The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-19
sled ASTRAY BY THE DEVIL"
Confident Expectations Of Ascending from the
CalOwS to a BlSSlu Eternity.
QUEER IDEAS OF, GUILT AND FORGIVENESS.
Utter Indifference of the Culprits to
Their Crimes in View OF I'M
mediate Punishment
EXECUTION OF CHARLES TosIMEY.
IpY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD


EXECUTION OF CHARLES TOsIMEY.
by TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
AMERICAS, Ca, May IS, 1877
crime, almost unparalleled in It's wanton feroclty,
the speed ness with which Il was punished and the
unconccrn with which the guilty man confessed II,
was expmted at this place to-day Charles Tommcy,
gigantic negro having persisted upon the gallows for
tho murder OF Mrs. Caraway. most cstmablc lady.
STORY
On Monday, the 10th day OF APRIL Mrs. Caraway, the
wife OF wcl:o-do farmer, living about three miles
from Smithvllc, sumter county was murdered IN her
house during the absence her husband. 1t appears
that Mr.. Caraway lett the house early on Monday
morning to look after some work on distant part OF
his farm leaving no one at home bA his wife. About
eight O'Clock that morning shc was standAg 10
the yard by neighbour. At h,tlc after ten O'Clock
her minister called to pay pastoral visit and found
the house apparently empty. Pausing for awhile to
rest himself he heard low and ptfui moaning In m
adjoining room. fastening to SEQ what u meant he
was shocked to find Mrs Caraway lying near tho
hearthstone in dying and unconscious condition.
Her head was literally beaten out OF shape. The skull
crushed In several places and fragments of had
been driven into the poor womans BRAN II was plain
that she must have been assailed with a largo blud
gcon Dark pools oil blood had settled in various
places tho floor, and her hair was stiT with clothed
gore. Her close upon death. She could
not see speak, or move, and only moaned aneasiy
at intervals.
JUSTICE AROUSED
The minister at rushed out and gave tho alarm.
Mr. Caraway was summoned and a large crowd
gathered at the house. Mr.. Caraways grief upon
seeing tho mutilated body Of his wife, who had been
his faithful and aectonatc partner for thirty years is
described having been fearful The neghbors were,
OF course In state OF CONSERVATION over the terrible
and crime and began once 10 cast about for
some clew that might lead 70 It's pcrpetrator. Mr..
Caraway and his wife were such notably mild and IN
offensive people that It hard bclicvd they had
an enemy in tho world. II was suspected that the
murder was perpetratcd by robber A scasch Of tho
house disclosed fact that several trunks had been
broken open and lto tin ,rnnk usually secretod
and the repository OF valuable papers, had been car
ricd or In the back yari whore the clay was soft,
several enormous footprints were discovered. 1t
transpired that when the minister nearing the
house. he had large negro standing in the road
short distance above the place, actions struck
him as being suspicious. These were the only clcws
offered.
SUSPICION
Finally, some suggested that the only man In the
county whose feet were large enough 10 dl1hs loot
prints In tho back yard was Charles Tommey, negro
OF an extraordinarily large frame Upon his being
described the minister averrcd that the description
tallicd precisely with tho negro he had met short
distance from tho house. alter tho killing occurred
1t further asccrtancd that this negro lad some
years previously been w0rkm an upon Mr. Caraway's
place that lie and Dir. Caraway had had disagree
incnt concerning trade OF some CATTLE and the
negro lett the sery ICE oil Mr. Caraway feeling that io
had been badly used Mr. Caraway further stated that
tins negro of the and usual contents OF
the little tin trunk that was mssng-a knowledge that
was not AT all general. ~
IOMMEI CAPTURED rNrH#
Upon the above suggestions und Information JUS
tico Of the peace summoned posse and saled Out 70
4 Tan, fia lam nj hiQ hnn
miles distant from the sceno OF the murder As the
Justice and posse approached Tommey appeared at the
lett tho window speedily, and dashng toward tho rear
Of the house attempted to escape seeing,
himself Whcn he was first questioned he said
nothing. His house searched, ana tho tin trunk
under Ills bed. I, contained $40 - in silver uhc
amount stolen) but the valuable papers we're missing.
iuil and voluntary confession giving all the details of
performance OF the crime. Al the conclusion OF
his confession, which he delivered IN the most non
chalant and seli-colecled manner, nc proposed 70
take his captors to the place IN the woods where he
had hidden the valuable papers Hc was encouraged
to do this and the papers were all recovered
| HUMANITY on TIE DEREAvED HUSBAND.
He was then taken 10 tho scene OF tho murder. he
| house went and showed where he had sccreted the
bludgeon with which lie had killed Mrs Caraway
fnc stick is still preserved 1t Is an ugly piece OF
hickory wood abou, three feet long and two half
| inches thick Tommey was very cool, put stated
that ho supposed they in.oudoa 70 XII him,
had done. Ho would assuredly have been lyncncd
but Tor the interference OF Mr. Caraway, who begged
the peace mlgnt be preserved and the law allowed
TO take IT'S course Upon This unexpected petition tho
prisoner taken to Amcricus and placed IN JAIL The
| Superior Court being then In session an Indictment
was obtained and Tho prisoner put upon trial He at
proposed to plead guilty. but the Judge ordercda
plea mot guilty. TO DO nlcd and appointed excel
lent counsel to defend tho prisoner Upon the intro
auction OF the testimony the case went to tho jury
without argument and verdict OF guilty was =. ono;
to-day. He received the announcement oil the verdict
and OF the sentence without sign oil emotion ana
seemed take II all us matter OF course lilo never
seemed 10 think Of pleading for time, although he has
boon arrested, convicted and executed within ono
month after tho commission OF tho crime which no
roNMsy's CONFESSION.
Yesterday the prisoner made tho following statement
OF his case 10 Ii is jacr.-
al killed Mrs. Caraway almost without intending 10
do IT. did kiil her from my nrst INTENTION. You
see some years ago, Mr. Caraway, according to my
Idea tnen cheated me In trade for ycaring ! had
never liked him since, and whom passed ms house
that morning and enc there hut his wiid l
though, II good cuancc to get even with HIM. SO
/ entered the house with no other purpose than 70
until MIS-. Caraway had gone into tho house. and then
entered The yard. The dog sprang upon me, and al
though fought hm OF ho made such y noise that he
attracted Mrs. Curaway. l at once that should
have get her eyes closed fcr awhile so just Gu
tered and talked awhile. When she turned her
back | struck her sharply on the back Of the head
she Tell ON the fireplace, grooming terribly hurried
nom The room and seized tho IN trunk where knew
only handful Of silver IN u, and then looked around
the house tor something cse to take
PECULIAR kIsD OF SYMPATHY.
"As passed tnruugh the room where Mrs. Caraway
was lying tuat sue had crawled across the noor,
and was still crying, ..Oh Lord! oh, lordl' ielt
very sorry her she mad always been Kind to me,
thought the best thing could do would boto put
more tho head until She stopped grooming.
Then thought she dead and hurried away.
had no ldea any one would sdspeS, inc; naa no
am gad they going 10 hang me. have never had
.tl... III al. inn