The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-07-12
The Death Penalty.
EXECUTION OF TWO NEGROES AT wAERl

EXECUTION OF TWO NEGROES AT WATERMELON
| WARRENToN, VA, July 1.-THE first en-
ecution of criminals condemned to suffer
capital punishment in Virginia since the
passage OF the law by the General Assembly
recurring the same to be done in private
occurred here this morning, the culprits
being two negroes, John Williams, who
murdered Howard HollZclaw, acting rail.
road-aecnt and teIegraph-operator at War
renton Junction, on the Virginia Midland
railroad, in February last, and Winter
Payne, for killing an old negro named
James Adams, near Salem, Fauqule1 county,
| in April. The execution took place in the
yard Of the Fauquier county Jail in the
presence OF the officers OF the court and
| jail. two preachers-one white, the other
colored-and about twenty-five others, in
GLIDING the guard. This guard embraced
The representatives of the Press, 1t having
been decided that their only means OF adj
mission was by becoming part thereof.
Several hundred people gathered outside
the Jail in hope Of gaining admittance, but
the sheriff was memorable. At the re-
markaby early hour Of 6:1j-thelr SEN
fences fixing the execution between and /
A. M.-,he prisoners were brought from
their cells and made to ascend the
scafold. The ministers and Sheriff Robert
Whitaker and his deputy, Z. E. Gray, ac-
companied them. Both men showed con-
siderable nervousness. When questioned
| by the sheriff as to whether they had any
! thing to say. neither answered, and the or
| iicers proceeded 10 pinion their arms and
| legs, the ministers meanwhile speaking
comforting words and Offering a prayer
for mercy. During this Williams remained
silent, but Payne at intervals uttered APP
peals for mercy in low tone. AT G:2G
O'Clock the trap was sprung, giving
them q fall of nearly five feet. Their
struggles were very brief, and not
violent Payne's pulse ceased TO beat in
nine minutes, and that OF Williams in eigh-
teen. After hanging nearly twenty-five
minbtes the bodies were lowered into rude
rine coffins-that of Payne being turned
over to his friends, while that OF Williams
was buried in a neighboring Held. upon
examination the physician pronounced that
both had died Of strangulation. TINS IS tue
first execution in this county since 1889.
EXECUTION AT CORPUS CHRISTIE.
GALVESTON, July ia Ne,oS special from
Corpus Christie says Antonio Garcia wa,
executed to-dayfor the murder OF Augustln
Amallo in September OF 1878. He was de-
faint to the last Death ensued instantly
his neck being broken by the fall. Both
parties were shepherds. Amallo's wife,
with two children, had deserted him and
taken up with Garcia on a neighborins
ranch. AmaIlo had come to visit bis chill
dren, and was enticed away from the house
by Garcia and his head crushed with an axe
Garcia did not deny the crime.
ANEGRO HUNG At sMlTHvILLE, N. G.
WILMINGTON, July 11.-John Davis (col
oredl was hanged to-day at Smithyille
Brunswick county, for the murder OF Henry
MnDuffy fcoIored) last December. The con
Canned man admitted on the scaffold that
he killed McDuffY, but claimed that he die
not intend it. About two thousand people
witnessed the execution, which passed of
Quietly. It is said to be the first hanging II
Brunswick county in forty years.