The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-24
ExPIATION.
BuRwELL NEwsoME HANGED AT WINDSOR, N.
c.. YESTERDAY

BURwKLL NEwsoME HANGED AT WINDSOR, n
c., YESTERDAY.
BoYKrSs, Va, May %, 1870
Windsor the shire OF BERTHE county. North Car
DINA about sixty miles by rude country road through
swamps and forests from this the nearest railway and
telegraph station, to-day witnessed tho closing
Of another OF those judicial tragedies which TO be
becoming almost an everyday occurrence multitude
OF people of all colors the various hucs of the Amer
ico-African blood predominatnc, thronged tho
quaint old town. But few, however, Of the exrectant
were admitted the enclosure around the Jail
within which the gallows stood Capital executions
formerly public, bvt Battles Rcvisa tho latest
codihcaiion OF North Carolina statute laws, provides
that the execution OF death sentences shall in all
be strictly private In addition such guard mny
be required two physicians and necessary assisanis
more Than thrty-sx nor loss than eighteen ro
spectacle citizens shal be summoned 10 witness for the
state the due observance OF tho lawp The popular
Sheriff OF the county, Mr. 4. w. Bell was besct and
begged Tor tickets OF admission 10 tho CHASTITY spec
tacle The importantly OF those who desired 10 servo
the State gratuitousIy guards and witnesses
something marvellous As u was, nbout hfty persons
were admitted to the Jail yard Many more, however,
climbed the neighboring trees for birdseyc view,
while still others pressed closely about tho high fence
Of rough planks und pceped through It's chnks
Housetops and upper windows were also sought by
eager siehtseers
the prisoner. Burwell Newsomc, was led out from
the jail at ten minuatcs after eleven 81. He was nc
companicd by guard OF thirty white men armed with
shoguns to the gaows at the norhcry corner of the
Jail yard. Four physicians were IN attendance and
eighteen other persons witnesses Newsomc
barefootcd. IN his shirtseeves. with his hands tied
behind him. The galows was very SIMPLY constructed
after pattern devised by sheriff Bell himself Tho
trap double and arranged to fall by slight
pull upon lever attached 10 an iron spring
oar The prisoner assembled to tho narrow scaFold by
small ladder, followed by Sheriff Bell, and commenced
a long, pitcous prayer, which Iapsed into wild, inco-
hercnt ravng He bewaied his evil courses and humby
bcsought the Divine mercy. He was fearfuily fright
oncd and shook spasmod'callv 1t was spectacle OF
intense, horror stricken, AFFECT fear.
He said nothing Of tho crime Tor which ne was TO
suffer. colored clergyman, Rev. Brown Holly fol-
lowed the condemned man in an earnest iervent
securely pnioned tho prisoners legs Just above tho
ankles adjusted tho rope about his neck, drew down
black cap over his features and bid Newsome good
at halLpast eleven the trap fell Muscular spasms
were pcrccptible four minutes In seven minutes
life was pronounced extinct plain cypress coffin,
stained red thon brought out, the corpse placed
within II and delivered TO his friends.
Tho last previous capital execution at Windsor was
Of white man named Farmer, twenty-five years ago,
for offence similar to Ncwsomes
The unhappy who thus suffered the extreme
penalty Of the law was copper coored, ana a., lab about
Der 81 1875, brutal outrage upon Ellen Outand,
q s.poor white woman who worked with him In tho
field picking cotton Amer its commtta he fed into
HEREFORD county. but arrested the next day. and
when arraigncd before magistrate confessed
his guilt He was brought to trial in tho
Honor Judge William A. Moore, tho State being
represented by Joseph J. Martini Solicitor for the
Second Judicial district. and tho prisoner ably de-
Tended by Major John W. Moore and James /. Mitchell
A majority OF tho jury were colored men. He
had fair and iull trial. aud the entire community
incided with tho verdict Of guilty
To-day's execution would have been double one had
appeal to the Supreme Court been taken BY tho
counsel OF Benjamin Smallwood tnerrol, convicted
Of the murder of Richard Run, also colorcd and SON
fenced 10 be hanged at tho same time with Burwell
Ncwsomc