The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-03-22
A QUADRUPLE EXECUTION.
Posr Negroes Hung for the HRrGer Il
Two Germans.
Tragic Close oG Long Career OF Law
lessnees and Rloodv CFinea.

Tragic Close Of Long Career OF Law.
lsssness and Rloody Crinea.
CbgrespoHdenoc eJ Mc Ettr }crk Herald
AIKEN, S. c.. March l6, 1877.
The four negroe,--Adam johnson,
Nelson Brown, Lucius Thomas and John
| Henry Dennis-vho murdered Rudolph
Hausnan and Fritz Portman near this
place in November last, were hanged
here to-day in the yard common to the
Court House and Jail, in presence Of 8
, crowd Of about four thousand people Of
! both races, both sexes and all ages. The
fifth criminal, Steve Anderson, was respi-
ted for thirty days by Governor Hamp-
ton, upon representations made TO him
that evidence existed which tended to
modify his crime. The prisoners have
devoted themselves entirely to religious
| affairs since their last attempt to escape
was frustrated, and their last houi, yes
terday and to-day were spent in commun-
ion with two faithful clergymen of their
own race. All having lately professed
conversion tho rite Of baptism was ad-
ministered in tho Jail yesterday under
very peculiar conditions as 10 johnson
and Brown, both of whom being fathers
of large families born out Of wedlock,
were required by the attendant ministers
to solemnize their marriage with the
mothers of their children prior to bap.
tism, which ceremony was duly performed
yesterday In the cells of the condemned.
Quiet protracted religious services we're
held in the Jail this morning, during
which the Sheriff and his deputies per-
fected the details for the execution upon
a fourfold gallows of novel and ingenious
construction, to the entertainment aid
] instruction of somewhat impatient
crowd. A. eleven o'clock the four pris-
oners appeared, clad in long white cotton
garments, their ghrcuis in effect, unshod,
and preceded by the officers of the law,
with tkr two ministers, and escorted by
ak vel. armed militiamen, part of the
battalion of 125 inen drawn up in line to
keep lack the thr ong and repel any at
temp. at rescue, which was threatened
and feared.
| THE DEAD MARCH.
The cortege advanced to the scatfold.
The prisoners we're chainet; two and two,
and sang funeral hymn as they marched,
which was dismally echoed by the hys-
terical cries Of many colored women in
the crowd. Having ascended the scafFold
their nanacles were loosened, and each
man was placed in position on the trap,
and under tho fatal iio0Ps, which swayed
to and fro about their heads. The huge
engine of death was twenty-four feet long
and sixteen feet high, and upon this grira
platform the ghastly figures Of the doomed
men and those of the Sheriff, his assist
ants and the two preachers stood out in
sharp relief against the clordless sky.
The crowd was hushed to silence in the
awful presence of death, and then was
heard again the trembling tones of the
miserable men as they Gang the hymn,
"Come ye that love the Lordr'
as lined out by one of the preachers.
Following this was the reading of an
impressive religious services. Then the
prisoners were permitted to address the
vast throng.
/ WhISkEY, BAD COMPANY AND The sCAF-
FOLD.
Their remarks were brief, but of solemn
import. All were to the same general
purpo.t, that whiskey and bad company
had brought them to their dreadful end.
All profcssed the frmest belief in their
salvation through Jesus Christ.
johnson, the ringleader of the gang,
betrayed no emotion.
Nels0n Brown denied participation in
the church or house burning, but con.
fessed as to the murder of the two Ger.
mans. He did not, he said, dread death,
but he hated to die as murderer.
Dennis said he was present at the mnr-
der, but claimed his hands were clear of
blood. He was persuaded by johnson,
and must suffer this anguish with him.
Thomas said he had been called to the
gospel ministry, and attributed his crimes
and shameful death to having neglected
the call. He confessed, for The first time,
that ne had dealt one Of the murde-ous
blows. This man was most affected of
the four. and laughed and played with
the rope in painful affectation Of indiffer-
ence.
THE Last SCENE.
At the conclusion of their remarks
their arms and feet were pinioned, all
preserving the most stolidity of demean-
or. johnson then bade farewell 70 diff
ierent spectators whom he recognized, the
black caps were adjusted, the Sheriff
shoek hands with them all, and the at
tendants descended from the platform.
The Sheriff followed, and on the last step
quickly and unexpectedly touched the
trigger with his foot. Precisely at noon
the thud of falling timhe.s fell DULY on
the ear, and the four ghastly figures
dropped suddenly and simultaneously the
length Of their ropes-four feet or more
and death claimed its prize at the hands
ofjustifed law.
DEAD.
Brown and Thomas died instantly.
their necks b.ugen by tho fall. Johnson
and Dennis struggled slightly for a few
moments, the knots having clipped in
each instance, and then all we're still.
Ten minutes later the attert,ing physi-
clan pronounced life extinct. Thirty
minutes later the bodies were cut down
and delivered to their friends for burial.
McEvoy, the white murderer, was, nc
his own request, unclaimed and permitted
to view the execution from the window
of his cell.
| QUEER THEOLOGY.
There IL touch Of horrible huunor in
the fact that one of the coiored minister
seriously objected to Anderson's reprieye,
on the ground thRt having been eoh,.sitedi
In his extremity ne was now sure q
heaven and ahould be executed before ne
could possibly change his mind.
THEIR CRr,tE.
A long list Of capital crimes was ey-
plated by the death Of these four cuIprits
to-day at the hands Of that law they had
so fearleasiy defed. Eta story, 50 derived
from their OWE confessions, shows with
what femorseless deliberation tho mur-