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

the officers some weeks, and was at last
by a decoy duck being sent to MN
with a proposition to help burn man
fence, aud getting him away from his nome
and into the. forest, the. decoy sprang q
him, and with a violent, struggle manage9
to hold him unit! the two officers secreIeu
in the woods. could come up and secure
him.
THE CONVICTIONS.
The three trials elected the substance OF
what we have written. Samuel Hall
shameless. and self confident witness but
one that the defence tried to lmpeach, ana
could not, was OF course the main one.
He was confirmed by his sister Rebecca
Hall, who one night standing outside OF
Mrs. Lawson's house heard her give
statement of the murder similar to that
stated by Hall. The coroborating evidence
appeared in the statement OF man named
Burris Williams, who was himself arrest
ed on suspicion of being implicated in the
murder and was being sent up to jail IN a
wagon hand-cuffed with Shiflett, and to
whom Morris had told that Shiflett com
mitted the murder. While in the wagon
Shifett said to his fellow prisoner, II dld
kill Lawson, but DIN you if you ever tell
it l'lI finish you.'' This same witness who
was also unimpeached testified to the
shocking fact that one day Mrs. Lawson
offered him half dollar to go out with
her husband with the wagon as she expect
ed him to be killed that day. He went
but no shot was fired. He heard cap
|. snap, as they were coming home but saw
nobody. Two other witnesses tetified that
on the day mentioned by witness they were
going over the road and heard the cap
snap ard. a moment after, saw Shlt1ett
step out of the woods looked startled at
seeing them, and sat down on a stump lay
ing his gun across his lap. Thetrials end
| ed with the conviction and sentence Of each
of the prisoners, but one showing any emo
ton at the sentence, and that was Mrs:
Lawson. Her sentence by Judge O'Ferrell
though brief was one of the most eloquent,
and touching ever delivered, and during
It's delivery Mrs. Lawson wept bitterly.
The trials were presided over by Judge
Clias T. O'Ferrall with ability and in such
|. a humane manner as to have commanded
the confidence of the condemned prisoners
who have since repeatedly sent for him to
visit them in the gall
STATEMENTS AFTER SENTENCE.
Mrs. Lawson who brought on the crime
as well as the fatal exposure, has since her
sentence made no statements likely to
compromise herself and persistently asserts
her innocence, Morris has so far commit
ted himself as to admit that he knew OF an
intention to murder Lawson by Sam Hall
as related above and Shit1ett has told
number of remarkable stories. On one Oc-
casion Capt John. Paul, the Common
wealth's Attorney, who convicted him was
sent for to come to his cell. There he
found Gen. Roller, counsel for Mrs. Law
son and Morris. Shiflett then madea 'scon-
fessionn to the effect that Sam Hall had
furnished him gun and that he, (Shifett)
ha killed Lawson and that Mrs. Lawson
and Morris knew nothing about it. Capt.
Paul left the room and went into Morris
cell and in a few minutes wassent for by
Shifiett and went. Gen. Roller had then
left, Shifett said he wanted to see him pri-
vately as he didn't like to talk before 'their
lawyers and went on to say that he had
been paid by Mrs. Lawson and Morris
while in jail to make that statement and
that the truth was that "Silas Morris came
after me half a dozen times to shoot
Lawson and the widow, Mrs. Lawson,) is
as deep in it as any Of u.s." After that he
denied to Judge O'Ferrall having shot
Lawson at all, and finally his dying state
ment given further on in this account diff
fers from the other statements.
AREsPITE. n rsi- ,4
Tuesday was the day fixed for the execu-
tion of Shifett and Morris, but on Mon
days down train at III O'Clock came from
Richmond Mr.. Chas. L. Todd, member of
the City Council there, and a brother OF
Mr.. Jno. W. Todd, of Staunton, with a re-
until Tuesday, the 23d of October
1.-THE Tuesday before Mrs. Lawson is to be
executedl. The respite was granted on
some letters written from Harrisonburg
after Shifett's first statement, exculpating
his two confederates, and was carried by
Norris wife, who also carried letters OF
introduction to Mr.. Todd, who laid the
papers before the Governor, who returned
from Madison county on a telegram from
Secretary of State Mcdonald, informing
him of the application. The Governor
disapproved the sending of the application
to him without previous conference with
Judge O'Ferrall and Commonwealth At
torney Paul, but the imminenee OF the
matter induced him to grant 1t, and Mr..
Todd was asked to be the bearer. On get
ting his respite Morris seemed very CRATE
full, but far frem relieved, and when the
reporter saw him few minutes after was
sitting on cot with his wife, a little wo-
man, dressed in black, reading a religious
book called IA little here and a little
there" He seemed nervous and distressed,
but his wife, who follows him. about the
cell as closely as his shadow, seemed more
hopeful and answered questions for him.
She said that the children, who had been
sent home in view Of the dreadful Tues
day, would now be sent for to see their
father again.
THE DAY BEFORE.
The day before the execution Shifet was
visited by Rev. MI. Barr, of the Episcopal
church by whom he was baptized Sunday
afternoon, having made a profession OF re-
ligiOn, and by Rev. Mr.. .Eggl6Ston, OF the
Methodist CHURCH, two Clergymen who
have been the spiritual advisers Of the |
prisoners since their sentence, and by a |
lady, a devoted member of the Episcopal
church, who has been unremitting in her
attentions to the spiritual and physical
wants Of the prisoners. The gloomy silence
of the cells Of the condemned had CHASTITY |
and Q steam organ, which pllyed in the |
gay procession OF Knights in armor and |
women on horseback, made by Coles cir
Gus, which passed near the Jail, in full |
hearing of the wretched prisoners. The |
gallows had been made and ready for cree
ton, and for the execution. which, through |
the frmness of Judge O'Ferrall, was to /
be private one, and the tickets to the |
number Of forty had been issued. In the
evening ShiEett parted with his wife and
children, and the scene wss very affecting.
After their departure he spent d restless
night, and the sheriff's guards, Who were
pacing in the bright, still .oonlight, could
hear his means. He had told
the clergyman, hqweyer, that he was not
afraid to die: ...4.
H.. Ytiisr IN THE CELL.
Ehe condemned man neXt morning had
nc appetite for breakfast. He dressed in
3 neat black sqit and had on q low but
toned vest, above WHICH appeared white
shirt bosom and narrow cdliar and cravat.
He wore a pair Of new shoes. In his cell
about O'Clock were Rev. Mr.. Barr, Rev.
Mr. Eggleton, DR.. Tatem, a well known
physician, and the pious lady mentioned !
heforn Mr. Barr read the service for the