The New York herald., 1878-08-24
EXECUTION OF JOHN LocKLEAR, NELL LoCz
LEAR AND PoMPEY EAsrERLIN.
[BY TELEGRAPH 10 THE HERALD

bENHEtISviLLE, o. O August 40, 1oto
Fully three Thousand persons gathered here tn!s
morning from Marlboro and the nsghboPpg ooun-
ties, attracted by the announcement OF triple
cuton--tho hanging OF tho two hsl-breed brothers,
John and NeiIi Lockiear and Pompey Easter
lin, their black accomplioe The crime for
which these men were executed was the
murder OF Frank Bryce, Irish psdlsr, ON
the 25th OF February last Bryce had visited Mark
tho purpose or disposing Of his goods, and
had remained IN tho neign borhood for some days.
Hs several times TO the house OF John Lockear,
where he mot the two brothers John and Ncill, and
drank and traded with them. On the trial IL was
shown that Pompoy Easteriing, q black msa
Of bad character, present and oonspired
with the LockIcar brothers 10 murder the
pedler. The murder was committed near the
old mill place Ia the broad light OF day, although no
tns pealer was Tiadied with shot his skull was
broken, and ball nred from his own pistol
legged IN mrs % 20 basn rs me a.
their victim, but they found him stili alive fnsv
then stripped him OF his cio.hns ..d '.s,ag h,s owa
the vicinity Of the place where The iou deed had been
committed.
Pompey Eastering was frat caught tried and con>
victed, and sentenosd 10 be hanged the ID or
LocxIears we're captured, aud Easterling was re-
spitcd until o-daN. the Lockiears were tired before
Judge PrcssIy al the last term oi court Marlboro
the fury CONSISTING Of iour eight coiorsd
men. Ihey ably defended, but their own stato-
msnts confessions fastened ths gait upon them,
and both found guilty and sentenced TO be
hanged on The % OF August. When me sentsDoe
OF dcath was pronouncss by Judge Prssely, the
eldest prisoncr, John, msdo speech 10 whtch he
protested his Innocence and pleaded ptsously ios
mercy. Noiii the younger, said nethihg and exs
hibited NO nervousness or feeling
AxrIcEpESrs cuLPRfTs.
Tho two Lockiears were natives oi Scufnetown, N.
C., the place mado somowhst notorious by the sx-
plots OF Henry Berry Lowery anu his gang and we're
connections OF that famous family. John Locklear
was under indictment Tor the murder 81 the Mcleod
family, in Cumberland county, N. O., 10 1870, ana had
been Pcuiteutis.y for nve years BY Judge
Townsend upon an Indictment for grand larceny
committed IN this Sta,s He escaped from the
Penttcntisry, however, IN little less than .
year alter no sentenced. John Lockear was
thirty two years OF age, magnificent spec'mcn OF
ply sical dcveispment. formed IKE Apollo aud said
old, tnIck set abou, fvo feet inches nigh, pretty
much the same complexion AS John, with better
countensnce bot his iaoe dcvoid oi anything like
character rhsr hair black, looks nne aad silky,
curly but not kinky. Pompey Eastefling was blaok
OF powerful frame, and 70 knswn throughout the
county as OF the boIdest aud most dangerous Of
ruffane
EXECUTION
BY recent law executions In This State are strictly
private, eonseQQsnuy the great crowd OF whs
In the show disappoi TED. The
condemned men were all three hanged smultane.
ously on tho same gAilows Ia the Jail yard
strong military guard surrounded the pre- mtses. The
murdercrs made coaiessop, but for tnree ana .
halt hours before their death sxn,bted strong roll
gious sxcitemsnI Tney evlncsd no fear. The drop
fell at one +. n.