The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-26
GUILTY OF MURDER.

TRIAL on NORTH CAROLINA NEGRO FOE B1u-
TALLY BEATING TO DEATH HIS TxN-xEAR-
OLD sIsrxR--A sIcKxxrNd STORY or FATAL
CRUELTY.
wrSrox, ~ c., April 20, 1874
Elijah Skinner to-day arraigned and tried 10 the
Superior Court OF Her,ord county, held q the Court
House this village for the murder Of bis half sister,
Clara Jane Hampton Tho murderer and his victim
were both negroes The crime perpetrated In o.
cluded ncghborhood in the county, known as Manneys
Neck, on Saturday, March T. and its discovery sent
thrill OF horgor tnroughout the community OF this en-
tire section. Tho ASSASSIN and the deceased were chill
dren Of the father but by different mothcrs- The
age OF the child years; that or the prisoner
about twenty i've. Elijah skinner, with his wife, lived
In . negro cabin on the plantation OF Mr.. Dilard Rid
dick The little girl had been placed with this couple
by her parents, Who in their abcct poverty and I'M
thrit, were unable 10 maintain her. She Is
represented as having been . bright intelligent
child, but rather more fond Of play than work.
ON the day before she her death her brothers
hands she failed to complete her appointed task OF
cardng and spinning . certain tale OF cotton Skin
ners wife thereupon beat her, and she away and
hid in fence corner, wherc she lay out all night.
Next morning the little waf came TO the cabin OF one
Judith Purdy shvering with cold and with frost and
straw upon her hair Shortly alter her arrival Elijah
.
60 home. The child fed from him, when he pursued
aud ran her down. Then singing her violently across
his shoulders no might dead Pig he carried her TO
his house. went IN with her aud closed the door Cast
Ing her down heavily upon the floor, no proceeded 10
nhict upon the quvering limbs and shrinking flesh OF
the poor creature most barbarous boating Tho
and eroans Of the and the heavy blows OF
the stick heard many yards away, and by
too timid white man, who, TO his shame he II said,
stood stock still and listened horror stricken, but did
not the tortured onos relief This fearful agela-
ton continued tor upward Of twenty minutes when
II
went about wash and shroud the mangled
ana battered corpse The murderer then sought
the neghborhood store, and made known The child's
DEATH the suddcnness OF which excited some suspicion
and led tho discovery Of the fearful crime The Cor
OF tho county notified aud inquest was held
cred from head 10 foot with bruises On the head and
face were three deep wounds. An autopsy, made by
Dr.. Louis Picot showed that tho lungs bruised
and ncerated from tho severity OF the blows received
Skinner arrested and committed 70 the County Jail
for trial ~ tho next term OF court At eleven ths
The prisoners dock in the Court House Two young
lawyers, +. l.. e. Ward and Benjamin b winUornc,
appeared counsel for the prisoner. The State was
represented by Joseph J. Martin, solicitor Of tho
Second Judicial district Of North Carolina Jury was
finally selected, composed OF ten white men and two
gent merchant Of the county, was foreman. The WIT
ncsscs sworn and cxamiped, proving the facts as
above set forth. Tho counsel for the defence endca
vored 70 convince the jury that the homicide was not
murder, but merely manslaughter Tho presiding
Judge Hon. William A Moore charged strongly against
jury, who returned after being absent half hour,
with verdict Of guilty Of murder In the first degree
Tho death sentence viii be in the OF
the present court term