Smyrna times., 1878-03-27
Chambers and Collins Hung,
CHAMBERS PROTESTS HIS INNOCENCE UPON THE
SCAFFOLD.

81 !hiuuletoWh, New Castle county, on tn
10th OF August last, were hung in the iai
yard IN New Castle last Friday at Il I,
7 sons. P0i
At s o'clock Warden Herdmop tool
breakfast, consisting of beefsteak, rolls anc
cofee, to them, but they ate very little
They drank their coffee, however, and an
peared to relish it very much. y
About $50 o'clock they were visited b,
isaac Young and Thomas w Herbert
colored, and religious services, consistin .
OF prayer and singing followed. Chambers
prayed loudly and ferventlv that he mi,bt
nave strength in his hour of trial TTe
nhlshed by praying for Governor Cochran
saying; "God bless the Governor of tLe
ctaVe may he be wise ruler-an Isroelita
lhueeu' IN whom there is no guile. Bless
our enemies" he continued. "and orort
tn"t we ", may meet where parting is no
AT 1910 Rev. B. McMackin. Bantist
minister OF New Castle, entered the ceII
None OF the prisoners relatives visitoJ
| them. 'l9'teu
Al IO.4O Warden IIerdman entered tba
prisoners cell, accompanied bv Meesrs
NaIlandIgham, Morrow and Turner ond
remained about five minutes. Tbev tha1
came out, but the three ministers nomed
SUN remained and talked with the mon
CoIii 0oIn OF whom appeared much affected
coi'ihS more so than Chambers. The
!ofmer said he hoped to meet all his friends
IN better world. nus
At 1870 Mr.. Herdman again entared tlo
cell and plnioned the arms and bonds of
the prisoners, and seven minutes LATER tbev
were led out into the prison corridor, Tbo
" noothed men, escorted by the Sheriff tbe
heTs' Messrs. Herbert, Young, McMackin
ana the Warden, proceeded directly to tbe
yafd ana assembled the scaffold.
~, ABOUT 200 or 225 people were in the ward
t ne prisoners took up their positions ON
u! the scaifoid facing the throng, Collins to
the lett OF Chambers
AZ II o'clock the Rev. Mr.. McAiackin
prayed aloud for about five minutes. the
prisoners frequently saying amen"
:, A hymn was then given out by the Rav
Mr. oung, two lines at time. and snng
oy the prisoners in a rathar low and somc, |
audible - IL was IN
At lilo, the men being asked if thew
rau at~ anything to say, Chambers spoke rs
- thank Thee that have lived to see
- y, az" my prospect Is bright before
me, lor l have a good hope beyond the
Sl"tG: NY dear, blessed Lord, feel TODAY
/. st i"t soon shall leave this life and go to
l feel that the Lord Jesus has blessed M. r,a
and that expect to stand beforo I1ii,' nle
ana hope to soon receive the reward nf
my la6ors, realizing that am going 10 ouit
'hls sinful life. | thank God thai lie has
saved me, and pray Him to take NV sonI
IIO IItO Ills Keeping. For the last 30 wears
ne mas blessed me and have been for 20
Ears trying to get ready for this day, when
nc Is going TO take me home, and now I
an ~ gong TO take my departure to a life of
sloiy' Lord: look upon every one | leave
IenInu me, and grant that this NAV be
sarhlhg 10 the people of the whole United
states. God bless the Governor of thia
'tate Keep him under Thy kind nrotec. ,
ION make him q wise and usefui ruIor
ma Tor what he has done me wrong cd ,
orgNe MN. Lord, bless the Sheriff. mako ,
nm faithful and useful man, and NAV
'e the last man he will ever be called mon ;
hang. Bless those white friends that :
iand around, and may this be memor. ,
ole thihg 10 them to keep them from the Z
,t arS OF hell, and Lord keep them under d
ny protection. Now, Lord, remember me y
- ITIeDQS. l.
Cnahioers went on to say that he was ]
ieety innocent. ~ am going to tell b
W ou Tue honest truth. You are going to n
unish an innocent man to-day. If there n
yer was an annocent man here stands ono =
efore you. | am going to testify 70 tho
uIh' ana l am an honest man going ~ | Il
le grave; an innocent man. I was cheateJ -
the men who brought me from MiddIa. i
,wn, and by the Esquire and ConstabIe E,
leel That only one side of NV case has n
zen heard, and that 1 am going to be hnng =,
scause they have the power and bovs n
" tne power to prevent it. God forbid Al
lat the State OF Delaware shall ever hang =,
iothef innocent man under the same -
rcumstances." kr
Ehamoers = then ceased for moment. and r
~ IN a husky tone, Let me 60. now. | Oh
ready, my life work is DONE" G.
Collins also spoke but only few words b
e SAID in low voice something like Prav n
uod Tor my sake, and meet me in at
All left the scaffold then excent Tho al
lerilf, Warden and Rev. Mr.. Young m
lerlii Grubb fixed the moose on Chambers th
"a warden Herdman on Collins. sa
Herdman adjusted the black. .oans and nj
en- stepped back, and at Ills Sheriff al
uoo picked up the hatchet, and at two 81
ows severed the rope, and the bodies shot ra
'alght down with a simultaneous tbud as
le moment after Collins had dropned he oo
lde one convulsive movement, but hung pi
riectly still afterwards Chambers drew pi
mself up several times and then made no
her motion except that occasioned bv
eathing' which continued about five nc
nutes. of
A
~ ll.36 Thomas Russell cut the ropes on
q Sheriff Grubb lowered the bodies into III
collins. Russell cut the rope off their Gu
cks after they were in the coffins. and pa
ok charge of the bodies. in
No one has applied for them and thew I'M
re inferred in the Almshouse buryins ma
'und at Wilmington. ore
Chambers body looked composed the lee
y = oeins partly opened and the lips just NJ
The gates then opened and the crowd TO-
Ipersed. no
The scaffold used was the same one On oe'
ich Rhodes was executed for killino 20
mple. I'M
William Dean, the Delaware aoitotor {
ties TO the Wilmington Commercial thai "ty