The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-13
John ShallingtOn, COlOred, Pays the Pen
atty OF His Crime on the ScafOld.
MURDER FOR JEALOUSY.
Flight Of the Assassin and Ills Desperate A.
tempts to Escape from JAIL
BAPTIZED UNDER THE GA.LlLoWs.
LpY TELEGRAPH TO THE HpaAnn !,

my TELEGRAPH TO THE HER M 1o:.ss4
Snow HILL, Greene County. G., AgT,l2I SSS
John shalngton. colorsd, vas exeoared hero 70.
day Tor the murder. in August last Of hts step.
daughter, Serena Thompson. Shxilng,oa was QUITE
young man, though married 10 the mother rsfahm
victim, who was about sixteen years old. The motive
OF the murder was Jealousy. II appears thai
tho mother Of the girl had died. and Shainston be.
coming enamored Of the daughter made an easy con-
quest and the result was criminal intimacy wneh
had existed for two or three years In tho meantime
Serena was wood and won by another negro,
and Shailington becoming convinced OF this
grew jealous and finally resolved on ths
murder OF tho girl Sne had VISITED by
her lover aud was discovered by Shaiington Who
procured shotgun, and approaching the house in
serted the muzzie in crevce OF the weather board
Tag. The girl was sitting the fireplace utter cook
ing supper when the weapon discharged. lodging
the entrc charge ofbuckshot in her body IN mo-
ment she was corpse Shallington fed, and for
iurked from hiding place To hiding place until lhs
month OF October, 1877, when he was finally captured
IN Wilson county. He was arra2nei. tried and con-
viccd at the last term Of ihe Superior Court and
sentenced to be executed to-day by Judge Kerr
ATTEMPTS EscapE.
Shalingion made several de perate attempts TO
escape, QUO OF which wcinign successful He
seemed TO DO endowed with enormous strength IL,
w
dunn height, weighed 100 poundg ana was a pure
specimen Of the Congo negro several occ s,ons he
broke loose from his chains wrcncned the bolls
AND prsed open The door OF his cell, but alwaya
caught NJ the last moment Oncc he set nre TO tho
floor OF his cell N the hope OF burning a ole SUM-
GENTLY large 10 admit his lowering hun aei ua-
occupied room beneath, but the flames discov-
cred in time and iuis last attempt was frustrated.
HOPING
From this time TO the cnd he awaited with the ut.
most composure his awful doom. While he expressed
his Willingness 10 do no harborsd hc idea hs
would finally escape to tho very last ana few days
ago made most extraordinary inquiry OF physician
He sent for this gentleman, aud when alono with
IN his cell he asked the medical man II there WAS
way by which he could defeat tho cnds OF justice
the scanoId. Tue doctor replied thai there
not, but snaiiington did not even tnen DIS
couraged Looking intentl. in the Doctors TACO
said --''Suppose, doctor, when they put tho rope
round my neck l was TO keep Eay shoulders up
close to my ears and my mock down between nv
shoulders, wouldn't dat keep my neck rom beng
brokef Tho physician informed I'm that such
he would die from stranguletion He SAID pre-
fcred that 10 his neck being broken and INDUCED tho
vain hope that no nigh. DO resuscitatod 1y hrs
friends when MIS- body should be cut down ana 81,
to them for iutcrmcnt
EXECUTION
Tho execution took place NJ The Jail yard Over 1000
persons were present, although the gzows was hiddca
from the public view by high wooden enclosure.
hearty this morning He v,stod by NUN.
Der OF friends, including two colored ministers, with
% ~ sSs' ss
down 70 tho jail door, from which no addressed the
crowd In loud voice. Hc spoke Tor hall M hour and
warned hts hearers against tho danger OF
bad company ana evil passions, and frequently
cried, "Iord have mercy upon me-" the spcccn
incoherent, as though his mud wandered.
Az It's con cluson he conducted to the scaroId,
but halted ~ usk 10 be taken to creek
DO baptized. TINS request was denied, AS timo did
not permit It's qualification, but The ceremony Of
baptism was performed by OF tho
listers OF his race by pouring water upon
him. Upon reaching the scanoid he asked ior
ecIgar, which he smoked very compossdiy.
he refused 10 confess his Puiit, and though
minded by his brothcrn-aw OF ms admission Of tho
shooting TO him, he still denied IL 10 the last. HIS
last words on The scano,d we're, ~ didn't shoot her "
srRAsoLkD AT
AZ halfpnst Two =. NJ. the Sheriff adjusted
the moose, when Snaiiington shuddcrcd
and uembied visiDly. six minutes later
the drop TOLL and mis- bojy suspended
IN midair. Eignt minutes at erward h,s pu,se mad
ceased 10 beat, aud IA thirteen MINUTES hfc
clared extinct HIS mock broken, but tho
bangmaus horrible work done by strangu Iation.
Hts body Was cut down and turned " trends
for intermont.