The New York herald., 1879-02-15
III A NC e d.
John Edwards Dies for the Murder
Of Kader ]. Ballard.
N 0 co N f T. S $40 N.
Convicted on the Testimony of Bal
ards Little Daughter.
by TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.


SMITHFIELD, N c.. Feb IA, 1879.
Dark snow clouds hung over this little North Caro-.
lima town like pail, fit emblem of the tragedy which
Was soon to occur. The fell irregularly
throughout the morning. but the disagreeabla
weather did not prevent the assembling Of 5000
people to witness the death the gallows of
John Edwards, convicted Of the murder Of Kader j.
Ballard The Jail, small brick structure, stands in
the rear of the Court House. No fence it.
Near the scafold is erected This is enclosed by
low fence. The murderer, John Edwards, a man
whose treacherous and animal look showed plainly
the nature within, was five feet eleven inches in
height and weighed 1872 pounds. He was
ciated than when the HERALD reporter last inter-
viewed him.
A INNOCENCE.
This morning two hours before his DEATH when
questioned. he said :-'I have always thought from
childhood that my soul belonged to God and my
body to the people. If 1 had a quart of whiskey
would drink it little at time. l don't think
would get drunk. The Sheriff and everybody havo
treated very kindly. We never had prayers at
my house only when of died. man Of
honor won't tell lie. I can't say that T
killed Ballard. for l didn't do it. I was at home,
sorter drunk. the day he killed. and didn't do
it. Ny wife and children came me yesterday
for the last time" Two ministers visited him this
morning and prayed that he would make full con-
fession. He listened with the utmost nonchaance.
and firmly denied his guilt. He said he would con-
fess it to neither God nor man.
on THE DEATH TRAP.
At two O'Clock the guard was formed around the
Edwards was robed for death in q black shroud
which extended to his feet He mounted the gallows
steps quietly and without any, appearance of weak
On the scaffold he d:-"l am gong to be
put to death wrongfully. have confession to
make. l hope you will let my body be put where
wiser. Rev p L. Herman, then prayed for him.
Then the Sheriff read the death warrant.
The drop fell at thirty-three minutes past two.
In six minutes and half he dead. Thus in the
sixty seventh year of his age. was John Edwards
hanged for murder. the cause OF which bit Of
white oak wood
HISTORY OF THE CRIME
Mr.. Ballard a plain farmer, living upon land
owned by his wife near Princeton, i'll this county.
and universally liked and respected in the comnil.
nifty. His household consisted of wife and three
children. Edwards occupied the lower portion of
the land tenant, and conceived a violent
hatred of his landlord Once he came to
the cottage where Ballard was at work and Violently
cursed and abused him, Ballard making no response,
About week before the killing he applied to
magistrate for warrant against Ballard, which
refused when Edwards swore he would have recon-
pense out OF Ballard. few days before October 9,
1877, Edwards had cut down white oak Mrs. Bal
lards land, for the purpose of making cart wheel,
he claimed by her permission part of this timber
Ballard had taken TO his house, and Edwards grew
violent in his threats go and take it, stating that
he had laid in Jail and could do it again. On the
drinking whiskey, and occasionally threatening Bal
lard ana displayed pistol On that day
October 81 Mrs. Ballard had gone to
neighbours Mr. Ballard and his two little
daughters remaining at home. just before sundown
. near neighbor woman heard the report of a gun
ballard and the Of the children Ella nearly
six years Of age, and Fanny. about four She hur-
ren in the direction Of the report and met the crying
children. Balards body lay in the edge OF corn,
near the potato patch Soon the neghbors began to
gather, and on examination Ballard found shot
through the brain. and in his hands the fodder he
fred. Near the body were tracks easily identified by
the peculiar make Of the home-nade shoes to be
af EAuar rlS Thau lad
within ten feet OF the body and thence through the
field to the woods.
The Coroner s jury met that night, and Edwards
WAS arrested within @ few hours after the murder
Term. 1878, of Johnston. in the Superior Court The
first witness Ella Ballard, the infant daughter of
the deceased. Ut the time OF the trial about six
and q half years old. The question of her compe-
tency involved the interesting point whether an in
FAINT witness who bad not sufficient religious insruc.
ton to know the obligation OF oath at the opening
of the term could be instructed for the purpose
of rendering her competent and on the trial be in
| troduced. The Judge examined her when rendered.
and finding her qualified ruled her competent wit.
ness, and this was sustained by the Supreme Court
on appeal.
AN IMPRESSIVE SCENE.
There silence. as in the presence of the very
dead himself. when the little child. seated in her
widowed mothers lap, began her bloody tale My
father is dead. John Edwarde killed him. Pappy
was pulling fodder. and me and Fanny with him.
John Edwards got over the fence. He stopped in the
tater patch. Pappy said. How is your foiksg John
Edwards said psppy had cheated him He put up his
gun so-timitating the motionl-and shot Pappy
| fell down, and and Fanny ran to
the house." When asked to point out John
Edwards her courage failed her, and she sobbed
aloud Being encouraged she looked slowly around.
at last her eyes wandered TO the prisoners box and
her little forehngcr up and pointed straight
the murderer the very finger OF doom. From that
moment the verdict assured. The circumstan-
tal testimony OF the threats, the inquiries OF Ed
wards during the day and the tracks would have
justified verdict even without the testimony of the
child. The defence alibi, attempted to be
proven by the members of Edwards family, who
Qaid ho nnta Mt bnua durtn all hat yanfn
A verdict of guilty was returned i'll less than
hour and half.