The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-09-27
A LIFE FOR A LIFE.

EXECUTION OF ANDERSON SHIFFLETT-Ar
AWKWARD JOB-THE ROPE BREAKS
&c BEFORE GOD, YOU ARE HANGING Al
INNOCENT MAN''-HIsToRY OF THE IRA
aEDY.
reported specially for the VIRGINIAN.l
Anderson Shifflett was hung in the Jail yar(
at Harrisonburg on Tuesday last. He passet
a sleepless night on Monday night and Tues
day morning declined partakng of an ex
cellent breakfast prepared for him by Sheriff
Ralston's family. On Tuesday morning
JOS L. Williams shaved him, and Sheriff
Ralston presented him with good suit o
black cashmere, new shirt, stock ngs, ant
gaiter shoes. 1 suppose it was the best sui
Of clothes Shifflett ever wore. About eighI
O'Clock Revs. Mr. Barr and Eggleston admin
istered the sacrament to him. There was
also present in his cell. to him truly an ange
of mercy, Miss Anna Gray. After the sac
ramental services, religious exercises wert
engaged in for an hour or two. At 9:4t
O'Clock Sheriff Ralston entered the cell ant
said to the condemned man,
SIT is TINE TO CO."
Shifilett replied, 81 am ready" lie entered
the jail yard, accompanied by Sheriff Rails
ton and Rev. Mr.. Barr. The Sheriff was thu
first to ascend the scatlold, closely followed
by Shifflett, Rev. Mr.. Barr ascending last
Shifiiett then sat down on a chair, and Mr.
Barr asked him il he had anything to say
He replied, ''No; read that" Then Mr.
Barr read in tremulous though distinct
voice, the following as
ANDERSON sHIFFLETT's LAST STATEMENT
OR CONFESSION.
: /. ANDERSON SHiFFLETT, do on this 25th day o
September, 1877, make the following statemen!
and call Godto witness that 1t is true:
About four weeks before the murder OF David
g. Lawson, Samuel Hall offered me money (abou
$3.50 to kill the said Lawson or put him out Of tn
way in some way. refused to kill the said Law
son for the said Hall. did not kill the said Law
son at jail. When Lawson was killed was on
knoll, or side OF the mountain Y of mile from
the place where he was killed. expected he would
be killed then, and went TO that knoll to hear the
shot fired and did distinctly hear it, had no
been there more than ten minutes when the sho
was fired. As soon as heard the gun fire I wen
home. I cannot say who killed him.
After the said Lawson was killed the said Sam
Hall. who offered me the money to kill the sait
Lawson, told me he would pay me money il
would say nothing about him having of cred m,
money to kill Lawson. He paid me two or thre,
dollars to keep silence about it.
When Wyant met me on the road was turke,
hunting. 1t was in February, when snow was OF
the ground and not about .one week before Law
son was murdered.
Burriss Williams testified falsely when he sale
that confessed on the wagon, that killed Law
son and that everybody knew it.
Silas Morris neverpersuaded me, nor did he eli
Their offer or pay me any money to kill Lawson
He told me short time before Lawson was killed
that he suspected they were going to kill him but
did not say who he thought would kill him MOI
when they would do it.
Mrs. Louisa Lawson did not speak to me NOR,
than half dozen words for two years before hel
husband was killed. She said this to me, "if yor
were to do it you would be paid for it, but I've
got no money!
confessed two weeks ago that I had killed
Lawson, but that confession was falsehood.
did it because was promised money and wheat
FOR my children, $lS in money and two bushels Of
wheat. One dollar Of it was paid to my wife while
she was sick. It was arranged between Silas
Morris. Mrs. Louisa Lawson and myself. It was
to bring Sam Hall and Burris Williams in fol
swearing our lives away.
This is my dying statement. And now praying
the merciful God to forgive all my SINS and look.
ing to Jesus Christ for salvation, say farewell
''S''D' ANDERSON P I snryp1rrr.
marE.
During the reading Shifflctt sobbcd most
piteously, frequently exclaiming,
ssMY GOD AM INNOCENT 70
II never done the deed, as sure as you are a
living man," 1.-THE Lord Jesus Christ have
mercy on my soul, and many similar ex-
pressions. The crowd present exhibited by
their looks considerable sympathy for the
unfortunate man. After Mr.. Barr conclu-
ded the reading he offered prayer for the
soul Of the man, and extended his hand to
bid him farewell. Shifflett caught him by
the hand and said, ''Good bye, Mr.. Barr 1
ana going to die an innocent man. May God
have mercy OF my SOUL" Sheriff Ralston
then requested him to arise, when Shiff1ett
said, sob! my God ! are you going to hang
an innocent man? Why oh why, have to
be hung when am innocent; innocent so
help me Cod" Sheriff Ralston, assisted by
the Deputy Sheriff, then tied his arms and
legs, placed the black cap over his face, ad-
justed the rope, and left the platform. AS
they were descending the steps the cries Of
Shifilett were leart-rendering- praying
and protesting his innocence alternately. At
precisely 9:55 Deputy Sheriff Bear, with a
cut the rope that sustained the trap,
and Andersen Shifflett
FELL IN THE PIT BENEATH THE GALLONS.
The rope, which was white cotton one
three-eighths CT an inch in diameter, snap
ped, making noise resembling the explo-
sion of percussion cap. The rope had been
tried with an anvil, weighing TO pounds,
the day before and stood the test. Shiff1ett
lay in the pit forty-tive seconds before he
spoke. and for that time every one present
stood Mortified and helpless. He was lying
on his right side with his legs under his
back. His first expression was, "My God
why do you try to hang an innocent man ?"
The deputies and several of the guards Of
the jail present, got him out Of the pit and
laid him down on the grass. He turned over
on his stomach and cried loudly; between
bursts Of sobs he asserted his innocence, and
prayed. A new rope was quickly obtained,
a hempen one five-eighths Of an inch thick,
which was adjusted to the top beam Of the
scaffold by Deputy Sheriff Scott. At 1903
o'clock
sHIFFLETr WAS AGAIN CONDUCTED ToTHE
PLATFORM.
After the black cap had been put on his face
the second time, he begged that it be re-
moved for him to see the light OF day once
more. The request was granted, and he
said, s'Gentlemen, good bye; am an limo
cent man.
MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON ME.
l never in all my life done such a thing, al
sure as you are born; did not.' The car
was then re-adjusted. He then complained
Of it being zoo tight and hot on his face, ant
begged that air be given him. The lasl
words Of Anderson Shifflett were, 81 am in
noccnt. May God have mercy on my soul. ,
AT 1000 o'clock Deputy Sheriff Bear AGAR