The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-13

MURDER AVENGED
Execution Of William Shaw for
Wife Murder in Georgia.
A FIENDLSH CRIME.
-
The Culprit Believed to Have Killed
" Several Other Persons.
HIRAM FOOKS HANGED.
HIRAM FooKs HANGED.
Guilty of Killing a Sick
Negro Youth.
PIETY AND INNOCENCE.
[pY rrLroaApH TO THE HsnALp:I


MILLEpGEvILLE, Ca, July IL, ISIS.
To day, nj one O'Clock, closed this ancient
town the career Of OF the most poted crimA ais
that over stepped from tho scaifod in Georgia.
Richael Shaw having suffered the penalty OF deani
TOR the murder OF his vito.
CRIME
One morning, about two years ago, Mrs. Shaw, tho
wife OF Michael, found dead In the dining room
81 her home Her body horribly mutllated, and
The DOR, walls and door faclpgs OF the house were
tained spatercd with her blood and bruins. She
had evidently been assaulted the front piazza,
where she had struggled bitterly with her assaiiant
She had then been dragged into the dining room,
where, 1t appeared the murder had been completed.
The head crushed In ana the brains forced out,
tho skull having been battered by some blunt nstru
pistol ball had boon sent through the brain,
evidently Tor the purpose Of Fastening death.
heavy knot of lightwood lying near the corpse,
and covered with blood and hair, was plainly the
badgeon with which she had first been attacked. No
ono had witnessed Tho murder the daughter OF
the deceased, who TOO small to testify 70 what
bad happened. There had been attempt at outrage
Of the person robbery, and motive for the hor-
ribie deed appeared on the surface OF affairs
For some time there ciew which 70
hang Suspicion. Two negroes who had been seen
tho house that morning were arrested but after
. hasty trial were discharged Al length u shock
mother OF tho murdered woman. This old lady went
scfore u magistrate and swore that she believed
xishael shaw guilty OF the murder OF his wife.
shaw wns known TO have boon very desperate
nan and to have been the head Of gang Of
fespcradocs known "rhc Georgia Tigers but was
not generally believed that he could have murdered
his wiic. The neither based her AFFIDAVIT some
Information received from the little girl, on Tho
stalepen the VITO had made 10 the effect that
her husband had said he going to kill her ana
on the fact that she had frequently been beaten by
her husband.
UNEXPECTED EVIDENCE.
The arrest made, the TRIAL opened, and the case
appeared about to fail, when suddenly now witness
appeared A young boy about the town swore that
he had Shaw murder his vile Ho said that he
was passing the house, when bo Shaw run into
the piazza with heavy piece OF wood in his hand.
H. vino was standing the piuzza shaw won't
threalenpgIy up TO her. caught her ny the hair and
commenced beating her, The poor woman cried pite-
ousIy threw up her hands 10 protect herself from
The 20 weriui blows brutal husband rainod upon
At last snc sank exhausted upon the floor Shaw
hesitnted moment, then bounded forward swiftly,
caught tne grooming woman by the dress and dragged
her the house. Almost Immediately aitorward
pistol shot heard, and shaw came running out OF
Inc mouse Tho boy stated that he lad disclosed
this fearful story before because be afraid to do
SO while SHAW was at liberty. The story was told
Directly simply. and with gbtiorward air. IL
was borne out by cerroborAting circumstances Tho
suit OF clothes which the boy described Shaw
ing and which he SAID stained with blood, were
never found, and Shaw could never clearly account
which tne arng was said to have been done. il
was further argued that tho use OF the ehtwood knot
whom keen axe was lying oy ~ confirmed tho be,ieI
that II used by husband intent upon Furnishing
his vile rather than BY an outsider bent upon muir
der. 1t was shown, too. that Shaw had been very
cruel TO his wife had threatened her life Aitor
long ru.gie shaw found guilty. Tho usual CIR
cult appeal travelled and the result beng
unchanged the Governor was asked 10 interfere. He
declined do and the case was transferred TO the
Bcafoid
SOME BLOODY wonK By ''THE GEORGIA TIGERS"
After Shaw's arrest It was shown that he had been
much worse than the pubic supposed, and that
had hved in a dccp swamp, surrounded by several
desperate men. These ne had organized into sort
Of Tree riding BODY s"1S Sv as In ns GsSss,s
right aud lett less tnan I'VE or Six
murders having bean charged to their account
rhe disclosure OF their crimes made IN queer
way. VI course shers suspicion that dark ueeds
we're being enacted In the swamp, and It was almost
Impossible to got negroes 10 20 IN II to work A.
