Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-02-10
The Execution Of the Everett Muir
lleHprS.

day to the execution at Fort tobacco OF the
two negro mcn, Charles Henry Simpson and
Martin Henry oonece! Of the murder OF MIR.
j Ohm W. Everett, near G:ymont, i'll June .ast.
The following IL !u accoun: OF the seems at
tending the execution
During the last days of their confinement the
meu confessed their mutual partluira!lJn in
the murder Of Everett.
An execution in Charles county i rare
thing The hanging Of the Everett murderers
Yesterday was tn. first time vr iitytwo years
that capital punishment has been Inflicted in
that county. There has been much excitement
10 the couoty, especially among the colored
people, ever since the conviction OF the MUIR
dercrs. 1t was feared that some effort would
be made to rescue the prisoners Thursday
night. For two or three days IL vas rumorcd
that there was an arrangement among negro
roughs OF Washington aud Charles county, by
which they were 10 assemble al Fort tobacco
Thursday night, and take the prisoners from
Jail by force. The way this was to be douc,. II
was said, Was that magic lantern entertain
ment was to be given, at which the negroes
could congregate without ar0u>lng suspicion.
Thursday bills were posted up anuounclng
that Rev. NJ. Grandson, OF Baltimore, Wjn q
exhibit scenes by the aid OF u magic lantern,
that night. This confirmed the stories that
had been circulated, aud created great excite
ment. Sheriff Wade had an interview with
the Rev. Mr.. Andc:sou, lnc~k colored
p,cacncr. iu which he explained tho situation
of affairs, ami stated that the exhibition wrutd
have TO be postpuucd. The preacher agreed
with the sheriff that undcr the circumstances
| it would be imprudcDt to have the exhibition,
Il, ~ ptlI 4
| the hanging. On Thursday Grow. Carroll sent
two cases OF arms to Port Tobacco, and the
sheriff appointed and armed fifty deputies, who
| we're placed on guard duty Thursday night,
there being detail OF ten men around the Jail
| during the whole night.
The condemned men spent their last night
| Of life apparently 10 peace with man and Gnd.
| Thursday night Col. H. w. B. llutchins, the
deputy sheriff, who arrested the men, visited
them in the Jail. They seemed glad to see
him aud both stated that they felt that 1t was
| right that they should be hung, and that they
| we're satisfied. Henry said, Il hit him, KILL
ed Mr.. Everett" and Simpson said, Il was
standing by his head with pistol, and II Mar
| tin Henry hadn't killed him would. Slnlp-
son and Henry SAT- up till midnight, on Thurs
day night, aud slept SO soundIy alter that
they had TO be walked up at eight y clock yes
terday morning for breakfast. They both ale
heartily, their breakfast, consisting OF bread,
flee and eggs.
| The little town Of Port Tobacco WAS all TX
ctemcut yesterday. At day brtak crowd> OF
Country people began ~ pour 10 10y the cuun-
try roads from every direction, impciicd by d
hurriblr curiosity to see the death agnnlrs OF
the two men. Every sort Of vehicle Was used
in bringing the Charles couoty peUp" TO the
execution, aud the sc"nC looked moro Ike that
at the opvnng ri county fair, than at the
tragic close of two lives. The Jail and the gal
lows in the rear Of the Court House We're the
main points OF attraction, and were inspected
by the crowds The executed was attended bJ
about four thousand people. There were VGn
ders OF gilt jew ny, and paper AID pcnclis who
reaprj Il rich harvest out o! the gathering
During the whole day the order in tho towl
Was perfect. [, was announced previous tc
the execution that it would take place at twc
o'clock, but the Sheriff afterwards decided tC
have It take place before noon.
Yesterday morning. at ten o clock, the guarc
of deputies was drawn up around the jail It
keep back the crowds that were pressing upor
that building. SimIsIr requested that II bt
made known to the pubic, That they were per
tcctiy satisfied with their rial AMI Its result
The co 1demued men also turned over 10 TIT
sheriff a number OF things, with directions TO
their disposal Fathers Wlget AID McAtc'
we're with the condemned men 10 the cell 'ur
lug the whole morning, and administered TIT
sacrements of the Catholic faith.
At 1l:l5 a. NJ, a squad OF twenty armet
men was drawn up IN double lines OUTSIDE OF
the door Of the jail. The tw0 cOndcmucd mcr
dressed 10 white robes, with black belts, az;
black caps, and their hands tied behind then
were led out between the files Of men, accom-
panied by The priests. a great crowd had col
| lectcd before the jail, and as the men appeared
the scene was affecting. Many Of the colorcc
people in the crowd gave way to grlci. AIT
cried like children. The condemned mcn, sur
rounded by an armed guard, were then led t.
the gaIows, in the rear Of the Court House
one hundred yards from the jail.
The condemned luru assembled the platform
with Sheriff Wade, several dcpu'ies and tho
two Catholic fathers. Simpson WAS very rer1
Gus. Henry was composed, and calmly survey
ed the scene before him. The two men knc
and bowed their heads while the iailbiu
priests lifted their voices 10 prayer. Then they
rose to their feet, but said uothlug. A. Il
deputy was adjusting the moose around Henry
neck, be- raised bis hand aud with great dellbe
ration removed from his mouth quld OF to
bacco and threw it to one SIDE.
The ropes were then adjusted, the black cap:
we're pulled down over thc heads of the men
The priests stepped back off from the trap
Sheriff Wade dropped d haadkcrchlcI aud 1
deputy in the court house pulled a rope, which
let the drop fall, and the condemned nee fell
the drop being four feet.
Simpsons neck was broken by the fall, and
| he died instantly. Henry struggled alter the
fall aud drew up his shoulders ID couvusIou>
several times liz died 10 ten minutes OF strau
gulation The bodies were allowed 10 hang
twenty minutes At the end Of that time, DR..
George d. Nuld examined them and pro.
nouoccd life cxtluct.
As soon as the drop fell, there was great ex
element 10 the crowd, and movement as il
they would press up to the spot whore the men
we're hanging. The guard about the galI0ws
presented their muskcts. and the colorcd peo-
pie ucar them, evidently thought that they
we're about to charge. This Increased the ex-
ctemcnt, and many Of the negroes, fearing the
bayoucrs, turned aud h:d. Some Of them ran