The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-18

SAM COOK ExPIATEs THE MURDER or PRIMUs
cALDwELL,-sINGINc UNDER THE HALTER
THE cULPRIT GOING STRAIGHT TO GLORY.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
GREESvILLE. Ala. Jan. II. 1872
Sam Cook. convicted OF the murder Of Primus
Caldwell. was executed to-day in the presence OF
several thousand people. funeral sermon was
preached by Stewart Adams. q colored Baptist
preacher. At four minutes past twelve NJ. the pris
assembled the gallows. and addressed the crowd
to the effect that he hoped that this would be warn
ing to all present not to act he did, that he knew
he violated the law and wronged justice. but that
he had by repentance gained the pardon of
God aud that he was going home to glory;
that he had doubt as to his forgiveness. He adj
vsed his hearers not to act rashly as he had DONE
He said that Caldwell had started toward him with
axe, but he could have avoided the difficulty. and
should have done so. Friends il any should
come toward you with deadly weapon you must
run away from him II had done so would not
be here to-day My heart is too full for utterance
but am not afraid to die" He then gave out the
hymn commencing
Why should start and fear to dies
which was sung By the crowd of negroes the Grim
inal joining in the singing. lie appeared calm
throughout, and when the Deputy Sheriff placed the
black cap over his face he. in clear and distinct
voice. bid the audience farewell. At eighteen min
utes past twelve the rope cut and Sam Cook S
soul went to God who made him.
COOK CRIME.
The crime for which Cook executed one of
the most atrocious and brutal recorded: The
victim of the murder, Primus Caldwell, in
offensive and hard working colored man, with whose
wife Cook alleged to be terms of criminal in
tmacy. Caldwell lived about five miles north of this
city and his humble residence frequently visited
by the paramour Of his wife in his absence Remote
was the scene OF these illicit meetings
between Cook and Coldwell's wife from any town or
village the busy tongue Of the gossip spread the
scandal and finally reached the of the injured
and dishonored husband. AS was natural Cook, when
his suspicious aroused. watched the pair and
to his great modification became convinced of his
wifes unfathfulness and the vany of his pretended
friend. He then warned Cook of his knowledge and
ordered him to discontinue his visits to his house.
and for considerable period he not seen in the
vicinity.
AN UNPROvoKED AND CRUEL MURDER.
Thus matters continued until the fall of 1876,
when Cook, indamed by jealousy and hatred
of the husband OF the object of his passion,
sought Caldwell and involved him in o quarrel.
The latter did all in his power to avoid a
personal difficulty. but Cook intent on revenge.
he called it, for being accused of crmnality with
Caldwelrs wife, shot him through the body with a
gun with which he armed The murderer. not
content with shooting and instantly killing his
victim, then jumped upon the dead body. and sez-
ing an which lay on the ground near by, struck
him three terrific blows on the head, ceaving it in
twain and disfguring it i'll most horrible manner.
While his hands were yet red with the murdered
mans blood Cook fed and not arrested until
two years from the date of his crime He tried
and convicted at the second term of the Court after
penalty of murder with his life on felons scafold