The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-27
EXECUTION IN MISSISSIPPI.

HANGING OF A COLORkD MAN FOR THE MURDER
OF ANOTHER NEGRO ABOUT TWO YEARS
Aao-A MOST EXTRAORDINARY CONFESSION
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
GREENvILLE. Miss. July &c. 1870.
Henry Miller. acolored man. was hanged yesterday
ut Jonsonvic, fifty miles from here, for tho murder
of Henry Murphy, colored. Murphy had induced
Millers wife desert her husband and live with him.
Ono day Miller along with and found
Murphy asleep. The next day Murphy was missing
and foul play suspected. Miller was arrested
and search made tor the body. Miller was CON-
PEELED to accompany tho searching party. On tho
way he made frequent efforts to mislcsd them. but
flock OF buzzards betrayed his secret. and tho body
was found
dUEDEREn's CONFESSION.
He then made confession. telling how he had
killed his victim, how he had torn up o plank in
the flooring and concealed the corpse, and how
no had returned in tho night and carried
the dead man to tho woods On being cues.
toned how he had managed to carry man so
much heavier than himself. he replied that he rested
frequently on the way; that instead of dcpositina
his burden on the ground he simply stood 1t upon
its feet and braccd 1t up with his shoulder. As tho
body stiff 1t stood up without trouble. When
no felt sufficiently rested he picked tho body up again
and went on Repeating the standing up process until
conceal his tracks he plowcd furrow through tho
field, which he had carried tho murdered
But for tho prompt action of the au'hori-
ties the colorod people would have lynched Miller
the night. He was. however. taken to this
place safekeeping and has been hero since. OK
ccpting his absence at-Johnsonvile during his trial.
He convicted in May and sentenced to DO
hanged.
GOING DEATH.
lie left here yesterday at five O'Clock in custody of
Shern X chardson and one guard and arrived ut
slept we'll during tho night and ate a small breakfast
before starting. lie spoke but little the road and
then only in answer questions. Tho town was
crowded with people when he arrived, all eagor to
witness tho execution
APPROACHING THE sCAFFoLD.
Miller rode through tho town with stolid indifFcr.
once and surveyed the throng with much GOODNESS
figure The gaows was erected In tho court house
yard. About one thousand people. manly colorcd
men. women and children, covered the ground.
fences and trees In the ncghborhood In their anxiety
to see the execution. At u quarter past two 4. Al.
the sheriff brought out the prisoner and placed hiw
the scafold.
THE ExEcUrIoN--A cuLpRrr's SPEECH
Parson Bailey having previously prepared him for
death Millcrs calm and imperturbable GOODNESS did
not desert him In his last hour. Ho told the crow
that he was about to go to his long resting pag..
and expressed his conviction that ho going 10
heaven. He advised his hearers to profit by his
rble example and lead vii tuous aud stainless lives
When he finished tho black cop was adjusted, tho
rope cut aud the drop fell The fall twelve feet
He spun around like n top for half minute. drew
his shoulders up two or three times quivorod con-
vulsvoly about his hands and feet aud then all
still. DIR. Baird pronounced him dead twenty -vno
minutes after the drop fell. This IL tho first exocu.
ton In the history Of sunnower county.