The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1875-08-10
DIDN'T conH orr
Dlll Rtus. the Murderer ~ Charles
Ten, Ne. &1ves . nsay

NIL ktn9, TIE Vur0erer ~ Charles
SSn. Ne. Given . nsay.
Bill King, the negro who murdered
Sam Grace, and who was indicted at the
April term Of the Mississippi county
| (Missouri) Circuit Court, tried ut an ad.
journed term In the month of June
following. convicted Of murder in the
first degree, and sentenced to be hung on
the 18th Of this month, has been given a
stay of execution Of judgment, and, II Is
probable, will be granted new trial.
Kings attorney, G.. n. Hatcher, being
in possession of knowledge In regard 10
the employing Of counsel to prosecute
King, the summoning Of the jury, and
other matters pertaining to the trial,
prepared a bill Of exceptions and pre-
sentcd them to the Hon. W. +. Napton,
one of the Judges of the Supreme Court
Of the State Of Missouri, who, after an
examination of the record, deemed II ex.
pedient to take the opinion Of the Su.
prcme Court upon the case, and therefore
awarded stay Of execution until sucl,
opinion could be obtained.
The Supreme Court Of Missouri does
not meet till January. and Kings lease
Of life Is therefore heightened until that
time at least.
The murder at the time 1t was CON-
mittcd, created much excitement in
/ 81 oil fne 1.x.ts,
about as follows:
| The deceased, Samuel Grace. became
intimate with the wife Of King, an1 pre-
vailed upon her TO leave King and take
up her home with linn, which she did.
This led to a quarrel between the two
men, which ended In Kings stabbing
Grace and killing him instantly.
King made an effort to escape, but wa.
captured and tried with the above re.
suits.
Many citizens OF Mississippi county
think and express their belief that
the Judgment Of the Circuit Court
Is just, while others are Of the
opposite opinion and express their wish
to sec the prisoner more gently deal,
with.
| We visited Charleston on Saturday fol
the purpose Of learning what VIC could
In regard to the prisoners case, and
were shown through the Mississippi
county Jail, small but strongly
built structure, by Deputy Sheriff G.. &.
Randall, who il clever and courteous
gentleman, as we'll as most efficient
officer.
Kings cell was pointed out to us, the
bars thrown back and the prisoner told
to come out. He was, 1t Is said, before
the stay Of execution was procured fol
him. sullen and obstinate and spen,
much of his time In seeming deer
thought. On Saturday, however. he
seemed In the best of spirits and con.
versed freely about his chances for new
trial, etc., and expressed his belief tina,
| another trial would set matters straight
with him.
When asked his age, he replied that HI
did not know just how old he was; tina,
he was born in Alabama, but that wa
ABOUT all he knew about himself. He ID
man ABOUT five foot eleven inches high,
Of slender but wiry build, mild counte.
nance, and we would suppose, about q
or - years Of age. He says his character
has heretofore been good; that he is not
IN the habit of quarrcling, and that he il
not given to drink, never having been
under the influence of liquor hut once in
his life.
What his fate will De remains to IL
seen, though many seem to be of tn
opinion that his chances are good for
long term OF imprisonment, If nothing
more. provided nc is given new trial.