The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-23
HANGED ON HIS BIRTHDAY.
MAN VINO MTRDERED ms MOTH-
ER-IN-LdW ron MONEY.
TragicaI scquels OF Wiie's Reproncbcs-
Crime nnJ iy-Convicted on Circum-
stantinI Eyidence-A FcIOD's Lust Hours.

Trnpicnl Scqueis OF Wtte's ReprOncbcs-
Crime md Penalty Convicted on Circuni-
stantinI Eyidence-A FcIOD's Lust Hours.
SrATEsvIILE, N. c., Dec. 2.-The hunger
for gold, OF which virsil sang. has caused many
murder; and 1t was this unhallowed hunger
that led william Messimcr to commit the crime
for which he was hanged to-day. The leading
facts are briefly these:
Messimer had married daughter OF Mrs.
Sarah Iiei9 of Rowan county, N. c. He was
rather shiitiess. and the wants Of his family
were but poorly supplied. His wife often re-
preached him with his lack OF energy and
shrewdness, and impoftuned him for money
when he had neither that nor work. She went
so far as to threaten to leave him and 90 to her
mother unless he provided better for her. At
last he told her he would 90 away TO look for
work, aud would return In the course OF a fort
night.
When he left home ho had no money. On tho
day OF the murder he returned, bringing some
calico and few other articles, and a small sum
Of money which he gave t? -: 40, ss,."s .,
was all he had. A few DAYS after he was seen
with money. II was also in evidence at the trial
that his tracks were Identified near The house Of
the murdered woman, and that he had been
seen In the neignborhood on the morning Of tho
murder. All the other evidence. like this, was
clfcumstnntial, hut not a link was missing.
The victim was Mrs. Sarah lIOilg the mother
Of Messimcrs wife. On the morning Of the
deed her sons were away from home. Upon
thor return they found the de d body OF their
mother In the we'll Her money was Iniaslng
M'ssiner was suspected and arrested. While
waiting for the train ne remarked " These men
thlnk ! am guilty. but think can prove that
was at China Grove that morning" China
Grove Is q Village ia the southern part Of Rowan
county.
The trial was removed from Rowan TO Cahar-
rus county, and thence to ltedeil county; each
time upon the afii1avit of the prisoner that a
change - venue was necessary to secure a fair
tIiAl. The case was nuuly tried nt this place,
the shirotown ~ Ircdcll. at the juno term ~
the SUPERIOR Court. More than forty witnesses
were examined fpr the state. solicitor COvies
ana Messrs. Armncld and Bailey appeared for
the prosecution, while Messr-. tucker and
Stephenson were s-isne ts counsel Tor the de-
fcudnnt. Judge u. NJ. Furches presided. The
trial occupied four davs. concluding at IN o'clock
saturday night. june ~, when the jury brought
In a verdict OF gllty. Judge Furches sentenced
Messimer to he hanged on the 1th of July: but
his counsel 'ppcalod upon I iii - exceptions,
and the case went to the supreme Court with
an Application Tor n new trial. The Supreme
Court denied a re.ridl Of the cause, hnding no
error IN the court below. Mc-simer was ro-
scNtenc"d Wt the recent November term Of lre-
dell superior Court. DC. ?. Judge II .Xton ap-
pointing the execution Tor tod y.
visited Me-simer In his ctll this morning
the morning ~ his tweuty-foufth birthday. |
found man slight In stature and having CLUB
foot. Two Methodist clergymeu were with him,
TO whose counsels he listened stOlidly. After l
lett the cell he made written confession
About l:l5 this afternoon Messim-r was led to
the jail yard, surrounded by high fence Of
Ned in ,S and to2k gs,i'on sheriff
the condemned man up the steps. a hymn was
lined ont and sung. ana player made. The pris-
cners arms and legs were tied, ana the white
whatever. Al nan past one tho drop fell ten
minutes later the pulse ceased beating.