The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-26
Execution on q murderer.

SJIPTLETT HUNG AT HARRIS0SBURG-HE PRO
TESTED THAT he WAS INNOCENT.
HaRR1soNBURG, VA, September 25.-An.
drew shifflett was hung to-day. He pro.
tested his innocence to the last.
BETTER ACCoUNT-sH1FFLETT's ASTE-MOR.
TEN sTATEMEST-HE DECLARES HIS INEO-
NocENCE AND IMPLIcATEs SAM. HALL.
HlRRIsONBURG, Va, September 25.-An.
derson shifaett, who, with SiIas Morris,
was condemned to be hung for the murder
Of David G.. Lawson, was executed in the
jail.yard here o-day. Morris was respited
to October 23d by Governor Kemper yes.
terday. Shifflett made
4 DYING STATEMENT
to Rev. David Barr, his spiritual adviser,
asserting his innocence OF the actual muir
der, but acknowledged that he knew that
Lawson was to be killed. This statement
was read to him in his cell this morning
and signed by him. The sacrament was
administered to Shiffiett at q O'Clock this
morning, and few minutes before 10 be
was led from, his cell to the scaffold by the
sheriff and deputy, accompanied by Cler-
gyman Barr. He was completely unman-
ned, and had to be supported up the steps
of the scaffold. He wept bitterly and
loudly,
PROTESTING HTS INNOCENCE
OF the killing. ..
Rev. Mr.. Barr read Shifflett's statement
from the scafold. He called God to wit
ness that what 1t contained was true, and in
substance was as follows:
"Four weeks before Lawson was muir
dered, Samuel Hall, one Of the States wit
nesses. and against Shiflett, offered him S25
to kill Lawson, saying that il he did not 90
it there were two others who would. He
knew the day was fixed for Lawson to be
killed, and when it was done he said be was
standing on knoll three hundred yards on !;
HEARD THE FATAL SHOT
fired. and knew then that Lawson was
killed. He denied that he had ever con-
fessed the murder to any one before his
arrest, or that he was paid any money by
Morris to do il. He protested that the
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 dollars in
money and two bushels OF wheat to make
that confession. One dollar only had been
paid to his wife. Mrs. Lawson, also con-
demned to be hung for the same offence,
did not offer him money, but told him that
uC houlu ECG hohCJ II hC WYNN ~ 'ASA
husband out OF the way"
THE GALLowS
was erected at one end OF the small yard at
the rear OF the Jail, and the execution took
place in the presence OF about fifty persons.
The scene moved the stoutest hearts. The
sheriff and his deputies, unused to such
work, were nervous and greatly excited.
The rope used was less than half an inch in
thickness and thought to be too weak by
many, which proved to be true. After the
clergyman had read the statement OF the
condemned man, and offered prayer, and
while the sheriff was adjusting the rope
about Shifflett's neck, he wept bitterly, say
ing: "Gentlemen, l never did anything to
ANYBODY to be hung for; indeed did not
kill Mr. Lawson. AS sure as you are born
"YoU ARE HANGING AN INNOCENT MAN."
There was much delay in getting ready
to spring the fatal trap, and as the rope
holding the trap-door was cut the doomed
man fell downward to the grouRd. The
rope was broken. Shifflett uttered groan,
and was again lifted on the scahold. Here
he renewed his cries and lamentations, eN-
claiming, Good knows am innocent"
A second and stronger rope was pro-
cured, and while it was being adjusted he
askeu DeputS-SueIiu DUN Aai W A"i"S
black cap from his eyes so that he might
look upon the light once more. His request
was granted, and, turning towards the
spectators, he said with some frmness,
Gentlemen, bid you all goodbye"
The second attempt OF the sheriff was
successful, and the doomed man was swung
off into eternity.
In eleven minutes the physicians pro-
nounced life extinct, and in twenty-eight
minutes his body was cut down. 1t was
found that his neck was not broken. There
was no excitement over the affair. Very
few people from the country were in town,
and the citizens generally stayed indoors.
A militia company guarded the Jail and its
approaches. Shifietrs guilt is doubted by
a few in the community, and the condemned
accomplices are believed also to be guilty.