Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-09-28

7T7-f-&i &--TT --7E
traps. one having been made for Morris.
The floor of the traps was not more than
three feet from the ground, but under 1t
was pit some three feet deep SO that a
fall of about four fest would be given. The
cells of Morris and Mrs. Lawson were only
a few feet from the gallows and they
could seq and hear all that passed, but
across Norris window his wife had
Stretched her wooden shawl which shut
out the fearful sight. At 81 o'clock the
Sheriff admitted the legal spectators and
detail of themilitary and in few min
utes with one or two of his deputies enter
ed Shifiett's cell where he was alone. lie
looked up and was told the time mad come
and ceased moaning to say sail right" lie
moved we'll along the short corridor until
he reached the door which opened into the
narrow Jail yard where the galloWs and
specta tors stood, when he seemed stricken
with terror and burst into agonized crying.
On reaching the platform he sat IN chair
sobbing and saying ''Oh me! Oh me!'' When
Rev. Mr.. Barr commenced. reading from
the platform Shifett's last statement Shift
lett looked up and said in a loud voice,
s'yes that is my diving statement" and
kept quiet during the reading of the fol
lowing
], Andrew shiffett do on this 25th day OF Septem
ber 1877, make the following statement and call On
About four weeks before the murder of David G.
Lawson, Saml Han offered me money to XII the SAG
refused to kin the said Lawson for the said Hall;
did not kill the said Lawson at all. When Lawson
was killed, Was on knoll on the side OF the noun
tain thrne-fOurths of mile from the place where nc
was killed. expected he would be Killed there anc
went to that knoll to hear the shot fired and die
ten minutes when the shot was fired AS soon as
heard the gun fire, went home lcannot say wht
killed him. After the said Lawson was Killed, TN
said am Hall who offered me money to Kill the sale
Lawson, told me he would pay me money II L woult
say nothing about the offer he made to kill Lawson
He paid me two or three dollars TO Keep Silent apou
When Wyant met me on the road, [alluding t.
Wyant's evidence during the trial, was turkey
hunting and it was in February when he saw me OF
the ground and not about week before Lawson wa
murdered las Wyant testifiedl Burriss William
wagon sesseu that lad ked lawson and eserybed
knew it," Silas Morris never persuaded me to xii
the said Lawson nor dd he either taId oer OF pay
| before Lawson was Killed, that he suspected the
we're going to kill him. but did not say who he suS
Mrs. Louisa Lawson did not speak to me NOR
mai sa iVr ed a the
to me, IF you was to do it you would be paid for ii
I've got no money" aluding to the killing ~ Of Law
1 son. 1 confessed two weeks ago that Killed Law
son, but the confession was falSehood did 1t be
| cause was promised money and wheat for my chill
dollar was paid to my wife while she was sick. (tw
| weeks ago. 1t was arranged between Silas Morr1
and Mrs. Louisa Lawson and myself 1t was to brin
| Hall and BurriSs Williams i'll for swearing our live
This is my dying statement, And now prayin
| jesus Christ for salvation. say farewell.
At the conclusion of the reading. tn,
minister bade HIM farewell saying, $500
be with you," and left the platform, ant
the Sheriff took hold of Shiflett to stan(
him on the trap, He was obedient to tn,
slightest touch, and rose from his chair
crying and sobbing After getting unde
the beam he took a pin from the lapel O
! his coat and pinned the handkerchief hi
had been using to his breast. He was cry
ing out in . loud voice all the while the,
were tying him. IF I had done anything
to have my life taken it would be different
You may hang me, but you are doing
wrong, you certainly are, gentlemen. Oh
be with me my Saviour You can take my
life, gentlemen, but you take it for nothing
Did ever expect that l would come tC
After the black cap was put on. his
cries became even louder and he entreated
'Don't hang me, Mr.. Ralston; oh, if you
please, DON'T" The sheriff came off the
platform. Except the voice of the man sc
near death, all else was quiet as death it.
self. Some of the spectators left the yard
some turned their faces to the walls. The
sun was shining brightly in the little en-
closure Every step Of the sentinel outside
could be heard with painful distinctness
A little brown sparrow lighted On the yard
wall, twittered and flew away. A short
click broke the stiffness and the black Cal
from which the voice of entreaty still came
shot down into the pit without stop, A
murmqr If horror went through the crowd.
The rope had broken AND Shiflett was lyi g
doubled up in the pit: The horrined Oil
GERS rushed forward, lifted him out, and
untying him laid him on the grass, The
first man that got to him loosed the rope
which had choked him into silence, and the
moment it was done, his cries and en-
treaties filled the little yard again. DR.. ill,
the city physician, examined his neck and
found only red mark made by the rope
A messenger was sent for q hempen rope
the broken one being a cotton one.
AFEARFUL TEN MINUTES.
Until the rope could be gotten and fixed
Shflet lay on the grass face downward,
filling the air with his cries and entreaties as
before. Every man in the yard felt that
he would give the world if he could be re-
leased. Wine was brought him but he re-
fused it. After the new rope was fixed
Shiflett arose and with an officer on each
side again walked up the scaffold steps and
when on the platform his cries were con-
tinuous. When they were putting the
rope over his head he gave it look Of the
most intense horror. After the cap was
put on and the rope was being arranged he
cried, sob don't choke me. Put the rope
oyer this thing (meaning he bottom of the
black CAPT. it hurts my neck" Then he
shiyered and aaid good bye and in mo-
ment after was Crying out from under the
hot under here. Let me see daylight once
more" When the kind-hearted Sheriff lif-
ted it he looked at the spectators and said
''Good bye to all of you," and then FOR the
first time during the whole dreadful scene
his voice lost its piteousness and he said in
Il firm manly tone, "Jesus my Saviour be
with me now" The cap was replaced and
he cried from under it Don't ixtlle rope on
left side it hurts me-" In minute more
the officer had left the platform and at
nine minutes past 10 O'Clock the trigger
was again pulled and Shihett swung in the
air. His struggles were few and but few
seconds passed before his consciousness
ceased. He died of strangulation and in
eleven minutes his pulse had ceased.
The remains were put in q pine coffin
anu were gwen 20 MS felaplVeS. turner
and VIM. shinett, who carried them to
solomon shiaett's. in Green county, where
Shiflett's mother is buried.
THE EFFECT ON THE OTHER PRISONERS.
Next to the horror experienced by the
executed man was probably that felt by
the two other confederates, whose day of
execution is also fixed, and whose cells
were hardly ten feet from the platform.
Every sound was distinct to them. Dur
ing the terrible time Morris and his wife
sat in bis dark cell, With their arMs around
each other, filed with mortal terror, and
Mrs Lawson was ipp her cell, pacing the
The execution was rendered doubly dis
trsssipg by the breaking Of the rope, but
it was one Of these accidents that may be
called unavoidable, Sheriff Allalston having
taken every ,Rrecauti9ln against such an
ant nf,d mead r.