The New York herald., 1876-01-29
THE GALLOWS TREE.
STEPHEN YoUNGUE HANGED IN AN OPEN FIELD
AT CHESTER, s. c-MURDER WITH THE
KNIFE AT NEGRO BALL-A PENITENT


KNIFE AT NEGRO BALL-A PEN1TENr
CUIPRIr
CHESTER, s. c., January %, 1876
The streets Of this town were alive to-day with at
least 900 persona principally negroes Of all ages
both sexes. They commenced coming in at early
hour this morning witness the execution Of Stephen
Youngue, who hanged at twenty minutes past
twelve O'CLOCK for the murder Of George Mercer The
prisoner attended during the night and up the
hour Of execution by the Rev. Father Fochi, and
showed the utmost penitence for the crime for
which he offered up his life. His GOODNESS and
sclf-possession were extraordinary. Up to day
or two ago he caous and indifferent,
but change came over the spirit of his dream and
during his hours he entirely absorbed in
his eternal salvation, which in great measure
owing to the Intervention of Father Foch priest OF
the Catholic Church. The unfortunate man slept
soundly the night before his execution hav ng ex-
perenced entire change OF heart The good father
spent the whole morning OF to-day with his
vert and when taken to the place OF execution no
perfectly cool. At eleven O'Clock the Chester Rife
Club drew up front of the jail and the prisoner,
with the priest and Sheriff. drove in open carriage
drawn by white horses TO the place of execution,
AN YIELD
little outside the and few feet from the line Of
the Charlotte and Columbia Railroad Arrived at the
which the carriage containing the sacrifice entered
About halt hour was spent in prayer. The priest
and client knelt also upon the green sod under tho
eallows fervent prayer The multitude looked
wonder. There singing The service
tirely devotional and notable at negro hanging
The prisoner who was attireG In neat suit of black
clothes except light blue velvet vest assembled the
platform and addressed the multitude. He d:-'Tf
any of my knfolk be present let them come forward
J.ha hont nfaHf fba In
His vile and two children were absent With
POSSESSION winch WAS ExrRAoRDISARr
he said This my last day on earth. IL Is my bad
day. God bless everybody ! have malice my
heart against anybody. God bless Chester jail Fare
well to the world.'
The trap was Knocked from under his feet He had
called the divine blessing upon himself for the last
time and his body swung into midair Although his
neck was not broken he died without struggle.
His body lowered into n coffin covered with black
muslin and turned over to his friends.
The thermometer during the execution at least
100 degrees IN the sun.
The following are the main facts Of the killing Of
George Mercer by YOungue On the night of the 2th OF
December Ia the vicinity Of Bockstcks, this county
dance took place attended entirely by colored people
Among others present George Mercer, Stephen
Youngue and Samuel Du1ie, the latter two Of whom
dispensed with their coats and shoes while engaged in
the dance Mercer was only spectator OF the amuse
ment Youngue, during the progress OF tho dance,
placed his hands on the shoulders Of Mercer,
who asked him 10 dcsst, he old
man and not disposed to indulge IN child's play.
Thereupon Youngue remarked, II good
you,' and shook his Inst IN Mcrcer's face rude
manner; which indgnity resented by the latter
striking his aggressor the side OF the head Youngue
then seized by tho proprietor Of the place and put
out OF the house In short time he desired readmis
the house for the ostensibe purpose get
ting his coat and shoes which he had taken OF and laid
aside as supernuous articles while dancing His friend
Sam Dufe, who also outside, appeared the door
OF the house, with knife In his hand and insisted
that Younguo be allowed to enter. The latter, being
present at the door seized the knife In his friends
hands, rushed into the house, and stabbed
Mercer who fell and died within three minutes AMER
efor nrafoa of fhQ Ioody Had
rested and lodged IN jail at this place His trial took
place the 9th OF the present month His Honor
Judge T. J. Mackey presiding Tho State repre-
sented by A. NJ hackey, who produced sufficient and
reliable testimony 70 prove the truth OF facts
toned above The defendant represented by c. s.
Brce, who without reward hope Of reward, do.
which he endeavored to show was that there was no
satisfactory proof that
raE BLOW sFilcrKD BY YouSauH
caused the death OF Mercer surgeon called In
at the time 70 examine the wound Another point
that as knives were drawn oy different persons on the
occasion Of tho terrible occurrence and the
darkly lighted IL was uncertain by whom the blow
given that resulted In the death Of the murdered
The presiding Judge In his charge submitted the
questions Of law fairly tho jury, who, ancr brief
delberaton, rendered a verdict Of guilty Of murder
The jury was composed Of eight colored and four white
on the second day after tho trial the sentence Of
death was pronounced by Judge Mackey upon the
ina brief interview bad with Youngue before bis
execution he expressed profound for the deed
he had committed. While he confessed the crime he
endsavored TO extenuato It's enortnity whiskcy as
usual played prominent part In the perpetraion Of
the horrible deed.
AZ the Coroner's inquest, summoned after the killing
Of George Mercer testimony rendered 10 the effect
that the negroes danced for considerable time over
the body Of the murdered The people Of his own
color looked forward 10 the day OF Youngues execu
tOn az 70 a holiday, and enjoyed the horrors Of the
they would circus.
10 seems evident that the coored IL making little
progress in the direction Of humanity and civilization