Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-07-11
kilograms to The Star.
DOUBLE EXECUTION,
Two Men Hanged in Virginia.
THE YELLOW FEVER,
TWO FRIGHTFUL EXPLOSIONS,
THE SARATOGA REGATTA
EXCITEMENT IN HOUSE Of COMMONS.
EX-GOV. VIM. ALLEN DEAD.

tkLiI ItNltNl TN hUuSt Uf CUMMUNS,
EX-GOV. VIM. ALLEN DEAD.
DEATH BY THE ROPE.
The Double Hanging At WarrentOn.
Va. To-day.
Especial Dispatch to The Euening Star.l
WARRENTON, VA, July 11.-John Williams
and Winter Payne, two negroes, were hanged
here this morning, the former for the murder OF
Mr.. Howard Holtzclaw, and Payne for killing
another colored man named James Adams. AS
is usual on such occasions the town was crowd
ed, colored people being greatly in the majority.
The fact that the hangings would be conducted
In as private manner as possible kept many
away. The early hour at which the execution
took place had similar effect The curiosity
to see the men hanged was very great, and
especially among the colored folks, for such an
exhibition OF the laws punishment has not
ing that time there have been frequent execu-
t1ons In the adjoining counties.
The sca1old was rather rudely constructed
ana1r, but was strong and did all that was de-
manded Of it. The men stood on trap doors
which were set free by bolt to which was at
tached rope pulled by the sheriff from posi-
tlOn near thejail yard wall.
AS early as four O'Clock this morning persons
began to gather about the Jail, and by five
O'Clock the sheriff had designated those
tion.
THE CONDEMNED MEN
were both restless during the night, neither OF
them sleeping for over few minutes at time.
At five O'Clock they were told to make their
final preparations for the scaffOld. Williams
put on pair OF black pants and brown coat.
Payne tied handkerchief about his head, and
wore linen coat, buttoned up, having no shirt
Just before Williams started out OF his cell he
stuck his pants in his boot legs. Both were
nervous, and were attended from the time they
got up until they dropped from the scafIold BY
their religious advisers-Rev. Geo: w. Horner,
Rev. Geo. Hammond white Methodist minis
ter, urged upon Payne the importance of seek
ing salvation. He was asked q short time be-
fore he left his cell If he felt sure OF having re-
ceived forgiveness, when he answered: "Pm
not there yet, but am on the road"
IN THE JAIL YARD.
shortly after O'Clock those who had been Sc
lected by Sheriff Wh1tacre were admitted to the
jail yard. There were In all about fifty persons,
among whom were the two brothers Of the
murdered Holtzclaw, and a son of Adams who
their cells the hands Of Williams lila SAN and ' PAYNE
were tied behind them. After reaching the
platform OF the scaffold colored man named
George Henry volunteered to tie the feet OF the
manner. Sheriff Whitacre was SO afiected BY
the scene that he asked his deputy, E. E. Gray,
to oficiate on the scafIold; Mr. Gray ascended
to say, but both answered Nothing" Mr..
Hammond then offered fervent prayer, during
which Williams shivered very much from nerV-
much affected, and seemed determined to keen
bray Q front till the last.
THE DOUBLE HANGING.
The black caps were then placed on their
heads and the fatal moose adjusted. At e27 the
Both drew themselves up several times, indi-
eating that their necks were not broken. The
drop was but four feet. After being allowed to
hQnO 2fYfnon nnfnnfpc nun1, tod
nine minutes, the bodies were lowered into cof-
fms which were placed under the scaffold.
Paynes body was taken by bis friends to Sa-
while that OF Williams was Inferred In a cOlOred
burial ground near by.
The execution was very quiet, though at
could be heard by those on the outside, COM
planning because they were not admitted. Four
boys witnessed the execution by climbing to the
They kept their spirits up by singing selections
from Pinaf0re and other lively airs. They were
silenced Just before the hanging took place.
as If the execution had not taken place. It was
rumored that Williams had sold his body to q
physician for his kindnesses, whisky and candy
furnished him during his Imprisonment, and
that 1t was to be reSurrected tonight for dis
section purposes.
TIE MURDER OF MR.. HoLTzcLAw,
to,Ss VINO was Is the railroad and express agent and
night OF February 9Th last, and created the
greatest excitement. Mr.. Holtzclaw was well
and fayorably known In this section, having
cee1ac1 saisea IN this town he was brought In
favor1te. On the morning following his murder
MS body was found short distance from this
evident, for the first time, that a gun had been
used In killing him. His pockets had been
rihed, indicating that robbery was at least one
OF the ELM incentives that led to his murder. It was
aroused and soon large number went to work
In the search for the murderer or murderers,
The first and only clue that was secured, and
which finally led to the discovery of the MUIR
derer, was the tracks In the snow In the vicinity
OF where the body was found. They
were s Of G peculiar shape and were recognized
that belonged to negro who worked about the
town, and who, 1t was known to every one,
worked low and then for the deceaSed-that is,
deal more active and successful In the discov-
cry OF the perpetrators OF such crimes as this
than the most expert detectives or police OIL
clals or cities. The former are well UP In wood
craft and will discover tracks through the
woods or elsewhere, where ty-raised person
could not BY the most careful search find any
thing. That point gained, the next step was
to catch Williams, and dozens of willing per-
sons entered into the task of finding him. 1t
was not long before their labors were success
1ul. The FEELING had run to such high pitch
that 1t was feared that the people would take
the law into their own hands and avenge the
murder d Of m their friend without the formality Of
the jail at Alexandria, where he was kept until
the grand jury OF Fairfax county, In which
county Warrenton Is situated indicted him
and its petit jury ready to try him. In the lat
ter part OF April he was arraigned and given a
trial, being defended by able counsel, who
made as earnest defence for him as If they
had received large fee for their services,
though they were appointed for the duty by
the court and gave their services gratuitOusly,
Before his trial all the facts In connection with
the murder were brought to light by the ad-
missions OF Williams and by the surrounding
circumstances as clearly as II the murder had
been committed In broad daylight In the pres
ence of number, instead OF having been done
In the darkness Of the night and In an intensely
lonely part OF the country. Williams In the
hope Of getting out Of the crime himself, first
made
CONFESSION,
IN which he said that although he received a
portion of the proceeds Of the crime, the rea
murderers were two other negroes, who's.
names he gave. An investigation showed,
however, that the men implicated by him were
at their homes on the night OF the murder. and |
from circumstances which had been learned II
was impossible for them to have had any hand |