The daily gazette., 1877-09-27
,Shifflett's Execution,
TUEsDAY'T HORRIBLE GALLow's
SCENE IN A QUIET VIRGINIA
. TOWN ...,

HARRISBURG, Va, September 3d.
Anderson Shifile.t, who, with Silas Nor
ris, was condemned to be hanged for the
the murder of David G.. Lawson, was
executed in the Jail yard here to-day.
Morris was respited to October. 23 by
Governor Kemper yesterday. Shifflett
made dying statement to the Rev. David
Barr, his spiritual adviser, asserting his
Innocence of the actual murder, but ack-
nOwledging that he knew that Lawson
was to be killed. This statement was
read to him in his cell this morning. and
signed by him. The sacrament was adj
ministered to Shiffiett at $50 O'Clock,
and a few minutes before 10 o'clock he
was led from he cell to the scaffold by
the Sheriff and deputy. accompanied by
the Rev. Mr.. Barr. He was completely
unnamed and had to be supported up
the steps of the scaffold. Ue wept Bit
terly and loudly protested his innocence
of the killing. The Rev. Mr.. Barr read
Shifflett's statement from the scaffold. He
called God to witness that what it con-
tained was true. In substance it was as
follows: Four weeks before Lawson was
murdered Samuel Hall, Mrs. Lawson's
lover, and one of the States witnesses
against Shifflett offered him $25 to kill
Mr.. Lawson, saying that if he did not do
it there were two others that would. He
knew the day was fixed for Lawson to be
killed and when it was done. He said
he was standing on Knoll 8, a hundred
yards of, heard the fatal shot fired and
knew then that Lawson was killed, He
denied that he had ever confessed the
murder to any one before his arrest or
that he was paid any money by Morris to
do it. He protested that former con-
tession, made since his sentence, was
not true, and said he was induced to
make it to get money for his family.
He was promised, he said, $18 in money
and two bushels of wheat to make that
confession. One dollar only had been
paid to his wife. Mrs. Lawson also con-
demned to be hanged for the same crime
he said, did not Offer him money, but
told him that he would get money if he
would put her husband out of the way.
The gallows was erected at one end of
the small yard, at the rear of the Jail, land
the execution took place in the presence
of about fifty persons. The scene moved
bhO DbOub llCdlbos llC OuCtln anu LIS
deputies, unused to such work, were ner-
vous, and greatly excited. The rope used
was less than half an inch in thickness,
and was thought by many to be too weak,
which proved to be the case. After the
clergyman had read the statement of the
condemned man and offered up prayer
and while the Sheriff was adjusting the
rope about Shiffett's neck, he wept BIT
tarly, saying: "GeDtlemen, never did
anything to anybody to be hung for. In
deed, did not kill Mr.. Lawson. As
sure as you are born you are hanging an
innocent man." There was much delay
in getting ready to spring the fatal trap,
and as the rope holding the trap door was
cut the doomed man fell downward to
the ground-the rope had broken. Shift
fett uttered groan and was again lifted
on the scaffold. Here he renewed his
cries and lamentations, exclaiming, "God
knows 1 am innocentp A second and
stronger rope was procured. While it
was being adjusted, he asied Deputy
Sheriff Bowman to rise the black cap
from his eyes so that he might look upon
the light once more. His request was
granted, and turning to the spectators he
said, with some firmness, "Gentlemen,
bid you goodbye" The second attempt
of the Sheriff was successful, and the
doomed man was swung off into eternity.
In eleven minutes the physicians pro-
nounced life extinct, and in twenty-eight
minutes he was cut down. Upon exami-
nation it was found that his neck was
not broken. There was no excitement
over the affair. Very few people from the
country were in town, and the citizens
generally stayed indoors. A militia COM
pany guarded the Jail and its approaches.
Shifilett's guilt is doubted by few in the
community, and the condemned accom-
plicies are believed also to be guilty.