Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-04-03
The scaRold.
Ridiculous Hanging Scene Near
Richmond, Virginia.
The Mnrdercrs Take Their Grub
on the GallOws.

y
Christian, aged twenty-five, who
murdered Colonel John Calvin
Lacy in New Kent County, Va,
were hung to-day at New Kent
Courthouse, in the presence of
an immense crowd of white and
colored people. The condemn
ed men left the Henrico Jail, in
this city, where they had been
lodged for safe keeping, at 5
o'clock this morning, in charge
of Sheriff Register and an ample
guard. They slept we'll last
night, and set out for the scene
ofthe execution, whichis twenty
five miles distant from here, in
the utmost good humor. They
dressed themselves inpew store
clothes, and as they walked a.
Tong the street on their way to
the 4 DIRK River depot, they
laughed and talked and seemed
as happy as big sunhower.
They had been provided with
money by their relatives, and
this they spent for sandwiches
and cigars at the lunch counter
in the depot. AS the trainpuff-
ed away the murderers poked
their heads out of the car VIM
dows and gave three cheers for
Richmond. There were a few
negroes, a halfdozen white spor-
ting men, ten or twelve fancy
girls and twelve reporters on
the cars, who went to see the
work we'll done. AT eleven o.
clock the party arrived at the
Courthouse, it being several
miles from the railroad station
to that place. The prisoners
were taken into the Courthouse
building, where they shrouded
themselves, and were prayed for
by a colored deacon. About
IL 80 they were led to the gal
lows. They said they had a re-
quest to make, which they beg
ged would be complied with.
They wanted to take their last
meal on the scaffold.
The sheriff consented to this
whim, and the execution was
delayed somewhat on this ac-
count. The prisoners said they
only wanted coffee, -cornbread
and molasses, but they wanted
a good deal of it such as it was.
Accordingly a coIorell woman
in the neighborhood went to
work and prepared the grub.
In the meantime the murderers
sat composedly, the observed OF
all observers. Abouttwelve o.
clock the repast was ready. n
rickety old table and chairs were
loaned for the occasion. These
were placed on the scaffold, and
on the table were a pot of steam
ing hot coffee, two pones of
cornbread, a mug Of sorghum,
plates, spoons, etc. Smith took
his coffee without cream, but
Christian called for some Of the
lacteal fluid. The cook had
forgotten to send any, and after
a little delay it was brought.
The negroes then began their
meal. 1t took them nearly one
hourto eat.
They laughed great DEAL and
when they had cleared the dishes
they remarked: "The old wo-
man gets up a first-rate dinner"
Then they each smoked a cigar,
and at one o'clock they arose, on
the scaffold, and with grinning
faces confessed the crime for
which they were condemned, and
said they would go straight to
glory. At the close, and just
before the ropes were tied, they
requested the crowd to sing the
negro hymn, "Peace, peace, on
the golden shore" Christian
had n fine tenor voice, and
Smith sung a pretty fair bass,
and after the tune had been rails
ed they both joined in with a
good will. All Of the colored
spectators sang, and altogether
it was a musical feature of the
snow that might have been en-
ioyed by disinterested specta-
tors had rot the occasion been
such a serious one. At 1:15o'-
clock all was ready. Smith and
Christian said Farewell" in a
loud voice, and the prop was
knocked from under them.
They swung off well, and only
uttered slight groans. Smith
weighed. 1870 pounds, and his
neck was broken; Christian
weighed 100 and was strangled.
The remains were cut down in
half hour after the pulse ceas-
ed to beat, and were turned o.
yer to their friends.
Murder of a Judge.
Judge Elliott of the Supreme