Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-07-16
Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Sum-
A Double Execution in Virgin
la.

AH-~Ni->u VT JVhN WILLIAMS AND WINTER
PAYNE-sCENE AT THE sCAFFoLD-
HISTORY OF THE CRIME, ETC.
WARRENToN, Va, July IL, 1870
The execution of Winter Payne and
john Williams, the two negroes, who
were convicted OF murder during the
spring term of the court, took place in
the Jail yard at an early hour this
morning, and it is safe to say that it
was the quietest and most private
hanging which has ever taken place
in this State. There were in all but
sixty witnesses to 1t, including four
boys, who managed to see over the jail
wall by climbing to the top of large
tree which stood on the outside of
and near the wall. AS it was given
out that the new law of Virginia,
which forbids making public shows
out ofthe executions of the laws SEN
fences, would be rigidly enforced, but
very few persons applied for admis-
sion There were on the outside of
the jail about one hundred persons,
and as soon as they learned that the
execution had taken place they quiet
ly dispersed, seeming TO take no more
interest in the matter. OF this nuns
Der the great majority we're color
cd.
Neither of the men seemed to have
fully realized bis position until the last
couple of days, aud neither sent after
any minister until yesterday, though
ministers, white and colored, of sever
al denominations, had frequently offer,
ed their services. Payne appeared to
be frequently engaged in prayer during
his Imprisonment, but until to-day
Williams, who was considerably light
er in weight and darker in color than
Payne, was never heard TO devote any
time to prayer Or preparation for death.
To-day he only consented that Rev.
George W. HOrner, colored Baptist
minister, should attend him, on the
request of Others. Rev. Mr.. Ham,
mond, of the Methodist Church, admins
listed spiritual comfort to Payne, who
expressed himself as confident that he
had been pardoned and would be saw
ed. The father and brother of Payne
took their final parting last night.
His wife aad children, who lived near
by, had previously done SO. Neither
of them was abba TO sleep last night,
although both tried to do so.
At five o'clock this morning THE
Sun correspondent looked in the cells
Of each of the condemned, aud found
them sitting on chairs i'll the corner
of their cells, waiting for the time to
come when the sheriff should summon
them to the scaffold. Over Williams
cell door was the following, IN his own
handwriting and signed by himselt;
"Please give me some tobacco. gentle
men, before you go. Gentlemen as
comes to see me knows l have no
money. Please pay me. No more
at present He said he did not want any
tobacco then; that the sign was writ
tep during his imprisonment, when he
wanted it,
At $50 Sheriff Whtacre designated
those who would be permitted to en-
ter the Jail yard, and few minutes
afterwards they were admitted. AT b
o'clock the sheriff told both ofthe con-
demned men that they should getready
for the scaffold Neither Of them had
any clean clothing, or any other than
that they had worn during the time
for them to complete their toilets.
Their arms having been properly tied
behind them, they marched led by Dep
uty Sheriff E. D. Gray,and ancompan-
led by the above.namcd ministers,
out of the Jail, in the yard, aud to the
platform of the scaffold. Both men
upon arriving on the platform showed
signs of nervousness, though 1t was
more marked in the case of Williams
Previous to their appearance the
four boys up in the tree overlooking
the scaffold had been interesting the
spectators with selections from Pima
fore, but as soon as they appeared ey-
erything became most respectfully
quiet. Mr. Gray asked the condemn
cd mon if they had ANYTHING TO say,
but they made no response. A color
ed man, George Henry,then tied Their
legs, and previous to putting the black
cap over their heads, Mr.. Gray asked
them again if they desired to say any.
thing. Both answered "Nothlng'
Rev. Mr.. Hammond then, in brlef
but tervent prayer, Invoked the divine
blessing upon the men Gin this their
time of need" after which at the sig
nal of the dropping of handkerchief
the bolt was pulled, the trap doors
opened, and at 6.27 o'clock, both men
were dangling in the air.
The drop being but little over four
| leet, inc DeCkS WeIc NV UlOhOhj uOo'"
in each case resulting from strangula.
ton, in the case of Payne taking nine
and in that OF Williams eighteen min
utes. After being pronunced dead by
Drs. Ward and Jones the bodies were
lowered into the collins and taken away
followed by large crowd Of colored
persons. Payne's coffin was adorned
by having his fur cap and pair Of
boots tackled on the lid Of it. 1t was
done by one of his friends as kind Of
good-luck securer. The body OF
Williams was buried in ncighboring
cemetery.
THEIR CRIMES
John Williamson the 9th of Febru,
airy last laid in wait and brutally shot
young man named Howard Holiz-
claw, telegraph operator and express
agent at Warenton Junction, nine
miles from Warrenton, aud robbed
him.
Winter Payne, the murder OF James
Adams, was about % years of age, was
born in Fauquier county, and was
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