length Colonel AcCombs, who owns farm In the
swamp received an anonymous letter Notifying him
that Shaw and his gang had reign OF terrorism over
the swamp and had frequently committed murders in
s Depths The writer stated that TO verify hts words
he would point ont skeletons that belonged to
the vctlins OF these 'Tigers'' he therefore said
that Colonel McCombs would hna the skeleton OF one
BYstick who naa been killed, IN old well ~
place tina, he would 1nd Two more skeletons on Inc
creek by; that these were the skeletons oil Two
mon who had been working ior shaw, and that he
killed them rather than pay them Bssick was iass
seen, by the way, whom gong 10 Shaws TO collect
Some money. Colonel McCombs, mortified at the con-
skeletons described. Little by little tho story oil
the lie led by shaw in the swamp has come out,
until II seems that must have been deeply
dyed murderer. Hsd ne been acquitted OF the charge
OF murdenug nis wife he would have been tried on
tnexe additional charges.
WAR SHAW HAS GAY ABOUT CHARGES.
Your correspondent had several Interviews with
Shaw, and he always denied that ne had ever been
suiIly Of murder. He denied most stouty having
killed his wife. He said his life had been sworn away
syorn ina. he saw hm DO the decd. he says that he
always loved his vile and that he would have died at
soy TINE TO have saved hsr NE. hs theory Is tnat
spc killed by Two neghbors that he saw hanging
about house the day before the murder AS 10 tho
stories OF his wild lie IN the swamp be denied them
also He confessed that he belonged TO ssrt Of
KuKlux organzation, but denied that he ever
EiIIcI any He talked very coclly about death,
saying, s'Of course should prefer TO have died IN
my bed" but expressing no regret ut the conclusion
OF The snalr He seemed TO love but ono person on
tarth and love Tor his little daughter Thts
smountsc OF idolstry, and II was sad 10 see
sow the ittlo one, niIed with fear and repuson.
phrunk from her father. II was after an interview
Win hrs daughter that he troo " commit suicide.
Yhis about Two weeks ago. lie took a large dose
.aougn TO save hts life. lie opposed their efforts IN
every possible way saying that he wanted TO die but
sssy succcedcd In saving HIM. He proessed religion
sc,srsi weeks before hts execution and gave nnscli
ss.. .n.. s.s soaseris: Ga. a., saoI $.
ss,d, III have time desire 70 read them over.
pivc all the time havo TO the Bible" He expressed
himseI as perfectly confident oI hts utnre saivston
No ins,ssed that innocent and tina, all hts
HAD been forgiven. HIS coil was decorated with rc
l,sous TO which no called the attention
ei visitors. In appearance shaw was thin, wiry nnc
sxcceaingiy pale. HIS eyes were wonderfully SINAI
ard ,r,liian ~ resembling the eyes oil an animal H'
vns for On criy very strong but mis- long confinement
IN Ial has weakened him. III could not hit litt'
enid from ths door" no SAID 10 your correspondent
about Two weeks ago.
THE RxKcUrroN
Al exactly ono O'Clock tnis morning tho officers en-
tcrod Shaw,s colt and told hin to prepare Tor oxecu
ton rho pr,souer had siept quietly ali pight, unti
hc vas awakened by tho toling Of bell. Ito reiuse
10 see all visitors, except his family His dausbtc
would not come TO him. His mother was uuab
N come. bat wrote him q ettcr, which affected hin
very mucn. Hc wcpt bitterly on reading H. As h
,tarted out OF tue jail he cropped piece OF kp'i
b,.ao from his handkerchief IL Is believed he b@
hoocs that some OF old raaE would Try 10 rsscu
MN A guard mounted and foot, OF 200 men escorie
him. -
rRorgsrrrG IssocgscB-
Athis request big1 fence nad been oui, aoou, "a
tsioxs Reaching tnis fence ne rose ~ MS carriag
tr,u made q short prayer aud was carried witnin W
...ln.ure H. nxnninnd tue grIloMs CrltIonIIY, an