Middletown transcript., 1878-03-23
THE GALLOWs ]
CHAMBERS AND COLLINS EX-
ECUTED AT NEW CASTLE
YESTERDAY!

ECUTED AT NEW CASTLE
YESTERDAY!
Especial to the Transeript.l
New CASTLE, DEL, March %, 1878.
To-day Samuel Chambers and Gee.
Collins we're hanged BY the neck Gun
il dead,' in the Jail yard, at New Cas-
tie. The particulars Of
THE CRIME
for which these two men suffered the
death penalty to-day, is familiar to the
greater portion Of our readers, the out
rage having been committed within
halfmile Of Middletown.
Mrs. Kate Smith, in company with
her husband, started down the State in
search Of work in some Of the numer-
GUS peach orchards. It appears they
had heard they would be likely to get
grnpI0y = = Round Round Top Top, Nd, Nd and
desired to reach that locality. They
reached the neighborhood Of Middle
town on the afternoon Of August 18th,
1877. They we're accosted by the two
negroes who were hauling peaches to
the depot, on the road leading west
from the town, when conversation
took place between the parties, the
tramps making inquiry in regard to
to where they could obtain work, and
the negro Chambers agreeing to take
them where they would find employ
ment. The negroes then proceeded
across field, followed by the Smiths,
and when corn-feld had been reach
ed, some distance from the public road,
the white man was Knocked down and
the woman hustled further into the
corn-feld where the crime was perpe-
trated.
THE ARREST
was made on the same evening the
crime was committed. Mrs. Smith
positively identified Chambers as one
Of the negroes who had committed the
outrage, but she was doubtful in regard
to the identity Of the younger negro,
Collins, and he was discharged, and
Chambers taken to New Castle. It
is said there was lynching move
ment on foot, which was only frustra-
ted by the shrewdness Of Officer r 9th
well, who started with his prisoner at
an unexpected hour.
On the following Saturday some new
facts in the case we're brought to light,
when Collins was re-arrested and made
full confession Of the guilt Of himself
and Chambers, and was also conveyed
to New Castle jail. The Smiths were
held as witnesses.
THE TRIAL
took place at the November term Of
Court, when the negroes we're ably de-
Tended BY J. L. Vsllandigham. Cham
bers was tried as the principal, and
Collins as an accessory, and although
the confession Of the latter was not ad
mitted as evidence, they were convict
ed, and sentenced to suffer the death
penalty on Friday, March 22d.
SOME NEW DEVELOPMENTS
we're brought out a few weeks ago,
when number Of Wilmington gentle
men interested themselves in the case,
and employed a detective to work the
matter up. Smith was also brought on
10 New Castle charged with perjury, he
having stated that he swore falsely in
regard to being married to the woman
upon whom the outrage had been com
mitted. The law not being such as to
hold Smith on the above charge he was
finally discharged, but the gentlemen
who had interested themselves in the
condemned negroes continued to work
the case up, and On Saturday last held
a conference with Gov. Cochran, at
Middletown, for the purpose Of
ASKING FOR A PARDON
for the doomed men. j. Z. Vallan-
digham, Henry W. Morrow and John
A. Myers, the detective, were present,
also Attorney General Pennington and
Magistrate Naudain. The Governor
heard the merits Of the case and care
fully consulted the papers submitted
to him, but after thorough investiga-
tion decided that the law must take its
course, and 50 informed the Secretary
Of State o. Wednesday, who, We learn,
communicated the facts to Mr.. Nor
row, and that gentleman, in company
with friend, Immediately went over
to New Castle for the purpose Of
BREAKING THE NEWS
to the condemned men. Chambers re
ceived the news Of his doom with no
perceptable change Of countenance,
while Collins shed tears and was much |
Both continued to protest
their innocence.
A number Of prominent gentlemen
from Wilmington again visited Mid
dletown, On Thursday, and held con
ference with the Governor at the Ma
tional Hotel. The object Of their visit
was to obtain a respite for the con
demned men, but this they failed to
Do, and we are informed that the Gov
ernor soon convinced them that his de- |
aiciaD Iuhiob - L. i ,,,.,.o1 - o44o,,