The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-09-11


of the decd, but under cross examina-
ton his answers were contradictory and
he was arrested and taken to Rheatown,
where he was examined before Justice
G. A. Shoun. On the way the prisoner
made a full confession to d. T.. Dukes
and VIM. T. Mitchell.
He was lodged in Jail at Greeneville,
Dec. goth ult., and the case came up be-
fore the February term, 1878, of the Cir
cult Court, but the trial was postponed
till the June following, when verdict
of guilty was rendered.
In his appendix" the publisher
says:
1.-The confession proper, was writ
ten at the suggestion of the prisoner,
Howell, and after some hesitation we
undertook the task The Ian
guage is our own, but we have adhered
strictly to the substance of the matter
as detailed by him"
IN PRISON.
During his imprisonment, Howell has
been visited frequently by clergyman
and others who have conversed and
prayed with him, but apparently with
out producing any impression to the
last. Many think him obdurate, though
others more leniently think he could
not comprehend the gravity of his situa-
zion. He appeared resigned to his fate
and expressed deep regret for the crime.
Our reporter visited Howell in his
cell yesterday morning, accompanied
by MeSsrs Dukes and Self. He was
reading the 4th chapter of John, and in
response to the question, said that he
hoped he was prepared to die. He also
said thai he derived great pleasure from
reading the Scriptures, especially a
chapter IN Revelations regarding the
Great Wonder in Heaven.
The statement having been made by
Messrs Frank and Sewer Martin, broth
ers of the murdered man, that Howell
had been prevented by Messrs. Dukes
and Self from reeanting his charges
against the Martin family for completely
in the crime. Mr.. D. asked the prisoner
to state if such was the fact, who re-
piled that it was not, and so far from it
that both those gentlemen had repeated
ly urged him to make a clean breast ct
it, and tell the truth.
Howell's health has been very bad fer
some time, and last week his life was
considered in danger. He stated that
he wished 10 see the Martin family at
the scaffold, where, if they came, ne
whnuld charge them with having
bought him. Howell requested that his
body should be given to DR.. J. r. Boyd,
cal examination, though he objected to
out-and-out dissection.
The crowd in attendance was small
a. compared with that which assembled
on the 9th Of August There, is, too,
considerable change of public sentiment
in regard to the completely of Martins
family in his murder.
AS is generally known, Howell was
Faspited on the 9th of August last, the
day tirst designated for his execution,
by Gov. Porter, through the exertions
of W. F. Yardley. Esq, who afterwards
unavailingly attempted to procure
Communication of the death penalty to
imprisonment for life.
THE GALLONS
Was erected one mile west of Greene
ville on the Knoxville road, and is the
first one on which 'drop" has been
used in East Tennessee for many years,
and was constructed at Howell's own
request, he not wishing to die qy stran-
gulation.
A little after 10 o'clock the black cap
and shroud were placed on the prisoner
in his cell, and the procession left the
Jail at 1910. p. m, reaching the gal
lows, near the fair ground, at 40. p.
IN. Silence was requested when How
ell made rambling, incOherent talk of
thirteen minutes, exhorting the young
people against bad advisers. He charged
the Martin family with being the cause
of his death to the last. He acknowl
edged his guilt, and the justice of his
sentence, and forgave the court, july
and officers.
The devotional exercises were con-
Quoted by Judge A. w. Woward.
At / :49 p. m. the black cap was drawn
and the prisoner stepped on the trap.
One minute after the cord was cut. and
he
FELL FOUR FRET.
In forty-seven minutes he was dead,
and. the body being cut down, was
given over to DR.. Boyd to partially dis
sect The crowd was very orderly du-
ring the execution.
Sheriff A. j. Frazier was assisted in
the performance of his unpleasant du.
ties by ex Sheriff w. S. White Hav-
ing been in Office only four days, this
was of course, his first execution. but
he evinced a GOODNESS throughout.
PREVIOUS EXECUTIONS.
The last man hung by civil process in
was Archibald Brown, for
The murder of Malinda HinkIe, about
twenty-six years ago. But the begin
ming of the war, there were two vic
inns of drum-head court martial execu-
ed. Hinchey and Fry. well known I'm
on men, for the alleged crime of bridge
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GreeneviIIe, Miss, reports 95