The New York herald., 1876-03-11
EXECUTION OF A NEGRO.
RctributiOn for Murder and Arson In
South Carolina.
THE PENALTY OF DEATH ENFORCED

NEwBERRY, March TO- 1s76
To-day, at twelve O'Clock, oolored man named
Thompson one of the most desperate negroes OF this
region, was hanged on the outskirts of this town for
the commission OF crime that In its horrible details
quite startled this stad and reputable community
The moving crowd OF colored and whito people Of the
lower strata pouring town from all directions,
some walking twenty miles TO be present BY noon
6OOO persons present in the neghborhood OF the
gallows. The prisoner taken from the jail In
old cart, seated his coffin. He sat perfectly
composed, smoking cigar. crowd Of l,oOo-men,
women and childrcn-followcd, which kept back
by the Sherin's posse. A guard OF negroes armed
with shotguns also arrived at the place Of execution.
The prisoner jumped and ascended the scafold,
near the railroad depot When he smoked his cigar
he joined in prayer with the Rev Mr. Kuhns,
of the Lutheran Church. His
cool and collected he pulled his white gloves
Sheriff Darlington told him he about to execute
the dread sentence OF the law and II he had anything
TO say there opportunity for him to speak
He then said, voice. without any remor in it,
'My dear friends aud fellow beings am about TO
die. and hope to meet you all round the throne
Of heaven"
CONFESSION.
Thompson then read a written confession, In which
he acknowledged that he shot his victim and then
robbed tho store and fired IL, and soomny affirmed
that his previous confessions were false and made with
view to impcatc Others, that he might escape.
EXECUTION.
The white cap drawn his face his arms and
legs pinioned the upright drawn from under the trap
which fell and the criminal in the State danged
in tho air The multitude, although made up OF plauta
ton hands, was orderly. The body hung forty-one
minutes, the physicians stating that there per-
ceptble pulsation thirty and half after
he fell. Although he had two living
claimed his body, and II was given over for dissection
CRIME.
On Christmas Eve Thompson with three other men,
named respectively Paul Aston Wade Cook and Calvin
Wilson, made arrangements 10 rob the store OF Mr.
Hayne H. Reid, merchant doing business at q rail-
road station about ten miles from here named Pomaria
on the Greenville and Columbia Railroad. Mr. Hayne
Reid kept largo store of plantation supplies which he
sold to negroes. taking lien their crops for pay
ments which generally made when the cotton
crop is gathered, about Christmas time. Reds
stock seldom fell below $4,000 On Christmas
Eve, about nine O'clock Thompson, Williams.
Cook and Wilson raped at the store of Mt Reid and
requested admission to enter TO make purchase
One OF the men went in, and while the unsuspecting
proprietor had his back turned shot him with pistol
The wounded fell, when the other parties entered
and killed him outright with shotgun. The murder
they found 81 97S in currency 500 in bills aud checks
$50 in gold and S31 in silver. Having occurred the
booty the murderers then turned the body sntu
rated the store with Kerosene and fired it.
The flames OF the burning store attracted the attcn-
tion OF the people living the village and the country
beyond, all OF whom hastcned save the railroad do.
pot which stored large quantity of cotton In
this they successful, but the OF unfor-
tunate merchant. with its contents, was consumed
On Christmas morning an investigation made by
the partner of the murdered man, Mr.. Holloway,
who had the debris cleared away with all possible
despatch. when tho awful truth revealed that
robbery, ard murder had been committed
was shown by the rned The charred corpse
despltch was sent 10 Columbia and the services OF
Captain Jim Canton and Jack Hubbard engaged
TO work up the These men State detectives
engaged at the capital and glance the ruin satisfied
them that the robbery and murder were committed
by bungng negroes. They went to work accordingly,
q quiet businesslike manner and in less than
twenty four hours had the four men arrested Thomp-
the first confess and the give tho
details OF the robbery arson and murder as here related
He also, probably with view TO be used as States
evidence disclosed to the officers the place where the
money was concealed, which the rafers of his
own house. All the money absractod from the safe
recovered and turned over the partner OF the
unfortunate man who was murdered
The Court met in one week after the event Thomp-
tried and found guilty of murder by a Jury
exclusively OF his own color and sentenced to be
hanged.
CAREER OF THOMPSON
W. X. Thompson was old offender who spent
most OF his life in jail for crimes against persons
property. He was tried and convicted few years ago
for horse stealing and sentenced to the Pencntary
for twenty years but shortly aterward released by
Ex-Governor +. j. Moses, Jr., while route to the
Penentiary Upon that occasion he shot one of the
officers who had hun in charge On another occasion,
whe IN the county jail at Columbia, awaiting trial on
charge Of stealing mule he set nre TO the building
and would have escaped but Tor the cries of some
women confined in adjoining cell
Thompson was full bloodcd negro, about thirty
three years of age, Of strong, active Frame and
bold, defiant manner. He had but eye. the other
having been lost IN early piratical encounter.
either to take the life Of another defend his own
He the leader of gang Of thieves and dcsperadoes
which had sett led In this part of the State
When the of the murder flashed TO tho State
capital the Governor offered reward OF 81 COO for the
apprehension OF the band and the convection OF the
leader The quiet people of this county breathe easier
that ho is executed clon and that his associ-
afrs u crime will soon fnilov him