Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-08-10
NOT SWUNG INTO ETERNITY.
George Howell, COlOred. who was to be
Hanged nj Greeneville, Yesterday, for
the Murder Of Joseph Marlin, in
December, 1877, is Rns0it-
ed for Thirty Days.
On the GallOWs he Reiterates a State
ment Made At the Time Of his Arrest,
that he 5surdered his Victim at
the InStigati0n OF his Fam
iIy-His Warming.


iIy-His Warming.
Special to the Appeal
GREENEvILLE, August 9.-On Friday, De-
cembar %, 1877, near Fullen's Depot, in
Greene county, foul and most atrocious
murder was committed. Joseph Martin had
returned from Rheatown about dusk, had
eaten supper and was sitting in his parlor,
surrounded by his family Martin sitting in
front of the fireplace, daughter on either
side, son in the back part of the room), when
shot burst through the window, striking
him IN the ear and tearing away his jaw.
Martin at once sprang out and ran through
his field IN the direction of the house of Thos.
Stokes, neighbor of his, crying loudly for
help. Stokes heard the noise and met Mar
tin about half way Martin was accompanied
by his son and negro boy, George Howell 10y
name, who had lived with him for six or
seven months. Martin told the negro and
his son to go back to the house and see what
become OF the children. Martin was taken
to Stokes's house, physician summoned,
and was thought not to be fatally injured.
Stokes, at Martins suggestion, about mid
night, went to Martin s house, and found out
that the negro bad fed. This aroused sus-
picion against Howell. Martin died at four
O'Clock Saturday morning. Howell boarded
the night freight-traIn and went to the resi-
dence Of a Mr.. Mitchell, the father-in-law of
Martin, and informed Martins wife, who was
waiting at her fathers to hear of the shooting.
She and the negro returned home about
twelve o'clock Saturday, when Howell was
sworn as a witness by the jury of inquest.
Thereupon a searching cross-examination
brought out the fact and made him confess
to have threatened Martins life, on the even
ing Of the murder, to Martins daughter,
stating TO her that he had come within an
inch OF sticking an AK IN his head in the
woods. The investigation of the jury was
to meet at Rheatown at three
O'Clock. On the way up, and while at dinner
at 3. C. Marshall's, w. L. Mitchell said:
George, wonder that you were not afraid
to shoot Martin at the time you did, for fear
of hitting one of the children" George re-
sponded ''Oh, I'm good shot. 1 took aim
at the butt of his ear, and | knew | would
bring HIM" Howell then freely confessed
the murder to W. I. Mitchell and D. c.
Dukes, stating to them that it was under
stood Ia the family that Martin was to be
killed, and thai he was to do it. He said he
had made up his mind to kill him for a month
or more, that Mrs. Martin had hired HIM TO
do the deed, promising him to bake some
sweet-cakes, and that his son Robert had Of
fered bIm two calves and a pig If he would
Kill his father. Howell states that when
Martin requested him to return to the house
and see after the children, he entered the |
house and put the gun away, and that Mar |
tin s daughter Margaret gave him clean !
shirt and told him he had better leave the |
country. This the family deny. Robert says !
that Howell did not enter the house, but |
stopped at the well-houSe. In support of
this theory the gun was found at day |
light leaning against the well house. |
In support of Howell's statement it was
proven that he did have on a clean shirt at |
the June term of the circuit court, when |
Howell was put upon MS trial. After three |
days of argument the jury returned a verdict !
of guilty, and the court sentenced George |
Howell to be hung by the neck until dead, ON
the ninth day of August. The prisoner was
calm and quiet this morning. He was visited |
by the brothers of the deceased, TO whom ne !
still averred that the family knew all about |
the transaction. In a statement which he |
for the scaffold. he says: Looking |
back over my short career, | see a lesson |
which speaks in thunder tones to the young !
men OF my race Young men, young colored /
men especially, heed the voice of one now /
gong into the t)mb-oGe who stands shiver- |
ing upon the brink of the lone river. Oh, l |
beg of you, take warning by my sad fate. |
Do not run heedieSsly from the parental roof. |
Do not commence a wild, tramping, rowing |
life Be content to remain at home. Do not |
murmur at those who are older and wiser. |
Born In Lagrange, Georgia, In October, 1861, |
both OF my parents we're slaves. | lived at |
Atlanta SIX or seven years, and came with
my father to Smyrna, Georgia, and, taken |
with d rowing spirit, visited Gainesville and |
Dalton, Georgia; Cleveland, Knoxville and |
Bristol Tennessee, and different points In
Virginia. In November, 1876, l returned to
Tennessee, and, stopping at Fullen's Depot, |
In week or two hired myself to Joseph |
Martin, the murdered man. | discovered a !
between Martin and his !
family, and they had frequent wrang-
lings, and Martin had threatened to kill his |
wife. Mrs. Martin came to me and told me |
that Martin had threatened to kill me and |
and that had better kill Martin, promising |
me some cakes if | would do so; Bob prom |
ising me two calves and pig. The scatfold |
was erected IN d place known as "Gallows
Hollow" where four or FIVE persons had been |
previously hanged. Howell is the first per
son to be hanged 10 Greene county since 1888.
He is above the average, Of his race In IN
telligence, and has not deviated in his state
ment of the crime, though frequent efforts
have been made to get him to contradict him
self.
\ PoINTMENT-THREATs.
Six thousand people assembled to witness !
the hanging of Howell, but to the astonish- |
ment of every person, at thirty-fve minutes |
after eleven O'clock this morning the sheriff |
received a dispatch from Governor Porter |
the execution. The action Of the |
governor has excited disgust, and fears are |
that the prisoner will be lynched |
tonight.
Tom Marshall was shot at shutdown by |
man named Davis. the mayor has doubled |
tee police force.
A RESPITE.
Special to the Appeal
NASHVILLE, August Ex-Governor Porter,
at quarter past ten o'clock this morning,
raoa;va1 Tho d;oDatnb frny,, Graana-