The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-12-26
Execution of Jack Hunt.

endar of guilt. The victim was his
wife. yet in her teens, and in the first
dawn of womanhood. The ill-sorted
pair had been married less than
twelve months at the time the muir
der was committed, which was the
18th day ofJuly, 1875.
The attrocious crime was commit
ted at the residence of Mrs. John
Farmer, Mrs. Hunts. sister-in- law,
where she had gone that morning,
after having been severely heated
and abused, and while sitting there
her husband entered and ordered her
to return home. Alarmed at his alb
ruptness she was rather slow in
complying with the request, when he
drew repeater and fred at the de-
fenseless woman, who fell to the
floor. shot through the arm.
Thinking that he had consummat-
ed the murderous, purpose. Hunt
turned and strobe from the house,
but was recalled by the pleading
voice of his wife imploring him to re-
turn. With the fury of a malignant
demon cleaning in his eyes, the das-
tardly ruffian came back, and, ap-
preaching his victim. took deliberate
aim and again fired. the bullet pass
ing entirely through her body and
burying itself in the facing of the
door.
Hunt was arrested and taken to
jail at jacksonville, and, after some
time, was found guilty of murder in
the first degree by the courts, and
sentenced to hang on the 18th day of
last November. That day having
been set apart by both the National
and State Executives as one OF
thanksgiving, Gov. Porter, granted
a respite until the 18th of December,
and on that day he was hanged at
jacksonville, Monroe county, Tenn.
in the presence of about 1000 PEG.
pie.
His Mother, who is about sixty
years old, babe him a last farewell
before he left the Jail. The inter
view was one of the most affecting
Sitting with the manacled hands o.
her son in her withered palms. con
svulsed with agonizing grief she muir
INJURED. my boy! my boy T. A
friend attempted consolation by
telling her that the deep pang would
not be long and the prisoner was pre-
pared to die. But the heart. broker
mother could only sob out in reply
ri hope he is; oh, l hope he is T.
Hunt made no confession, either
written or verbal, but requested the
Following lettar to be read under The
galIows, which was done:
MADIsoNvILLE, TENN,
Saturday night, Dec. 16, 1877.
Dear Mother, Fathea. and Brothers:
will try to write you few lines tt
bid yOu all a final farewell | dom
want you, dear mother, to be more trou
bled about me than you can help l
want you to prepare to meet me in bet
ter world, where sin and sorrow are not
found. Will. and Sam, want you t,
be good boys, and try to get to HEAVIER
when you die. There is more pleasure
in living the life of a Christian. 1t look
plain to me now, though did not thtnl
so, nor see it in that light, before
sought, and believe found, pardon in {
merclful Savior. do not want any o.
you to grieve for me, but take warning
by my misfortune, and try to do better
than it has been my misfortune to do
Farewell to you all, and may God bless
and save you ALL
p. S.-Before closing, I wish to ex
press my gratitude to Mr.. Mari, the
jailer, and his family for their kind treat
ment to me while prisoner under his
charge. Respectfully,
A. J. HUNT
After the letter was read. Rev. Mr.
Coltharp arose and stated that the
prisoner requested him to say that he
felt his sins had been forgiven. and
desired all present to meet him in
heaven, adding that Hunt would
speak himself but was not able, being
too weak, from the effect Of an over
dose of morphine. with he attempted
to commit suicide on Monday night
After prayer the rope was placed
in position and the prisoner was as
sisted to mount the scafold.
The time having expired the black
cap was drawn down over his head
after the fatal cord had been placed
around his neck. and at forty-twC
minutes past one o'clock the wagon
was driven from under him. and
Jack Hunt was launched into eterni
ty.
The rope was the one used at the
execution of John Webb, in Knox
vile. two years ago, and it is intend
ed to be used on the goth inst, al
the execution of Jacob Harniss.
Bloody Shirt and the Rebel Debt
Having utterly failed to fire the