Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-05-24
PIE DEATH PENALTY.
Hanging Of Robert Cheney $500 Peo-
ls a pie Present.
TIbcrrille South. I

A1u61A6 VI 1VUoIV VAoA0y 1VVV 10O
Ia a pie Present.
[Ibcruil'e South
On the first day of June last our
T community was shocked at the an
nouncement that a rape had been
committed on a young white girl in
this town-Miss Amelia Voight-by a
colorcd man. The whole town was
in a state of excitement Immediately,
and had it not been for the calm coun-
sells Of few individuals, Judge
Lynch would have settled the fate of
him who was hung upon the scaffold
yesterday.
The fearful deed Of rape was COM
mitted on the first Of June last, 1873.
He was arrested and committed to
Jail on the same morning after having
been badly flagelated by the brothers
of the youngogirl. On the 10th Of
July followinga true bill was found
by the Grand Jury, and OH the 23d Of
the same month he was tried and
convicted. He was sentenced on the
9th Of July by Judge Charles Nc
Yea, D. N. Barrow, Esq, Attorney
for the prisoner, took an appeal to the
Supreme Court, the case was examiner
and a judgment rendered in April
last.
On the 5th Of May Of this year the
Governor signed a death warrant
which was read to the prisoner on the
9TH.
From that time up to the moment
of bis execution he has had every op-
portunity Of preparing his soul for the
great hereafter. He was visited sew
eral times by the Catholic priest Of
this parish and had every opportu-
nifty by the visits of preachers of his
own color, and almost every denom-
nation, to select the religion he pro-
posed to die believing in. He chose
the Baptist Church and desired the
services of the Rev. John Ashby, of
Donaldsonville. The preacher an
swered the call, and he in connection
with Rev. George Holmes and Rev.
Dan Ellis, prepared the prisoner for
his final doom. The Rev. John Ash
by deserves great credit for his labors
in this regard. o,About two minutes
before the time appointed for the exc
cution, we visited the prisoner. He
was then eating a biscuit, and in
reply to the question we propounded
to blm, how he felt he stoically re-
piled, "Don't you see how ! feel, l
am hungry" Precisely at II o'clock,
Sheriff Caneza led the prisoner from
the Jail to the scaffold, which was
erected in the courthouse yard, near
the Clerks office. On mounting the
scaffold he looked as one about to
exhibit himself. He looked at the
scafold, rope and surroundings visit
fully, and appeared contrary to our
expectations-to welcome the mode
of death which stared him in the face.
Sheriff Caneza, Rev. J. II. Ashby,
George Holmes and Dan Ellis, were
with him on the stand.
After the reading of the death war
rant by Sheriff Caneza, which, by the
way, little attention was paid to by
the culprit, Cheney made the follow
ing remarks:
''Well, my friends, thank God l
am here before you. l hope that l
may go to better world. l have
prayed to God that may go there
forever and eternity. This world is
nothing but troubles and trials and |
hope that all here present may meet
me on the other shore. hope this
will be an example to all the young
and old, white and black"
After this short speech the culprit
Joined in repeating the Lords prayer
with Rev. John Ashby.
After the prayer had been finished,
and few more words from the
preacher, a smile broke forth upon
his countenaneSe- although we
have seen many hangings in our life,
we have never seen one suffer death
more stoically and bravely than Rob-
ert Cheney. After his feet and arms
had been properly secured, he shook
hands with the Sheriff and babe him
goodby, and thanked him and the
jailor for the good treatment he had
received at their hands while pris-
Oner.
While the hangman-whom We re-
greet to SAYS a native of the town
and volunteer on the occasion, was
the moose, with the assist
ance of the Sheriff, Cheney uttered
his last word: "Goodby, my friends,
goodbye, this is the last of me-"
The rope and fall was not properly
and his struggles were great,
over six minutes. On examination
by the physicians it was clearly
shown that his death was caused bS