial. and secured tine services of Konert
Tredway a. counsel who succeeded IN de-
laying the trial Tor several months. on tue 9th
Of August Sunday while most Of the InnaDr
tan,s OF the village were at church, as tue
iaiior was conveying the prisoners dinner into
tue cells, Clarke with TOUR other prisoners mace
an assault on nim anu succeeded IN eneCting tneu
escape. The others we're al rccdDtuTed IN the
course Of lew days, but Ciarso succeeded Ia
ctuuinI arrest Tor some months Finally Mr. G. II.
Keats, whO had been appOlu ed By she municipal
authorities OF Chatham % tne charge OF the cham
ga0g had one OF ere prisoners VINO Is aDed with
clarke u der MS control. ana having received in.
formation that Clarke was lurking IN tue neigh.
born sod. succeeded In inducing this prisoner ia
eater into plan Tor hls capt the prisoner 10
negro went 70 Tue house OF Clarks's parents,
where ne was supposed 10 be. AID pretending Ia
have escaped from the chain Ganx, asked where
Clarke was, saying he wished 10 concert measures
with him to get the county. The
Old people readily Tell into the snare and
tod nm where he could find their son.
wi