The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-06-06
FINALLY FIXED
WAS THE ROPE AROUND
EDWARD WEBB'S
NECK AT MANSFIELD FRIDA

His BODY here-ftiS SOul Gone
! 's Marching On.''
| From our own REPORTER.
MANSFIELD, ONO, May 81, 1878.
Edward Webb to-day, in the pres.
encc of $4,000 people was launched in.
to eternity amidst the plaudits Of the
multitude. The murder of which
Friday was the ending was commit.
| ted on Thursday night December Glib
1877. The particulars of the brutal
affair briefly stated are these:
VIM. S. Finney was a wealthy farm
er living two miles north of this place.
The family consisted of himself, wife,
son, sons wife and a grand daughter.
The murderer, Webb, was a negro
gardner living in Mansfield. He had
often been employed by Mr.. Finney
and had been kindly treated by the
family. While enjoying their hospi-
tality, Webb matured plan to rob
the house. This he attempted about
II o'clock the night of the sixth. and
was discovered by VIM. S. Finney.
"A blow from a gun laid Mr.. Finney
dead at the brute's feet; rushing over
the body he dealt the wife a blow,
fracturing the skull. The son appear
ed and was dealt Il heavy blow. The
fiend turned and fled to be arrested,
tried, convicted, and sentence of death
was passed upon him. Your reporter
arrived at Mansfield last night. The
city was the scene OF the utmost &C.
tivity and cXcitement.- Thousands of
people were on the streets; police and
soldiers were passing rapidly groups
of men were discussing the event of
o-morrow, the opinion being freely ex-
pressed that the inclosure would be
torn down and the execution made
public. 'All night could be heard the
tramp of feet and buzz of voices.
Morning came with no change except
a larger crowd.
The Jail is situated in the east part
of the city and has jall-yard SUR
rounded by a high fence, inside of
which was erected the scaffold, around
the gallows was an inclosure eighteen
feet high, twenty-four feet wide, and
forty feet long. The Jail and inclosure
were connected by a covered passage
way seven feet wide and ten feet high.
Through this Webb was to be taken.
Outside the Jail fence double guard
n militia hoo ho
was no disturbance until IL O'Clock.
AT this time the crowd had increased
to a mob of 10000. They surged
against the guard and a straggler
would break through the line and
give those having passes who were
standing next the Jail. The excite
ment was increasing, and, expecting a
volley from the guards, the reporters
clamored loudly for admittance to the
Jail. The protection of the brick walls
was the objective position. 1t is a
fact that mob has a grander appear
ance viewed from safe position. We
were admitted, and, going rapidly
through the Jail, we reached the pass
age way and thence to the inclosure.
The cheering had grown in volume.
Gecrs and curses intermingled with
the screams Of women, were heard.
a lond crash accompanied by unearth.
ly yells gave notice to those inside
the inclosurc that the mob was mas
ter of the situation, and had destroy.
ed the Jail fence. Taking the posts of
the fence, the mob used them as bat
tcring.rams against the Enclosure, and
in an instant, boards, timber and de-
bris was falling on those inside. The
sight of the black scaffold ana dang
ling moose rewarded the efforts of the
mob. While this was transpiring, the
loud laughter of Webb conld be heard
at intervals. The Sheriff came for
ward perfectly cool and appealed to
his hearers to desist and let the law
take its course. At this the mob be-
came more quiet. The destruction of
the inclosure made it necessary to ask
instructions from the Governor. A
few minutes after II o'clock a reply
came to execute the law according to
the sentence OF the Court" When
this was announced, the crowd cheer
ed wildly. In twenty minutes Webb
was led on the scaffold firmly bound.
lie smiled at the masses covering the
streets and buildings for blocks away.
On the trap, the Sheriff said, shave
YOU anything to say, if SO say it quick
ly." Webb looked straight ahead and