The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-26
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A Crime that was Regarded UnusuaIiy
Atroeiou. speedily Puntshed.

TuNsTALIs New Kent Co, Va, March 49,
Patrick 8 NTH and Julius Christian. the two
negroes convicted Mt tho February term OF the
New Kent County Court, for the murder OF
John g. Lacy OF that county on the 18th Of JIM
nary last. were hanged to-day Mt the New Kent
County Court House. About two thousand peo-
ple were prcsent-tho majority whites; also
quito number OF colored females. The exc
cutions took place at Tx A. NJ.
Tho crime which these men committed was.
according to the confession OF Julius Christian.
planned several days before It occurred. II third
negro, Claiborne Smith. being oithe pnrty. Pat
Smith is reported as having said ut that time
"One man has got to die" and though no namo
was mentioned. all knew who was meant. Tho
main inducement to the commission OF tho
murder In said to have been desire to destroy
evidence Of former crime committed by ono OF
the negroes, OF which Lacy WIS cognZlnt and
which he had threatened to disclose. Robbery
WINS another incentive. tho negroes being aware
some hogs he had killed. and would return with
the proceeds of his sales. Lucy was killed ut n
lonely SCOT on the road near Thlleys-
Vile. whore the negroes lay in wait Tor him
when Lacy came driving along IA HE cart tho
negroes, who were concealed In th~wOods, al
lowed MIN to pass for some little distance. They
then stepped into the road and. Overlooking him,
engaged him in conversation, during which
they usked II he would not give them lift in
his cart. Lacy, however. refused. and the ne
grocs fell back One OF them immedia lately
dropped on his hands and knees, crawled ran
idly Underneath the curt and sei2ed Lacy by his
legs, which were dangling over the front. whilo
another ran on ahe0d and stopped tho horse.
Claiborne Smith, at this point. became fright
ened and ran on leaving the others to finish
their crime. Despite "a vigorous resistance,
Lacy was dragged 10 the ground. stabbed sew
eral times and finally killed by Pat Smith with
n Ratchet whice Lacy had seized TO defend him
self when first assaulted. The murdercrs then
robbed tho cart OF groceries. dry goods, &c,
and after rifling the pockets OF the murdered
man, very cOOlly took up the mutiated body,
thrust il into the vehicle. and led the horse
attached into Lacys premises before turning II
loose.
Suspicion was FIRST directed toward tho two
men executed to-day by the revelations OF Cai-
borne Smith, Pats brother. who ran away.
After tho crime was charged upon them th0y
made no denial. Pat Smith WINS about 20 years
Of age and WIS raised 10y the man he helped to
STAY. Christian was about a year older Both
| were looked upon as VIGOROUSLY bad charac-
ters, They recently tried TO effect an escape by
setting fire to the Hcnrico Jail, hut only sue
ceedrd in nearly smothrring themselves.
Claiborne smith, the third negro. was tried
| "a an accessory before the fact. and sent to the
pcnltcntary for eighteen years.
| The prisoners were taken from Jail early tn Is
| morning 10y Sheriff Lytleton Royster and two
| deputies. and Transported by way OF the York
| River Railroad to summit station. whore n
| guard OF about thirty well-armed mounted men
| awaited 10 escort them TO the County Court
| House. This extra guard was deemed neces-
| sHry, owing TO rumors which had been
| circulating for several days that some demon
| stratton looking to a rescus was contem plated
| Nothing unusual occurred. however. along the
| route. Tho prisoners. during the whole tri 3
| maintained the utmost Indifference as to their
| approaching fate. While on the train they con-
| verscd freely with any one addressing them
| and when questioned regarding their crime
| give an account Of the whole affair down to tn,
| minutest details ut times laughing at some
| secmingly ludicrous incident connected with IL
| They smoked cigars given them. Both left let
| tcrs with the Sheriff Smiths being addressed
| TO his sister and CHRISTIANS to his mother. bid
| ding them last farewell. Upon arriving at the
| Court House the prisoners were AIKEN into tn,
! binding where they were alfred IN long BLACK
| ShrOuds. their manaces taken OF. and ropes
| substituted. From the Court House they wcr,
| driven To the place OF execution. several hun
| drrd yards distant. where tho impatient crow,
| received them with executions. Tho mounte,
| guard encirced the scaffold. and kept thu
| surging mass back. while the sheriff pcriorme,
| the duty OF adjusting the ropes around th'
| necks OF the doomed men. and tying their fee
| together Upon being informed that they coul,
make any statement they wished. each one ad
warning all against giving way to temptation
and finally going of into the droning monoton
| peculiar 10 the race when quoting Scripture
and giving vent to pious eXclamations.
The black caps were then drawn over thei
heads and the next moment the traps wer
sprung. Christian struggled considerably. bu
smiths neck WIS probably broken and hi
struggles were OF short duration. In twent
minutes after the trap was sprung the bodie
were taken down. that OF Smith being immedi
ately buried at tho foot Of the gallOws. Chris
tans body was sent to his mother. Up TO ia
last moment neither Christian nor Smith dis
played any sign OF fear. but remained stoli
and seemingly indifferent 10 their fate.