The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-01
JEALOUSY, REVENGE AND MURDER.

JEALOUSY, REVENGE AND MURDER.
GOVERNOR VANCE COMPUTES DEATH SEM
TENcE TO PENAL sERvIruDE FOB LIFE
ANOTHER STRANGE STORY OF cRIhE AMONG
THE coLoRxD PEOPLE.
PLrMourH. n. G., May 20, 1878.
Ben Smallwood colorsc. who 70 have been hanged
on the alss OF Nay and for which event every prep
araion had been made, left yesterday for Raleigh In
charge OF Sheriff ShsnilI, Governor Vance having dc.
cded to commute the sentence to bard labor In the
State Penitentiary. large crowd assembled TO sec
the negro start and the jeers and excavations that
assailed his ears in tho Of parting salute must
have been anything but pleasant.
A CAREER OF CRIME
Five years ago Smaliwood the clutches Of the
law In Berthe county. n c. ana was placed IN jail at
Windsor f,r shooting = negro woman with pistol
loaded with rusty nails. Smallwood and the woman
lived together and wiic. ana sho s yet sui.
icrcr from the effects Of tho shot, III the jail Al
Windsor at the time Smallwood was ipcarcerated Was
another negro named Dennis Brown. who was serving
q term Of imprisoppent for whipping the woman who
shared his bed ami board, but whose rela.
ton was not sanctioned by the Church or
The law OF tho land. Some time after
Browns Imprisonment tho woman. became the lawful
vito OF a negro named Britton veale who removed
her 10 the plantation Of Mr. William Norfee'. near
Roxabc anu together they went TO live in tho upper
story or bara. TINS marriage terribly incenYed
Brown and he swore vengeance, and when Smaliwood
took up his In Jail Brown easily obtained MS
new companion's consent to break jail and bear him
company numerous errand 10 the dwelling OF
Brition Veale. Inc work OF obtaining their liberty
was matter OF very little d,dicu'y, and together
they asd 10 the WOODS and looted Il stealthly away
IRON windsor without pursuit
MURDER.
few days aftorward tho noghborhood OF hox-
hail wan Ock e1
murder OF Britton Veas rms occurred about nine
O'Clock dark and stormy night In the spring time
OF the year, According TO Inc statement Of the wife
VeaIe, with his family, woro seated al supper a. the
Time, when they wore all suddenly disturbed BY the
violent shaking o piete oil chain fastened on one OF
the front posts used lock the door on the
outside. veaie opened this door, and In an instant
shot through the head ana fell dead TO the ground
outside lie died SO quickly that biscuit he had 10
his mouth eating remained there until the Coroner's
chin and passed OUT a. tho top Of tho head showing
that the ASSASSIN was Immediately under mis- victim.
ESCAPE OF THE MuRDERERs.
Brown and Smallwood were l suspected, bus
they SO we'll concealed themselves in the woods aud
swamps thai pursuit did not take place for nearly
three months Finally the murderers Toll IN company
with u vagabOnd white tramp namcd ST. Clair, aud
grew bold and reckless In toraging Tor food that
they would in broad daylight defanty steal the aim
ncr buckets bags OF the negro ploughmen at WORK
10 the corndeds. Sheriff +. w. Bell, OF Bortie. was
then notified OF the Whereabouts OF the gang and
posse OF Sky odd men started capture the trio OF
mArauuers. The tugitivos were In due time started
from their lair ~ Tie woods aud run into deep
ravine, but tho darkncss OF night coming on ths
Sheriff SIMPLY posted his watch aud decided to await
daylight. wnen the dcsperadoes could be sur
rounded and captured without q conflict, as II Wal
we'll known that Brown and Smalwood we're well
armed with pistols ana Knives Morning came. how
over, ana thorough search OF the ravine by early
dawn only revealed The discomntirg TACT That sthe
birds nown.o About hall milo away ono OIL the
'.come on As all were mounted the signal was soon
answered, when II was asccrtainsd that the iugves
had just been seen and mad hastily struck Into tho
swamp Judge, in close vicinity. alter nring several
shots Al tue lone member oil The Sherins posse WHO
up with them. Further pursuit was then neccs-
sarlly abandoned by Snerif Bell Soon alter II was
learned tina, Brown and Smaiiwood had escaped INTO
hertiord county, and the former disappeared from
the country and heard OF more
THE RETURN AND CAPTURE.
Three years ago Smailwood returned to BERTHE
county onder an assumea name. Al Windsor ne got
into row ana tried 10 kin white man. crowd
gathered anu put twenty buckshot into Smallwood's
body and be was captured and placed IN jail Snsrn
sioutly denied his name and Identity until alter bis
trial as an accessory murder Of Brt,op veaie.
far as assisting 10 rattle the bring vcals out
OF his cabin He was speedily condemned TO death.
procured rsp a ana 'p ne case was sa H
found guilty, and second time was condemned 10
DEATH Smsllwood now tried his hand at jail break.
Ing, and succeeded in escaping from the prison IN
Plymouth and regAining his liberty. He was IN bad
luck, however, and IN very short Time was recap
tureo aud returned 10 prison and heavily manaced
Tho session Of the superior Court liked the day Of
execution on the 3lst Of May.
PLEA MERCY.
petition signed by the jurors, solicitor, nom 5ers
OF court ana some four hundred citizens OF w ash-
inzton county was forwarded 10 Governor Vaace,
imprisonment Tor hle counter petition
from nearly one-haif OF the ci,izsns Of Berne
county, including large number OF ladies, was also
forwarded the Governor, asking him not to inter-
fero but allow the sentence OF the 10 DO carried
bao character aud doubtless guilty Of other crimes
equally as heinous yet not ascertained. Tho Wash
Tso naS s
TO 8 lifetime OF hard LABOR and penal servtude