Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-09-29
TEsEGALLOWs VIRGINIA.

execution OF Anderson Shlfilett, one of
the three parties convicted of the muir
der of Daniel c. Lawson, in the noun
famous region o! East Rockingham, on
the afternoon of the fifteenth of March,
1915, took place here to-day within the
Jail enclosure. Up to yesterday it was
believed by almost everybody who had
attended the trials of the persons charg
ed with the killing of Lawson that
Silas Morris, Sbtiliett's confederate i'll
, the crime for which he has been hung,
would have been executed at the same
time, but respite from Gov. kemper
arrived by special messenger from
Richmond at noon yesterday, and Nor
lis has another month in which to seek
to establish his claim to exemption from
the penalty paid by Shiflett. The exc
cution was comparatively private, the
persons present III the enclosure In the
rear of the Jail embracing not more
than forty OF fifty. Amongst these
were several reporters for the newspa-
per press Of Baltimore, Chicago, Gin
j cinnati, St Louis and the Associated
Press.
Shifilett rested very uneasily the
J night before his execution, groanlng,
and tossing upon his couch. The sacra-
ment was administered to him in his
cell at 8 \. VI. by Rev. David Barr, Of
the Episcopal Church, assisted by Rev.
William c. Eggleston, of the Southern
VI. f. Church, in the presence of one
or two special friends of the condemn
/ Cd After the conclusion Of the servi-
ces of the sacrament the hymn com
mencing "Jesus, lover Of my soul, was
sung, the condemned seeming to en-
gage heartily in the exercises Shitfiett
had made a profession of religion, and
said that he felt that when he left this
world he would soon be with his
Maker.
The platform was erected in the rear
of the cell occupied by Sias Morris and
Louisa Lawson, now under sentence OF
death as participants in the murder for
which Shiillptt has been hung. The
scatfold was a plain, rough platform,
with steps 1t had fall OF four feet
The HarriSonburg Guards, whose ser
vices on this occasion had been called
into requisition by the Governor, sur
rounded the jail to prevent the crowd
from getting near the prison; ropes
were stretched across the streets near
the jail, and the impatient and curious
crowd was thus kept at a distance. 30
eager, however, were some persons to
see the execution that they climbed
upon the housetops and chimneys sur
rounding The Jail.
Shffiett was taken from his cell after
the conclusion Of the religious services,
and, supported on either side by High
Sheriff ID. H. ualston, the .jailor and
one of is deputies, conducted through
the corridor into the enclosure where
the scafiold stood. lie was neatly
dressed in a new suit of dark caSsimer
clothing, was bareheadcd, and had Just
been shaved. He was weeping violent
~ as he passed to the scatfoll, and
doubtless appreciated fully the horrors
of the situation. He had evidently
broken down and was full Of dread he
held his hands to his face as he passed
to and mounted the steps ofthe scailold,
and continued weeping and grooming
almost all the time. Rev Mr. Barr,
his spiritual freud and adviser, read
Shjfllrt,s statement from the scatfold.
lie called God to witness that what it
contained was true
THE STATEMENT.
The statement was III substance as
follows:
.Four weeks before Lawson was
murdered Samuel Hall, one OF the
States witnesses aud against Shiftiett,
offered him twenty-five dollars TO kill
Lawson, saying that il he did not do it
there were Two others who would. He
knew the day was fixed tor Lawson to
be Killed, and when it was done he said
he was standing on knoll three hun
dred yards off, heard the fatal shot fired
and knew then that Lawson was killed.
He denied that he had ever confessed
the murder to any one before his arrest,
or that he was paid any money by Nor
ris to ito it. He protested that former
confession made since his sentence was
not true, and said he was induced to
make it to get money for his family.
He was promised, he said, eighteen dol
lars in money aud ;wo bushels Of wheat
to make that confession. One dollar
only had been paid to his wife. Mrs.
Lawson, also condemned to be hung
+ for tho Same crime he said. did not
offer him money, but told him that he
would get money if lie would pat her
husband out of the way"
TIE EXECUTION.
After prayer on the scaflold by Rev.
Mr.. Barr the rope was adjusted about
his neck and the black cap drawn over
his face by Sheriff Ralston and his de-
putty, Mr.. Switzer, Shitlett all the
while crying and moaning in great
AGONY and fear, eXclaiming, God knows
| am innocl mt. " Deputy Sheriff Switzer
then cut the rope which held up the
platform and Shitflett fell to TIE GROUND,
the rope, which was Of cotton, three
Fights of an inch in diameter, swapping
like a thread, and scarcely breaking bis
fall The effect of the tall was a SIM
pie conclusion, the condemned mar
soon recovering and continuing as be
fore his pteous wailings. At five
minutes past ten he was again carried
to the scatlold, heavier rope having
beer procured AID adjusted about his
neck. and the black cap was again adj