The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-04-18
FToia iA- g4is - Newa
Tae Lato Execution IN Greene.

Tac Lato Execution IN Greene.
III. LArE vicris 81 THE oaLtows.
Tho - called John Chal,ou. was born
n Wilson county N 1852 tic was iirst
owned by ianlly II the name Of bar
ham. from whom hc derived his true
name. lie assumed any name ~ pleas
nre, a nc wandered about from place ~
place. -Four Years ago he came IL
6Ieeuc county. and iiyst voted uh,lrr
tile name OF Chalton. which maine hc
has ever since retal ned Chalton. from
his eaIl4st infancy an. has always bo ne
a bad char zcter, ms ooy hood was Que OF
marked meannc>s aud raScality. aud as
he grew II the age Of manhood his course
"a> marked by deeds Of the b'ackest
sllialny. lie Was contined ia several
janis before coming here from which he
escaped by his herculean strength aud
daring. \ volume could be written
about his character. around which lin
gers - much romance and mystery as
around the celebrated Lowrs.
HIS cNtME-TnE VICTIM.
The deed for which lie was executed
Was committed ~ Greene, in September
last. Loseua Thompson, his step
daughter, wlth VII I'm. y is believed. he
had been having sexual intercourse,
was the victim 81 his pvcmcG5t.at.,d aud
iiendieh plot. lie believed sao WAS
having amours with another person.
aad III t. 1T dcape alton aud
jealousy, hn skulkcd behind her
for milo one evening in
September iaS., trying 10 shoot
her, but he did not succeed until she
arrived at a Init, which being entered by
her, hc shot her with his gun thrust
through the logs Is soon as the assa-.
sInatlon Was nuised abroad the sheriff
with posso of men started ia pursuit.
Their efforts were fruttless, and IL
vas thought bo had made his escape.
But 10y the persesering and Nigtlaut
search OF some negroes, (anI Il reflects
a great deal Of credit Oh tLeW) he WIS
captured some time after IN Wilson
Count where lie had taken refuge from
the law. lie was returned 10 Greene
County, and committed to iail At the
Spring term Of the Superior court. he
was tI.ed, and his guilt was found 80
conclusive, that he WAS sentenced II bo
hung on the 18th Of April. -.
ATTEMPTS To EsCArE.
During his confinement he made sev-
eral desperate attempts 10 escape. IN
which he nearly succeeded every time.
Just Oh the eve OF getting away. Some
time after his incarceration, hc concciy-
cd the desperate design ot escaping By
burning a hole through the cell. but
owing u the early hour of the night IN
which he commenced his yi.laIuDu-
york, the tire Was discovered aud Ell
tingu..Gcd before 1t had made any
headway. The sheriff DISCOVERING tic
kind of character hc had To deal with.
chained him hand and foot 10 the foof.
few nights after, without any ass.s-
tancSbeyoad his naked hands. he fent
the chain from his body and broke down
the iron door Ia his dungeon, aud was
nearly liberated, oaly = brick wall sep
arat!nG him from freedom, when the
noise or las operation WAS conveyed to
tie ears II q cOlosCl man living near
the Ja}; he VAS immediately secured
and placed N more secure confinement
than before. lie repeated his attempts
10 escape asain soon after, and with like
success.
REMARKABLE FHrsIOGSoxY.
Chaiton's couutcuance vas one. in
which the most critical physiognomist
could detect no taait his feAtares .ere
regular and well defined, bctraying III
evidence Of tie villain he vas lie vAs
well pfoport!oued aud powerful. - his
Geeds which are almost without a prsce-
den. prove; aud weighed about 30
pounds.
sToIcAL 1SDt.FEnEScE.
lie dcspailcd OF escaping some tim.
before his death, ard desired religious
ali, which Was rendered hi:n, both By