The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-17
VOL. XLVI.--N0. $50.
STRANGLED FOR BURGLARY.
THREE PERSONS HANGED UNDER ONE
GALLONS ~ NORTH CAROLINA.

Robbery Elsewhere that Led to the Detec-
tIon OF the CuIprIts-A Bungling uRngmnn.
HlLIsBoRo, n. c., May 16. - Alphonso |
Davis and Henry Andrews white. and LOWS |
Carleton. colorcd were hanged to-day In n |
beautiful grove on the edge Of the town. known |
as the Town Common. in the presence of about |
5000 persons. The culprits were convicted OF /
burglary in October. 1875 In the spring Of |
that year the inhabitants Of Chapel Hill were |
startled by series Of midnight visits. which |
for long time bafllod the ingenuity of |
detectives. At Chapel Hill are tho largest |
scminaries for the education of young ladios. |
and hero the daughters Of the rich people |
OF the State are educated. The main female |
school is "A large. long building. with two
piazzas running its whole length. Opening
upon these piazzas ato the bedrooms OF
the students. Two students are assigned
to each room. Room 104 was occupied by
two sisters. the daughters Of n leading lawyer Of
North Carolina. At about two o'clock on the
night Of May ?. 1878. the elder of tho young la
dies was awakcned-how she knew not-and
was horror struck at finding man lying In the
bed between herself and her sister. The fellow
held his breath when no saw the young lady
start and before she could cry out he rose softly
and whispered: Hush. / have done YOU no
harm and don't intend to- unless you make n
fuss" Then he stealthily escaped from the
room by means OF tho piazza window. Tho
young lady. by the dim light Of the lamp. could
only distinguish that he was II low-built and
powerfully made man. and she thought he WAS
n white man or n mulatto. She averred that
she had put out the lamp upon retiring. but 1t
was burning when the man left her room. She
had also fastened her door. both by locking and
boiling IT, but il was unlocked As soon US tho
man had left. she awakened the household by
her screams and told the story. The case was
ut once put into the hands OF the police. and
every effort made TO detect the offender. but
without success. and at length it was thought
that the young lady was mistaken.
Exactly one week from that time the room OF
another student on the opposite side Of tho
building. received like visitation. This room
was in the piazza. and was occupied by one
student aged about % years. She said that at
about o'clock she awoke. She heard no sound
In the room. but she felt something Ike
weight upon her feet; and saw the, body o.
mediately began to scream. Murderl Help"
and the man at once leaped up from his recum;
bent position and, multering q curse. hurried
from the room. He was in his stocking feet.
and was described by the young lady as being
quite small. She gave an entirely different do
scription from that given by the two other
ladies. The excitement at Chapel hill was
great. and again every effort was made to dis
cover the men who were thus entering the
No one could und@rstand the object of the visits
Detective Knox Of Richmond was sent for. and
he spent three weeks in working up the casc.
The third visit OF the same parties was made
night Of June Is. 1878. Mrs Hendon had locked
all the doors Of her house except the front door
O'clock the visitors retired. and Mrs, Hendon's
two daughters who were in the parlor, locked
Mrs. .Hendon retiring to hers. At about IL
o'clock. after everybody had retired Mrs Hen
don heard n noise in the back porch near the
door which opened into her room. She got up.
lit the lamp and pushed achair, making noise
in tho hope that she would frighten the in
truders suddenly door was burst open. and
man rushed IN ana overturned the limp She
began to scream and was telied senseless to the
noor ot tue parlor by an axe, whlei, hal II
struck her a direct blow would have killed her;
NeiGhhors and servants came in and found
Investigation led to the arrest uf Aphonso
Davis and Henry Andrews. white. and Lewis
Carlton and Albert Atwater. coored. on the
charge Of being CONCERNED in the crime. Albert
Atwater made clean breast. and turned state :
evidence. His evidence showed that this was
the gang which mad been creating so much eX-
citement in Chapel Hill. He said that he and
dTaws. nsvSS" Who no told them that Mrs Hendoa had
81 OO0 in cash In her house. aud they proposed
n burglary and fair division OF the spois. The
nels at the outer door, while Andrews, armed
with billet. and Davis with an axe entered
the house. II was Davis who rushed in and
felled Mrs. Hendon. They were frightened on
by Mrs. Hendon's screams. The prisoners
Court OF Orange and sentenced 10 be hanged
on Nov. %. 1878. The case was taken 10 the
OF the lower court. and they were sentenced 70
b. hanged MAY 2. 1879. They were respited on
that day until to-day.
When the Governor respited them he did so
he said. To- give them time to prepare for death
and informed them that he would Interfere no
further. Another petition was sent praying for
commutntion Of sentence. This was refused
and all hope few from the breasts Of the doomed
men. Instead OF needing the Governors adj
monitOns. however. they set about devisng
some means % cheat the gallows. Several days
ago Sheriff Hughes. on examining the cell In
which Davis and Andrews are chained, found
secreted in Dayis's bed small vial containng
nearly three ounces OF laudanum and also a stee
file. The prisoners denied that they intended
70 use the drug. and said II was ley IN
the cell by former prisoner, who used Il Tor q
sore leg. The belief Is general that the two
white men intended 10 keep the laudanum un'
I'll last night and then swallow II. in the hope
Bets were made yesterday that Andrews would
die of fright and mental excitement before the
in miserable condition Tor several days. II,
continually walked Ny and down his cell, as ial
as his chains would allow him. wringlng his
hands and crying Mercy mercy! Don't hans
me. | can't die: I'm not ready to die; don
streaming down his checks, he ,plteously be
sought reporter 10 20 10 Raleigh and appea
to the Governor to spare his. life. The negro
Carlton. made q profession OF religion aud de
cared that he was ready 10 die. Late oi
Wednesday afternoon the prisoners begged tn
Sheriff AS a hat favor 10 telegraph the Coy
ernor and beg FOR one more week or u day. Tn
Sheriff complied with the request, but the Gov
was sent saying that new developments favor
able 10 the prisoners could be produced Coy
Jarvis replied. asking in regard 10 the natur
OF these developments. They did not prove 4
be Of sufficient weight, however. 10 warrant
respite.
The authorities have expressed fears that NJ
attempt would be- made 20 rescue ths prisoners
and the town has been guarded 10y armed citi
zens for two weeks On Thursday night tn
force. by order OF the Mayor. was doubled an
fifty men were on duty. This forenoon greH
excitement prevailed over a repetition OF u
rumor of an attempt AZ rescue and the sheriff
guard was increased to 200 men. Great indig
nation was manifested by negroes against Al
water, the negro who turned states evidence
and threats of lynchng We're made They wor
only prevented from being put in execution b
placing Atwater in dungeon in the Iall M
guarding il closely.
On the galows each Of the culprits proclaim
oil his innocence to the last moment Garlic
spoke for an hour and said that his salyatlo
was sure. The parting between Andrews an
his sister on the scaffold was most Affecting an
moved the crowd OF witnesses TO tears. Al IN
doomed men bore themselves firmly. and show
ed no signs ot wavering. The hanging too
place al 800 and was very badly CONDUCTED
The ropes around the necks Of Davis and Car
| ton We're too long and their feet rested on IN
ground. They were raised up and tho rope