The New York herald., 1875-11-27
THE FATAL TREE.
INFLIcTIoN OF THE DEATH PENALTY IN
LOUISIANA HUSBANDS S MURDER ExpIATED--

LOUISIANA HUSBANDS MURDER ExpIATED-
FREE LOVE IN A COMMUNITY OF NEGROES
MONROE, La, Nov 26, 1875.
Fully nve thousand people, mostly coorea gathered
here to-day to witness the executions Of Tony Neum
and Acee Harris condemned death for the Of
Henry Harris, the husband OF Acee all colored The
galows erected in the centre Of the Court House
square, the jail AT quarter past ten O'Clock the
condemned conducted TO the scatiold The read
ins oi tho death warrants followed, at which tho
criminals we're greatly agitated Nellum only
spoke The confessions Of both, published
il the ouachita Telegraph to-day, show their
undoubted guilt Of brutal murder. Acee Harris
twenty four years Of age died with only slight strug
gle Ncum, after being dropped, caught the rope
above his head and the post his side His
held down by the Sheriff and alor until his
struggles ceased. HIS arms had been imperfectly
pinoned behind between the elbows and shoulder and
by exerlon he managed 10 free his hands Forty
minutes after their fall the condemned were cut down
The execution was conducted without interruption or
expressions of disapprobauon
The murder committed IN May, 1874 by Nellum
who killed Harris in bed with an and threw the
fessed she was a participant in the deed, saying she
glad Of her husbands death because he had beaten
/ her and threatened to take her life.
CRIME
In the fertile parish OF ouachta upon the banks OF
the Bayou De SARA IS situated large plantation
Upon II lived a community OF negroes and among
them married couple named Henry and Elise
Harris, Their household not harmonious
one Into the empter bad entered in the person OF
an aged and IN favored negro named Tony Neiam and
matrimonial chickering's, which often eliminated in
blows we're more of rule than an execution
in the daily hte Of the Harrses Their neigh
bors had become so accustomed to these
frequent quarres that, the nth day Of May
little notice taken Of the tact, Tony Neams and
Elise Harris explanation Of his absence by alleging
that ''he had gone up the bayou on business being
readily accepted.
DISCOVERY BODY
-Four days afterward some negroes accidentally dis
covered the body of negro man wedged IN under the
logs Of raft lying at the shore Of The bayou. IL was
dressed in undershirt and drawers only The
skull found mashed in upon the left
side as with blunt instrument and
other marks Of violence left doubt as
TO how Il come by its end It vas Immediately recog
upon the plantation can recoilect that Harris
aud his vile had quarrelled violently upon
once became directed against the latter and
her ancient paramour Tony Nellam. Expressing those
suspicious 70 Mr. b T. McEnery, resident OF the
nelghborhood be Immediately arrested Tony detained
hn his house all night and dunng this interval pre-
vailed upon him 10 make confession, which was 70
! the following effect
rHE CONFESSION
On Saturday night the l0th Of May, Tony Nellum and
Elise Harris returned home from the leld and found
Henry Harris seated upon the threshold Of his cabin
/ The husband and wife Immediately commenced quar-
relng when Elise, growing more and more ex-
cited finally picked up an axe heve with which
she dealt Henry blow upon the head, knocking him
senseiess. Again assang him whie prone upon the
4
until life became extinct Tony had, according
10 his statement endcavored to interfere, but
without avail Finding Harris dead Elise then ordered
Tony 70 assist her ~ throwing the body INTO the bayou
which he did only after having his life threatened # he
refused. Upon the morning alter this confession
Mr. McEncry caused the arrest Of Elise Harris. Her
statement differed materially rom Tonys She denied
having been present at the murder aud said she had
left the house early the evening leaving her husband
and Tony together, and that when she returned a
late hour the latter was found alone.
co,n,,ercad ,ro, ia 1tth W T.n,ar,, 1,. =, ,o ms,
/ trct Court, before Judge Robert Ray, presiding
The evidence addUced duplicating both the accused
Il IN committing the deed was conclusive IL
4 proved that the blows lad been inflicted
with axe and On the 18th 0f January the jury
brought verdict Of guilty against both the accused
They ably defended but all efforts subsequently
made to secure new trial failed and the prisoners we're
II sentenced 70 death
inquest First il held that McEnery's testimony
hearsay, he not being competent
4 70 receive confession IN non Official ca
4 pacty. This objection was overruled by the Court
When the appealed 70 the Supreme Court this
ruling set aside but upon the ground Of there be-
ing evidence enough 70 convict without McEnory the
4 judgment Of the lower court affirmed july 81
The other feature which gave the defence grounds
for determined contest hinged upon the construction
Il Of the indictment which the word "wilfu" had
y been accidentally omitted, and rehearng was
\ granted upon the quesuon-.ls the Indictment valid
/ IN law fn Tho Court maintained It's former position.
denying the "sacramcnta character Of the omitted
"telOmloush intent
More recently when The action or the Executive BE-
came urgent on the execution of the verdict Governor
Y Kellogg, laborng under tie apprehension that the
woman Elise might have been controlled
| by Neilum IN tho commission Of the
| CRIME caused the matter 10 be moro fulv
the had been the real instg gator Of tie ter.
rble deed. ThereupOn he signed the death warrants
appointing Friday, November 26 as the day Of OK
4 ecution