Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-15
DEAD! DEAD! DEAD!
A COlOred Murderer Swung Twice
Yesterday at Marion, Arkansas,

Marion, Arkansas, the nearest county
seat to Memphis by the way, was the
scene yesterday OF another old fashioned
hanging. About two thousand people
we're present, a large majority of whom
we're colored. The victim was a colored
mar named John Jones, aged about
twenty-eight years, hight five feet eight
inches, and of stout build and stolid
~countenance. He came to Crittenden
county about a year ago from North
Carolina. The interest of the occasion
was enhanced in a horrid degree by
hanging him twice, as will appear.
he was tried aud convicted at the
last term of the Circuit Court for
killing Joseph Colwell (coloredl, on the
Brady plantation, about eight miles from
the county seat. Il appeared from the
testimony that they had an alteration
about some cotton and a basket that
had been taken by some of the cotton
pickers. He charged that some of his
cotton had been tempered with. Col.
we'll told him to take the basket
in dispute, aud started away, pur.
sued by Jones with a large hawk.bill
knife. Unfortunately for Colwell his foot
caught in a vine and be fell, and Jones
severed his backbone with the knife,
which of course proved fatal instantly.
The proof was conclusive, and he was
sentenced to be hung on the 18th day Of
December, 1877. He never seemed to be
lieve that he would be hung until Thurs.
day, when he became very earnest IN bis
devotions aud preparation. Yesterday
when brought out about twelve o'clock be
was dressed in a neat alapacca coat
ard doeskin pants, white shirt and new
shoes, making a very presentable ap-
pearance. When asked if be desired
his relatives to be told of his fate he re
piled No" When asked how be had
been treated by Sheriff Lewis il jail, he
said: very we'll; as we'll as l could
wish" He tremblci from head to foot
and frequently asked the Lord to have
mercy on his soul. The gallows, q rude
affair, was the one used in the hanging Of
Ralph Milton some months ago, a full
account Of which appeared in the
LEDGER. The immense crowd sureed
around and seemed moved more By curl
osity than any sympathy with the poor
wretch about to swing of into eternity.
Rev. Nelson Dunlap (colored) sang
add prayed With the prisoner. When
asked by the minister il he would try
and be prepared be said he would. Prayer
was also offered by Rev. Sidney johnson
~(colored). Rev. Mr.. Medlin (white) told
the prisoner to believe in God and he
would be saved, and offered a fervent
prayer in behalf of the prisoner.
Sheriff Ward proceeded to the g~allows
with the prisoner, with guards bringing
up the rear.
John Jones was asked if he had any.
thinge to say. He said: II did not want
to kill that man; if | could bring him
back / would. Is there any one here
from BradIey'sY" "Yes," answered one
of the crowd. Tell all goodbye" A
hymn was. then sung and prayer was
offered. Jones said: II have something
elso to say. | saw that man in my slum.
Der and he ssid-I wanted you to take
the cotton and you would not do IT;
come to me, come to me. / believe I
a born for this thing. Lord have
mercy upon mel
The rope was cut at fifteen minutes
past II o'clock, and Jones fell to the
ground ~strangled, but not dead, for the
rope broke, and he was carried up to be
hanged the second time. Doctors Knott
and Grigsby we're called to examine him
and found his neck not broken. Sheriff
Ward cut the rope the second time, and
and at ten minutes of one the prisoner
was dangling in midair. After hanging
ten minutes he was pronounced dead by
Drs. Knott, Grigsby and Coviugton, and
was cut down and placed in his coffin
for interment.
Grand free lunch tonight at