Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-09-26
The Shimett Hanging.

murderers, at Hanisonburg, aud the breaking
of the rope With which the first attempt to
hang him had been made, was stated 10 yaster
days Gazette. The following particulars OF
the affair were teleeraphed TO the Baltimore
American:
After the barber bad shaved the prisoner
add be had put Oh new suit OF clothes, the
Revs. Barr and Ezgleson administered the
Sacrament to him. During the religious care.
monies the prisoner exhibited tic deepest pen
itence, and though highly excited, made the
responses in a clear, distinct tone of Voice.
At 9:l7 o'clock Sheriff Ralson went into
Shih1stt's cell and said to him, Tome CD.
Shifflatt replied, "All right "a The Wsy
through the yard and up to the scatold ne
wept and sobbed loudly. He was accompanied
to the platform by Sheriff Ralston and Rev.
Barr. When asked if he had anything to say BY
Rev. Barr, be replied: lob, DO, nothing; read
it," Then Rev. Barr read the following as
Shift 1T dying declaration:
|, Anderson Shifaett. do, Oh this 2j!h day CT
September, 1871 make the following state
ment. and call God to witness that 1t IS true;
About four weeks before the murder OF
David G. Lawson Samuel Hall offered me about
s25 in money to kill Lawson, or to put him out
of the way 10 some way. l refused to kill Law
son for the said Hall. | did not kill Lawson al
all. When Lawson was killed was on a knoll!
or side OF the mountain threetourths of mile
away from the place be was killed. | expected
he would be killed there, and went to that kooi
to hear the shot fired, and did distinctly hear
it. | had not been there more than ten MIC.
utes when the shot was fired, AS soon as
heard the gun fred went home. | canuot
say who killed him. Alter the said Lawson was
killed the said Samuel Hall who offered me the
money to kill the said Lawson told me he would
pay me money if | would say nothing about
him having offered me money to kill David i.
Lawson. He paid me two or three dollars to
keep silence about it.
When Wyant met me on the road was
turkey hunting. 1t was in February, when sow
was on the ground, and not about one week be-
fore Lawson was killed.
Buroiss Williams testified falsely when he
said that confessed on the wagon that killed
Lawson, and that everybody knew it.
Si!as Morris never persuaded me, nor did be
either offer or pay me auy money to kill Law
son. H told me short time before Lawson
was killed that he suspected they were going to
kill him, but did not say who be thought would
kill him, uor when they would do it. .
Mrs. Louisa Lawson did not speak to me
more than half dozen words for two years be
fore her husband was killed. She said this TO
me: IF you were to do it you would be paid
for it, but have got no money"
confessed two weeks ago that killed Law
SOD, but that confession was fa!sehood. did
it because | was promised money aud wheat for
my children-sl8 10 money and two bushels Of
wheat. 81 of it was paid my wife while she
was sick. 1t was arranged between Silas Nor.
I I l.
to bring Sam Hall and Burniss Williams 10 for
swearing our lives away.
This is my dying statement And now, pray.
ing the merciful God to forgive all my sins, and
looking to Jesus Christ for salvation. say
farewell.
Daring the reading ShifHett sobbed frequent
ly aud loudly. Shfflett was neatly dressed in
a suit of black cashmere. The condemned ire.
auently uttered during the reading and the
prayer that followed, 20 Lord God, have
mercy on me! Lord, have mercy on me i"
After the prayer. when Rev. Barr shook hands
with him, he said, God knows | am nuo-
cent" Sheriff Ralston then put The black cap
over his face aud put the moose around his
neck. He was assisted by Deputy Sheriff Sam
uel Bowman. slight delay was occasioued,
hen Shias.t said. "Gentlemen, you can take
my life, but you take il for nothiog.
His legs we're then tied and his arms above
the elbows. During this time he protested his
Innocence he frequently called on the Lord for
mercy, and once or twice said, II never thought
I would como to this. 10 think that my life
must be taken!" At 9:45 Deputy Sheriff New.
ton Bear at command of Sheriff Raston, cut
the rope holding the trap. The rope broke With
snap, throwing the condemned into the pit
He cried for mercy after he had lain in the pit
about half minute. He was raised from the
pit by the Sheriff and deputies and laid on the
grass, on his stomach, whilst another rope was
procured. During the time be laid on the grass
he repeatedly protested bis innocence. A half
inch hempen rope was then procured and ad,
justed to the top beam Of the gallows. AT l0:OS
o'clock Sbifastt was again helped onto the
and arms. During the tying Shif1att frequent.
ing his innocence He asked to see daylight
once more. When the cap was raised be said,
Good bye, gentlemen. am innocent of this
crime The cap was again placed over his
face, and at 1915 clock Deputy Sheriff Bear
again cut the rope sustaining the trap Just
before the rope was cut be asked that the cap
be removed from bis face, saying, ut is 80
hot" His last words were, Lord, save me. {"
As be fell he swung around several times.
breathing heavily for six minutes. After that
time uotil 1919 he could be noticed to breathe
by the motion of his shirt front. At 1915 his
pulse was II; at 1913 his pulse fell to 20; at
1922 clock he was pronounced dead by the
surgeons. He was suffered to hang about 20
minutes thereafter, when his body was cut down
and placed 10 the coffin. The snap of the rope
when it broke resembed the explosion of per-
cusson cap, and could be distinctly heard by
citizens several hundred yards distant. The
fall and thud Of the rope were heard by the
guards patroling 90 the outside of the Jail.
Shif1ett slept very little, so bis guards re-
port. all of last night. This morning at 7:30
clock, Sheriff Raston furnished him with an
excellent breakfast, which be declined to par
take Of. He spoke 10 the warmest terms Of the
kindness he received from the Sheriff and his
wife, and his guards at plight, and the Deputy
Sheriff of the county. He said the jury which
found him guilty could not we'll have done any.
thing else from the evidence, but that Sam
Hall, Burniss Williams, Wyant, and several
other witnesses swore falsely. He expressed