The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-07-14
HANGMAN'S DAY.
One White Man aud Two Negroes
Executed Yesterday.
MURDERS FOR MALICE and PROFIT
Sketch of the Crimes and Conduct
Of the Culprits.

ST. Louis. July IL 1877.
RI" execution OF pondextcr Finondson Tor the
murder Of william Shaw toak place vi Bloomfield,
Soddard county No today. the presence OF several
thousand people Yesterday The condemned ieon,
VINO had always been most wicked and nlasphemous
man. protested religion aud received the ordinance OF
baptism w sprinkIing ut the hands Of Rev John
Haynsworth, Methodist Minister. Last night
he slept very little, spending the most
OF has time IN praying frequently calling
out in frantic manner for mercy This ing he
arose at hve O'clock dressed himself and six par
took OF light breakfast lie evnced great Of
hts approaching doom and prayed audibiy at short
intervals Al eight O'CLOCK his vile, who had bid him
an aleciionate farewell after an interview Of several
hours, visited him again aud begged TO him once
more The unhappy woman was admitted
to The jail and had last conversation
with her husband They prayed together he III very
loud and piteous manner begging for mercy The lna
parting Is described TO have been OF the most heart
rending character Edmondson's mother also chilled
to BID hma dieu, and she left her requested that
Of his kinspeopo should be present at the execu
tion.
SITTING On MS COFFIN
AMER an hour spent IN prayer and psalm singing by
the ministers Edmondson was led unplnloncd from ms
coil placed wagon. taking his seat on the head
thirty on each side, while the Sheriff had posse
OF mounted aud armed TO keep away the crowd
AS Edmondson had very large OF kinspcop:o
In tue county IL feared a rescue would
be attempted The gailows were situated GU an clo
waited spot in an old acid northeast OF she town. The
scaliod was surrounded by tho armed men, leaving a
clear space OF nifty iect each side from The wagon
around to the foot Of the salows. The coiprt walked
with hrmness, but when he put his loot the lrst
step TO ascend he turned pale and began trcmble
On the scatiod nc showed considerable repidatlon.
HIS LAST WORDS
When asked by Sheriff Morgan II he had anything to
say he replied -
Yes Mr.. Morgan want to thank you fdt tho kind
ness with which you have treated aud my attor-
ney also aud the preacher WHO have treated
me so we'll am not guilty. OF killing Mr., shaw. /
hated him, and might have killed han II somebody
else hadn't. knew WHO did 1t, but | wouidnit
tell could have saved myself from the START
u had made u clean breast OF uiI knew NV brolher
john, who died told all about it, Goodby TO all lake
warning all you vino see me die. did not XII shaw -
the death warrant was next reli, aud the sheriff
piteoas PRAYER calling upon God an Christ TO 6rsvc
hts sins and save his soul. When the black cap was
adjusted he called out
~ am ready; goodby Mr. Morgan"
Then the trap was Immediately sprung, at twelve
O'clock The body Tell SIX lect the neck swapping aud
death resulting almost instantly. The only visible mo
non Of tho body alter the drop was slight trenor
travelling through the whole frame. Tho crowd was
made up largely OF women ami children. The body
delivered to the hcartbrokcn wife, waiting noar by
tue CRIME NOT uApRovoKED.
Edmonasohs crime Was not without some dcrrea Of
provocAton out The circumstances under which Il
committed were peculiarly atrocious He had
rented iand from hts victim, shaw, and faded to pay
the price agreed upon lie was also accused OF depre
dating on his landlords live stock, and these Causes
led 10 a very 0ad state oil ieelnr between tue two
hund-to-nand fight, curing which Shaw seized heavy
stoNe and struck his antagonist u blow GU tho head
th@ rendered him unconscious Edmondson was
conDned 10 ms pea Tor several weeks and when he
covered he vowed vengeance. He went armed mud
those who know OF tho fsud warned Shaw he was
in peril Shaw, however said he was braggart with
m
found IN tho road one dav doad with ballet iolcs N,
his head Edmondson was at once arrested Al first
there was no evidence Of hi. quit but by degrees
the links came out by Que until there was a
chain Of circuinslantIa testimony nat cft no doubt
thut he was The murderer. Blood spots some
clothes that he possessed, pistol which the bullet
fitted aud which bad been freshly discharged tracks
tho fatal place that cofrcsponded has shoes mis-
evident trepidaou and contraaictory Statements his
movements and conduct the day OF the tragedy all
pointed unerr'ngy to his guilt. speedy trial was
HAD and verdict OF murder the first degree found
without hcsitaion
RESPITE GRANTED.
The day of execution was hxcd for May 10 1877 but
the murder, was tpen granlcl respite, undcr cir
cumstantes which received an extensive publication
throughout the country as remarkable instance of
fratcrnai devotion. On the 9th oil May James Ed
mondson boy OF nineteen and half witted brother
OF the doomed man, died from n fever, and on his
dcathbed essod that he, ana not brother, was
the murderer OF Whlam Shaw. IT was testified by
several persons thai the boy told detailed and
comprehensive story oil the manner In which he had
com IN itteu tho tout deed his planning the murder
lying IN wait and the terrible execution The alleged
confession produced he greatest excitement ut the
town Bloomfield; and,e the story doubted
at the time expedite VI steps were taken to notify the
Governor and the condemned man. A public
meeting was called, money raised and reliable per-
son selected to prepare tho application for pardon.
The Gov, granted the respite and ordered search
ing estgation into the truth OF the dead brother's
confession, the result OF this Investigation salts
led him and tho public that the story n9cnous
device OF the prisoner and his family TO excite
pathy Thus the romance OF a man dying for the
crime OF younger brother without murmur or pro.
est badly spoiled, and the counterfeit hero brought
the gaiIows q, last.
ESCAPE AND RECApTugE.
Last sur day mofning Edmonds0u eded IN break
ing The chain by which he wns confined Ia his cell and
with the assistance OF three other prisoners drew
bolt OF toe Jail door The Tour ncn then seized The
loaded guns in the prison autc.room escaped
their escape shortly discovered aud the citizens
rallied for lhcir reoapture. posse upon Ed
mondsOn and companion, VINO stood 1T bay Ne
mand OF surrender was maze and EdmondsoG ifimo-
diately threw down his gun, but his companion nrei
The pursuers and would surrender until
he had been scriousiy wounded After this the con
demned prisoner so closely guarded that an at
teupl imprRcticabic