The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-04-04
FEAST1NG AT THE GALLONS.
An Extraordinary Scene at Virginia
Hanging.

Hanging.
tRichmond VA Cor. Cincinnati Enquirerl
The two negroes, Pat Smith, aged
"a, and julius Christian, aged %, who
murdered Col. John Calvin Lacy in
New Kent county, Va, were hung to-
day at New Kent Court House, in the
presence of an immense crowd of white
and colored people. The condemned
men left the Henrico Jail, in this city,
where they had been lodged for safe
keeping, at 5 o'clock this morning, in
charge of Sheriff Register and an ample
guard. They slept well last night, and
set out for the scene of tie execution,
which is twenty-five miles distant from
here, in the utmost good humor. They
dressed themselves in their new store
clothes, and as they walked along the
street on their way to the York River
Depot they laughed, and talked, and
seemed as happy as a big sunfower.
They had been provided with money
by their relatives, and this they spent
for sandwiches and cigars at the lunch
counter in the depot. AS the train
pulled away the murderers poked their
heads out of the car-windows and gave
three cheers for Richmond. There
were few negroes, a half-dozen white
sporting men, ten or twelve fancy girls
and twelve reporters on the cars, who
went to see the work well done. At IL
o'clock the party arrived at the Court
House, it being several miles from the
railroad to that place. The prisoners
were taken into the Court House build
ing, where they shrouded themselves,
and were prayed for by a eolored dea-
con. About IL 80 they were led to the
gallows. They said they had a request
to make, which they begged would be
complied with. They wanted to take
their last meal on the scaffold.
The Sheriff consented to this within,
and the execution was delayed some
what on this account. The prisoners
said they only wanted coffee, corn-bread
and molasses, but they wanted a good
deal of it, such as it was. Accordingly
colered woman in the neighborhood
went to work and prepared the grub.
In the meantime the murderers sat
composedly, the observed of all observ-
ers. About II o'clock the repast was
ready. A rickety old table and two
chairs were loaded for the occasion.
These were placed on the scaffold, and
on the table were pot of steaming
coffee, two pones of corn-bread, mug
of sorghum, plates, spoons, etc. Smith
took his coffee without cream, but
Christian called for some of the tactical
fluid. The cook had forgotten to send
any, and, after little delay, it was
brought. Then the negroes began their
meal. 1t took them nearly one hour to
eat it.
They laughed great deal, and when
marked: "The old woman gets up a
irst-rate dinner" Then they each
smoked cigar, and at l o'clock they
arose on the scaffold, and, with grin
ming faces. confessed the crime for
which they were condemned, and said
they would go straight to glory. At the
close, and just before the ropes were
tied, they requested the crowd to sing
the negro hymn, "Peace, peace, on the
golden shore" Christian had q fine
tenor voice, and Smith sung pretty
fair bass, and after the tune had been
raised they both joined in with good
will. All of the colored spectators sang,
and, altogether, it was a musical feat
ure of the show that might be enjoyed
by disinterested spectators had not the
occasion been such serious one. At
:15 o'clock all was ready. Smith and
Christian said Farewell" in loud
voice and the prop was knocked from
under them. Smith weighed 100 pounds,
and his neck was broken; Christian
weighed $50, and was shangled. The
remains were cut down in half hour
after the pulse ceased to beat, and were
turned over to their friends.
Grpat Peanuf Match