Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1875-08-19

HANGMAN'S DAY.
A OF JOHN C. WEBB.
THE SCENE AT THE GALLONS.
Letters from Ayers to Webb.
Execution Of Berry. the Wife
Murderer nj ksgersvilie.
He Protests His Innocence
to the Last.
5000 People Witness the Hanging
at Tazewell.
Honeycutt's Confession, a
Denial of the Charge
Of Murder.
5000 People Witness the Hanging
at TaZewell.


From the Knoxville Chronicle Aug 18th.
Yesterday afternoon, about 20 minutes
past n o'clock, John c. Webb, died on
the gibbet, erected on the railroad lot
near the Clinton Pike, to expiate
the crime Of murder, committed on the
9TH of March, 1874, when Richard Rey.
nolds died at the hands of two assassins,
n full detail Of which was given in the
Chronicle at the time.
TIE LAST NIGHT,
Webb's wife remained with him until
about midnight, and sometime after she
left him he retired to rest, requesting to
DO awakened in the morning, which was
done. He ate a hearty breakfast, re-
marking that this was the last opportu-
nifty to enjoy a meal.
After breakfast Webb was visited by
Father Walsh, bis confessor, and some
old rye whisky having been given him,
his spiritual adviser asked him not to
drink, but ho finally drank.
V About ten o'clock the prisoner was fur
nished a new suit Of clothes provided by
his brother, and it is said that he used
some very bitter language when a razor
was refused him. Father Walsh re.
NAMED with him all morning, and Father
Marion FASTENED down to the Jail as soon
as he arrived ON the II o'clock train.
IN THE CELL.
About 10 minutes Of II o'clock, H.,
Sheriff Swan, accompanied by one-half
dozen deputies, and the Agc, Chronicle,
aud Chicago Times reporters, proceeded
TO the cell of the condemned man for the
purpose of reading to him the Death
Warrant, preparatory to his journey to
the scaffeld. Webb was on his knees in
prayer with Fathers Marion and Walsh
when the Sheriff entered, and was per,
mitted to finish his devotions. On rising
from. HE knees. he carefully took up tn,
piece of rug on which he had been knee,
ling aud placed it in its proper place a
the foct Of his mattress,a AS coolly as thougl
he had not a thought Of death. Indeed
he was the coolest man of the party
judging from his manner. Sheriff Swat
himself seemed somewhat agitated, 81
much SO as to interfere with his readin,
distinctly. After he had finished tn
reading, Webb desired to read the doc
ument himself, and taking it from tn
sheriff read it from beginning to end
after which he lifted his hand containing
o crucifx, which lad been given him b,
Father Marion, and said, III swear befor
God that | am to be hung unjustly,' an
other assertions oflike nature, then kisse
the cruci6x as if to seal the oath. Jus
before tho reading, be had shaken hant
with the sheriff and disavowed any bar
feelings toward him. He was then lie
out into the hall, handcuffed, and havir
expressed a desire to speak to Ayers, l.
supposed accomplice, was led to the do'
Of the cell. lie called Ayers up to Il
door and said. Joe, you will have
pray mighty hard, old fellow, to get fJ
glveness for all the men you have kill,
you will, old fellow. This was all
parting to his fellow prisoners.
Being led to the door, he was joined
his weeping wife, who never left his 81,
from that moment until the fatal moo
was adjusted preparatory to his swing in
eternity. He was driven to the place
execution in q large baggage wage
seated between his wife and the Sheri
with some six deputies on the front a
rear seats. and about fifty more arm
with doubled barreled shot guns follow
the wagon. The route of tie %luguhric
cavalcade lay up Prince street, to Unic
Down Union to Walnut, down Walnut
Asylum and down Asylum to the pl,
Of execution, out on the Clinton turnpiI
between files of gaping, curious sig
seers, who lined the walks, perched
the fences and filled the doors aud vi
dows.
AT THE SCAFFoLp.
The arrangements wers all compl
for the reception Of the sad cortege.
rope had been stretched some 100 {
from the scaffold as q center, formis
o barrier against which surged the Gro
by this time swelled TO not less Il
eighteen or twenty thousand. The 81
fold was plain structure Of soantli
made in the old fashioned way--two
rights with o cross-beam overhead,
uprights braced, and midway oftbe ore
be,., : r,anle nut 10 reoaiva thu RI