The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-17
Alak L0Wny and Bill Lee Pay the Penalty Of
Murder BY Death on the Galuwl
SKETCHES OF THEIR CRIMES.
The Last Act Witnessed by Thousands Of
Excited People.
WARNINGS FROM THE GATE OF DEATH.

SUMTER 8. c., June 10, 1875
negro named william Alexander Lowery, one OF
the most atroclous murderers Of the period, was
hanged in this to-day at half past twelve O'Clock
Long before dawn tho roads alive with plantation
hands Fastening to witness tho execution At ten
o'clock Sheriff Tyndal in cooked hat and with sword
the Jail and took the condemned Ia his wagon
TO the place assigned for execution Arriving there
he assembled the rude scaold and commenced TO pray
sing and preach alter the manner Of saint and
martyr HIS self possession was wonderful; not a
nerve or muscle quvcred. The rain poured down In
torrents but he sang and preached the 5000 specta
tors, composed almost entirely OF his Tho
scene resembled vast camp meeting moro than u
legal execution All the colored spectators,
male and female, sang the hymns in
colossal chorus of 5000 voices. He confessed that
he was q murderer, but said he would ''scc God
in a few Minutes" When all were soaked with ram
he said, 'Arc you ready, Mr.. Sheriff" He was PIN
ioucd the death warrant read, tho black cap drawn
over his face, the supports jerked from under tho
Drop and the young cold-blooded murderer swung
into the unknown world.
He LEFT written confession be read by tho Sheriff
in the presence Of Messrs Hurst Wiley, Tuomey, SIN
geton and Smith. lie was pronounced dead III
twenty minutes when his body was cut down and
handed over TO his mother. The confession has been
Ieuu ne sOlemniy tuut tho boS uAu
THE MURDER
for which Aeck Lowery was executed Is the least
Of the horrors that lately become OF such frequent
occurrence this State. and following closely on the
murder OF Mr.. Reed, Of Pomona, IN an adjoining
county who was similarly brutally killed and robbed
few months before The victim, Mr.. John Murphy,
was an elderly Irshman, who lived and did business in
store ~ a small railroad town named Lynchburg In
Sumter county, on the Wilmington, Columbia and Au-
gusta Railroad He regarded As very industrious
and sober man. who minded his own business and
eschewed politics atogcther-so much SO that he
never known TO vote at an election, which
is circumstance In this section
He was, moreover, u frugal bachelor, known to be
wealthy aud, there bank IA the place. ne had
to keep his money Oh his premises lie Is reputed to
have bought his goods Tor cash and occasionally paid
travelling agents IN advance Tor goods ordered. On
Wednesday nign March 10 he was seen alive for the
last by Mr.. Miller the railroad agent About mid
night the village aroused by the alarm OF fire,
winch discovered be issuing from tho store OF
Mr. Murphy The building with iis contents
burned TO the ground, and, what was OF moro conse
queucc aud moro shocking TO the little com
Inunity, the body Of tho proprietor was discovered
legs reduced TO cnders, whilc the body was pre-
for identification by quantity OF peas and corn
falling on Il from lott IN which tney naa oeen stored
head, which escaped cremation IN the same manner,
revealed the fact that tho unfortunate man had been
killed by terrible blow from an axe or other sharp
instrument BY his side lay his revolver, with all tho
barrels empty, either from tho heat or from having
been discharged In desperate effort his life.
His watch was tho only article found upon his charred
remains. Az he was not undresscd Tor bed It Is sup
posed that no was murdered before bedtime with tho
axe, then robbed, and the store set on hrc to do
stroy the evidences OF tho robbery and murder Able
detectives came IRON Columbia 10 work up tho case,
but tho first positive information was gwen by
rHE MOTHER or LowERY,
who went before magistrate and informed him that
Ahc sorey troubled ia mind, as she had reason TO
believe that her ..Alcck" was concerned in the
Lynchburg arson, robbery and murder. Among other
reasons assigned she stated that he absent from
home on the night Of the murder, and that he had
large sums money and quantities Of goods for which
he could not account Public feeling had become SO
Atense that the Governor IN the meantime offered
Of 5000 for the apprehension OF the guilty par
ties The whole community organized as enc man to
ferret out and arrest, II possible, the perpe-
The result that Lowery, Alfred Moses and dcs-
perado named Moses Wilson, jail in Darlington
county Tor another murder and robbery, all negroes,
were arrested aud lodged in the County Jail in this
town. shortly after his incarceration Lowery sent Tor
Trial Justice Hurst and made confession OF the whole
scheme TO rob and murder Mr. Murphy but in doing
adrotly endeavored mako his coniederates appear
rs principals and himself an unwilling accessory. The
authorities penetrated his motives aud dsbelleved his
confession and after u careful preliminary examins-
committed him for trial He was tried at tho Nay
OF tho Court Of General Sessions, before Judge
he was arraigned, but assigned. by the
Court Messrs Joseph E. Earle and John A. Richardson
Of the sumter Bar, tina, fun justice might be done
licitor. The prisoner exhausted the panel without
success in effort draw tu negro jury 10 try his
caso but failed lie did succeed, however, IN drawing
eleven OF the least intelligent Ut his race, and
white man. nollc proscqu was entered by the State
Ia Of Wilson and Moses, his concdcratcs for
the purpose OF getting their testimony II doubt
fui II Lowrey could DC convicted solely his
icssion and The crcuinstanal evidence. He prose-
culed with vgor and defended with ability 10 no
purpose, as the jury iouud him
xURDER
In the first degree and the Court sentenced him to DO
hanged the 10th day Of June. There doubt
his guilt and the good, law abiding citizens Of Sum-
ter, knowing the law would take its course, without
executive interference waited patiently until to-day
see majesty Of that law vnucated To their
be II recorded that suggestion Of summary punish
ment with favor from any class Of tho community.
One OF the peculiar incidents OF tho trial the
presence or the mother OF the condemned
against him. but she gave her fatal testimony Win
much clcarncss limited intelligence would
OIL without any desire him his mpcnd-
ing late
WILLIAM ALEXANDER LowEKy
who has paid the debt OF and the penalty of his
crime at tho same time, an expiration oi tho hur
rble crimes vi murder, arson and robbery WAS
negro OF about twenty years OF with large,
well formed body but remarkably small, pointed
head. The execution took place upon ttd u little
out Of tow where two negroes wcro hung about two
years ago for the murder OF young man named
Wedckind. Ii Is noteworthy that all the
ders committed in this State have been by negroes,
and that avarice 10 tho accursed cause.