Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-06-16
THE GALLOWS.
Marion, Arkansas, INDUCES
in an Old Fashioned
Hanging.
Ralph Melton COlOred) Pays
the Last Demand of
the Law.
His Last MOments-He Con.
fesses the Killing but
Says He Was Jus.
tiflable.
Hung for Fighting for Bis Rights"
-2OG0 Persons Witness the
Execution.
ga Woman at the Bottom OF It."

A LEDGER reporter was on hand at an
early hour, at Marion, yesterday morn.
ing, to take notes Of the hanging Of
Ralph Melton, colored, who. killed q
young man by the name Cheslie Lester
on the 9Th of last September, near that
place. Melton was convicted Of the
crime Of murder in the FIRST degree at the
April term OF the Crittenden Circuit
Court by a jury of his peers-eight blacks
and four whites. The proof was plain
and positive, aud the condemned, being
represented by two attorneys of bis own
color, made no special effort for a new
trial.
Our reporter gained admittance to the
Jail at 10 o'clock am. and found the
prisoner very much detected, his eyes
red and swollen, as If from weeping.
He seemed quite willing to talk to press
representative, and said he could loon
tell all about it; that be was to die for
killing Lester; that he did kill him, and
that it was ~justifsble, because. as he al
legged, Lester was on terms Of intimacy
with prisoners wife. He stated that be
aud wife, Eliza Jane, we're hired to Les
ter, who farmed and kept bachelor's hall,
and that about six months before the
killing Lester turned him off and kept
his wife at his house.
II saw them together" said Melton,
" often in criminal conduct. Just two
days before l killed him, l came upon
them in her room together. / would
have killed him then, but was not fixed
for the business. / loaded a double
barrel shotgun with buckshot, and slipred
up to the house in such a way that
could not be seen, and when / turned the
corner Of the house, and stood in ter
feet Of him, be vas sitting by Eliza Jane
stringing beans, and talking to her in 9
low tone. | shot him in the back, anC
then run. Before shooting, and just al
he saw me, | said to him: Now | have
got you; 90 to shooting He stopped
over and l then pulled trigger, shooting
him in the back. expected to go to thu
penitentiary, but not to be hung. Ny
wife had always been all right before
and we had been married FIVE years. II
had been a white mar and killed Lester
about my wife, / never would have beer
hung. Besides, the jury that found mt
guilty had whisky, and we're paid Il
hang me. l regret that | am in trouble
but think | did right, and would do il
again nader the same circumstances. ]
escaped aud went to Mississippi, and
from there to Louisiana, then came back
to BENEFITS Landing. Miss, and wa be-
trayed aud captured. | was brought up
the river to Memphis, where / escaped
from my guard, and travelled through the
deep snow to Braden's Station, where !
was again ca ptured and brought here"
On being asked about his hopes for the
future state, he said: II have not got
religion yet. | have tried hard, have
been prayed with constantly, and l know
l will be lost if l die as l am, but | in
tend to die like a man"
AT this juncture he was visited by a
colored preacher aud several brethren,
who engaged for an hour in singing and
prayer with and for the doomed man.
Melton Joined earnestly in the exercises,
praying aloud very frequently. The
Rev. DR.. Meade, a Methodist divine, also
visited the prison and prayed with the
prisoner, but he still continued without
hope. At times he would appear calm
and collected, at others nervous and
excited.
Just a moment after speaking Of his
future with dreadful solemnity, be sud
denly started and said, well, | guess if
they do hang me it won't briRg Lester
back to ruin some other mans wife"
And thus this dying wretch alternately
appeared hum5led and arrogant, some.
times cringing, sometimes almost de.
fant.
1t is proper to state here that Testers
friends bitterly deny these charges
against him. and that they we're not
proved or attempted to be proved on the
trial Of the case. Young Lester was
considered highly moral aud stood we'll.
The jury charged with being drunk
and bought only had one drink OF whisky,
aud that was furnished them by the
deputy sheriff after the verdict vas rem
dered, and the deputy had to pay a fine
Of twenty-five dollars for his mistake.
About an hour before the execution
the prisoners father, a respectable look.
ing old darby from Fayette county, Ten.
nessee, came into the jail, and going up
to the little square aperture in the door
of the cell, put his hand through the
CRATE, and, taking his sons hand, said:
well, Rllph, I've just come to say
hOwd'ye and goodbye. l want you to
90 through like a man, and not make
any fuss, l will take you home with me
when l go. That's all; goodbye"
Melton simply said goodbye and
father and son we're parted TO meet