Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-06-22
SIX TRAPS SPRUNG
Swung into Eternity for Murders, Some
OF which were or the Most Brutal
Character-PaTticular OF the
Crime for which LeVels's
Neck was Broken.
2 wO Desperate Characters Make a Bold
Stand in the Face OF Grim Death
at Chicag0-An Old Mans
Murderer Hanged at
ChillicOthe.
Paris, Illinois, Entertained with the
Hanging or a Murderer, who Makes
his Mark "a Mu,Y of Cool
ness and BraVadO-Three
Death Sentences
COMMITTED.

mo COOLER MAN EVER STEPPED ON A
DEATH ENGINE"
Special to the Appeal
LITTLE Rock, June 21.-Jacob Levels,
colored, was hung in the county jail-yard
here o-day for the murder of another colored
man named Swan. No cooler man ever
stepped on a death engine. He assembled the
steps as firmly and with as little emotion as a
man would walk up to banquet. He took
his place On the trap-door and stood for q
moment regarding the upturned faces of the
crowd beneath him. A religious ceremony
was gone through with, after which he was
asked if he had anything to say. Only one
thing" he replied. prepare to meet me in
glory" The officers babe him adieu, and the
came down, and as it neared his eyes, still
that same resignation in his face, he closed
them forever. The moose drawn, he stood a
spectacle to be remembered. Not even the
light drapery showed signs OF the slightest
quIver. His hands were clasped, his chin
slightly elevated, the sheriff raised hand
kercbief the trap fell and Jacob Levels dan
gled in the air, having fallen about four feet.
His gasps and struggling for breath were
painfully audible. His shoulders and chest
underwent commissions, and after hanging
seventeen minutes he was pronounced dead,
and the body was lowered into the coffin.
LEvELs's CRIME.
On Friday, June 8, 1877, a difficulty arose
between Robert Swan, colored man en-
ployed on Mr.. Cordon's place known also as
the Baldwin place., and Jacob Levels, also
colored. Tue latter was somewhat of bully,
and was looked up to by the majority of the
hands on the plantation. He was unmar
ried, and Swans wife cooked for him and
was frequently at his cabin. On the day
above mentioned Swan quarreled with his
wife concerning her intimacy with Levels,
and told her If he ever found her in his house
again he would kill her. During the disturb
ance Levels came Up and took the woman's
Fart, which so enraged Swan that he struck
Levels and cut him in the cheek with
pocket knife. Levels ran to his house, got a
gun, and pursued Swan, but failed TO over
take him. On Sunday evening Swan, in COM
pany with another negro, went to LeVels's
house and begged his pardon, stating that he
had been so irritated by his wife conduct and
Levels's interference that he did not know
what he was doing. Levels refused to have
anything to say to Swan. and
DECLINED ALL FRIENDLY ADVANCES.
Swan came to town on Tuesday, and was
asked by an acquaintance how he and Levels
settled their dispute, and was informed that
they had made it up. Swan returned home
the same day. That evening Levels went to
the cabin of one Smith, whoilived near by,
and asked to borrow gun to shoot some rab-
bits, which were numerous on the place.
Smith told him that he had nothing but small
shot, which was thought to indicate that
Smith knew the object for which he wanted
the gun. He loaded both barrels and went
down the lane toward Swans house. Swan
was at that time engaged in setting out some
plants, cabbage or potato--and Levels stepped
up within a few PAGES and fred the contents
of one barrel into Swans body, and as the
latter turned to run shot the other barrel, and
throwing down the gun and Selling the hoe
which Swan had been using pursued his VIC
tim, whom he speedily overlook, knocked him
down and broke the handle in several pieces
over his head.
THE LAST WORDS OF SWAN
were, sake, didn't think you would treat
me this way" Mr.. Gordon had the wounded
man taken into his own house, and with diff
fculty prevented Levels from stamping upon
the body of the dying man. The most singu-
lar feature Of the case was that Levels him
self came to town during the night, went to
Coroner Woolford's house, and told him
murder had been committed. Being asked
who by, he said he did it, and even
went and procured horse for the officer to
ride to the scene of the murder and told him
who were the witnesses. The coroner went
down, and the above facts were elected at
the inquest. Some 6fteen witnesses were ex-
amined, and there was no material variance
in their testimony. The mother of Levels
was the only witness who testified that
SWAN HAD THREATENED To KILL HER son.
Under a mIsapprehension as to their duty,
the coroner's jury returned verdict of MUIR
der in the second degree. After the inquest,
Mr.. Woolford told Levels to 'come along"
and he saddled his horse and made no OBJ
lection. AS the coroner was unarmed, he
did not attempt to use force, but told him if
they could reach town before dark he could
probably end his friends, whom Levels
thought would furnish bail. Coroner Wool
ford rode on ahead, and seemed to pay no
attention to his prisoner, though he could
hardly be considered such. About two miles
from town Levels checked his horse and said;
1T seems to me if | go to dat town,
Ill Lay IN DE SHADE ALL SUMMER"
The officer encouraged him, and succeeded
in bringing him into town and turned him
over to the proper authorities, and his otfense
not being bailable he was committed to jail.
He was defended by able counsel, but was
convicted at the December term of the cir
cult court of Pulaski county, of murder in
the hrst degree, and on the twenty second
cuted on the first of March, 1877. The use
vas appealed to the supreme court OF the
State, aad, on tie eleventh ultlmo, that tn
bunal rendered. decree affirming the judg-
ment of the circuit court. Final proceedings
were then had, and on the twenty-seventl
uItimo Governor Miller sentenced Levels to
be hanged on the twenty-frst of June, which
was successfully accomplished as above re-
lated, Strenuous efforts were made by the
friends of the condemned man to obtain a
computation of his sentence, but without
success.
THREE DEATH SENTENCES COMMITTED, AND
EXECUTION OF ANOTHER SUSPENDED.
The sentence of the four men to be hung
at Fort Smith to-day was commuted by the
President. The Communication ct three was
received several days ago. Two hours bsfore
tins tune fixed for execution OF the other, dis.
patch was received from Attorney-General
Devens suspending the execution.
THESE TWO WE'RE ONLY QUIET AND COM
POSED.
Special to the Appeal
CHICAGO, June 21.-At twenty minutes
past ten o'clock this morning, Jere Connolly
and George Sherry were hanged at the coun-
b. jail for the murder of Hugh Knoxville, on
the Nineteenth of January last. The men
were quiet aud composed, and spent the last
few M uutes OF their lives in silent prayer.
They shu5dered vi-iI'y at the reading of the
death warrant ar I ? placing Of the rope
about their necks, D1t paid close attention &c
Father DonnerT, who was present on the