The New York herald., 1878-07-06
THE GALLONS.
Execution Of Dick loWson for the Murder
Of Frank Cunningham.
A WICKED WOMAN'S PLOT.
Execution Of Harrison A. BurkIow for the
Murder Of David Wagner
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
THoMAsToS, Ga. July s. 1878
To-day this little village witnessed the execution OF
q man whose crime had some very peculiar features.
About one year ago Frank Cunningham, a coiored
man, was killed by Dick Dowson, hts brother-in law,
In the woods near Thonastou. The Two
devoted friends nearly up 10 the time OF Franks
Death. Lucinda, the wife OF Cunningham, became
enamored OF Uowsou, who, in a sort OF passive
way returned her love. She was very passionate
woman and became impatient OF even
the slight obstacles that her husband pat in
tho way OF her Illicit amours that she determined to
havo him put out OF the way. II seems that her
hatred for her husband grew about rapidly as her
love for Dowson. She proposed her lover that he
should Kill her husband This Dowson declined posi-.
lively 10 do and tod her that she must never
to him with such wicked propositions any more. She
never yielded ber purpose however but quietly shifted
ner tactics. Sho told Dowson, who was very super
sttious negro her husband had conspred an
old negro tort une teller In the neiGhborhood to Lsko
away ais fortune and his lie. Win persistent cunning
she bed evsry OF Dowsons misiorunes this
cause. assuring him that his CROP winch failed,
had been bcwucned Dy the Old fortune teller
Juror under the direction OF her husband Sue told
nm that his nsh hooks in the river had been 'con-
jured and that he consequently could not hope 10
take any hsh, wher, IN truth, she and her husband
robbsd them almost nightly.
woxAN's wILEs.
At length, in romp with Dowson, she pulled g0nle
OF the hair Of the top OF his head He remarked
upon this circumstance hut ascrloed at the time TO
her boisterous romping aud made no especial COM
plant she sought nun out that ovening, however,
ana confessed 10 him that she had pulled hairs
out for purpose. That her husband had instructed
her 10 get nine hairs from the wool OF his head and
bring them 10 him. He (so saId) then took then
over them and gwen them back 10 Cunningham, with
Instructions TO wrap them securely about rusty nail
that he gave him and then to start the na into
tnat he poine IN the woods. He was hit this
nal one stroke day Tor nine days AT the ninth
Onnh al,
tree ana at this juncture Dows0n, through the work.
ing vi The spell, would die
TIE MURDER
From the IN oment that he heard this story Dowson
hcsitated longer about taking CunDnghaui's lie
He says that he was firmly convinced that II he al
Gun 10 complete the spell his lie
was gone. He therefore determined to kill him before
the nine days were out. He very soon made OF
portunity. He invted Cunningham 10 come over TO
his house and get fresh hog meat promising TO
givo him the half OF pig which ne mad Killed that
aay. Wnen the two had reached secluded spot IN
tho WOODS Dowsoh shot Cunningham aud concea led
his body In gully in the woods, where was found
a few days subsequently,. Dowson was arrested on
briefly narrated above. AS incredible as II seems It
is borne by corroboratns circumstances and there
is ttlo doubt thai Dowson was led TO Kill his friend
through superstitious lear. Lucinda has been
rested accomplce and Will be tried very soon.
II Is probable that she VIII be convicted
THE EXECUTION 1i
A crowd Of 5000 people assem bed 10 witness the
execuuoo. II was expected that Dowsou woulu make
some OF public confession, but his frlcnds ad
vised him against H. As ho had already made written
one, which Is IN the hanas Of the Court He spent
the ight quietly and calmly tll eight o'cocK, when
he sent for the preachers. they prayed with him
until one o'clock and theu went 10 the scorold
Dick got into cart leisureiy, surveyed the
CRITICALLY and calmly. he did not talk at all On
reaching the scanold he was asked ho innocent
or guilty. He declined to answer. He asked IL
he believed God had forgiven him. He said he icsEed
not A preacher asked MN II ne accepted Christ He
SAID nothing.
EXCITING SCENE
The crowd pressed up against The scafold and the
negroes wero greatly excited, shrieks aud screams
ascending from the crowd, Dicks friends and rea-
lives being especially vehement. They groaned 'Oh
my brother ~ ''God help my brotberi" "God noip
himi" DICK never quivered, and at leneth called
one OF his brothers upon the Hold, and,
taxing OF his shoes, gave them 10 the
brother, with some general directions. fhe
brother TOOK the shoes aud then swO0ned away
and IelI OF from the scanold This affected DICK,
and the screams OF the crowd became madde d ng
shat Sheri Blosngame determined 10 close the
promptly. He hurried on the fatal cap. bound the
mans hands and bidding him goodby sprung tho
trap Doxson tell eight feet, breaking his neck IN
sIantly. Hs was pronounced dead III fourteen min
utss. No accidents occurred through the intense
excitement.