The New York herald., 1879-07-12
EXECUTION OF JOHN DAVIS AT sMITHvILLE, N.
c.--oNE NEGRO KILLS ANOTHER DURING A
DISPUTE OVER FEMALE.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
SM1THvILLE. July II. 1870.
John Davis. coored, was hanged to-day at this place.
the county seat Of Brunswick for the murder of
Henry McDufie. also colored last December. 1t was
the only execution which has taken place in the
county for forty-eght years. There large
number present blacks and whites being about
equally divided 1t is estimated that the execu.
ton was witnessed by two thousand
persons. EARLY this forenoon the people began
to assemble at the JAIL but it was not till
twelve o'clock that the officers left the jail with the
condemned man. rude pine coffin had been pro-
vided, and this the prisoner was seated, to be
driven to the place of execution. His spiritual ad-
vsers were with him during the entire forenoon.
and when the condemned man appeared dressed in
n suit Of solemn black he seemed remarkably COM
posed in his demeanor. The gallows erected
about mile from the village. and thither the
melancholy cortego took its way. The spot was
reached at about twenty minutes to O'Clock. The
condemned was assisted from the cart and began
at once to mount the steps The galows a rude
affair. with platform about twelve feet from the
ground and about six feet square. The religious
services. participated in by Revs. Windley and Wiley
and Captain w. j. Potter and two coored ministers.
ended with short exhortation, usual in such cases.
Then the condemned man occupied the time until
about two o'clock. when all but the sheriff and his
assistants left the platform The moose was ad.
the the poor wretch stood alone. The cord ord
two o'clock. Davis fell eight feet and writhed In
great agony for few minutes then gradually grew
stu and rigid he n nad been hanging sixteen and
necessary examination and pronounced life extinct.
The physicians say that his neck broken In the
fall. Twenty minutes after the drop fell the body
cut down and delivered to his friends. Davis
made no confession on the gailows. He professed
himself ready aud willing to de- and displayed
through and fortitlde.
DAVIS CRIME.
The crime for which Davis executed to-day
was committed on the 18th day OF last December.
1t would seem that "a woman was ut the bottom of
it," On the day mentioned Davis went to Mr.. George
county not far from where he W as at work In the
employ of Mr.. Peter Sharp. ostcnsibly for the pur
pose Of purchasing some soap. but more probably
with the definite object III view OF an interview With
Henry McDufhc, the deceased. who lived within
about half mile OF Bellamy's store. He was ac-
and carried with him a double barrcllcd shotgun.
Having made his purchases at the store Davis and
James then went on to McDufiie's house. As they
approachcd 1t they came up with McDuifc In
potato patch near his house. AZ soon as the two
men met they began to quarrel; first II would
seem. in regard TO cutting sofne wood, and after
ward about some woman. The "lic'' was passed,
but there does not seem to have been then any
ard the house. McDune leading aud the others
following. the quarrel between Davis and McDufe be-
ing kept up they proceeded Arrived at the house,
McDunie entered and Davis followed, putting his
foot the doorstep though he would also enter.
As he did so McDuiic approached with an iron bar
which had been used ~ hrc poker and struck DAVIS
severe blow on the head from which the blood
flowed. Ascunie thcreupon cnsued. during the prog
OF which Davis gun was discharged and the load
entered the roof of the house just above the door.
At this point Hill James approached and managed
to get possession OF the gun. He took 1t
away and carried 1t around the and
leaned IL up against the house. In the meantime
the combatants continued to scufiie and fyht The
battle. which began IN the house. ragged outside. and
the two men unconsciously approached the spot
whore the gun had been left. When they reached IL
Davis esped the gun. and, drawing IL to him leveed
IL and shot McDufhe. The load entered the left
breast the heart aud McDuic fell dead. So near
were the two men together when the gun dis
charged that the wadding entered tho breast OF the
unfortunate with the load.
Or Davis died with ga full OF bet
ter hope" as red-handcd murderers generally do,
although they rarely give their victims time for any
such preparation. From the time of his condemns-
ton he visited by tSe clergy. Rev. Messrs Wind
ley of the Episcopal Church: Wiley, of the Methodist
and strinaheld the Baptist Church have been
est in their ministrations. Mr.. Wiley to have
been the most successful ~ Davis received into
the communion OF that Church on the Sth day OF
June,