Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-12-03
Execution in Southwestern Virginia.

Execution in southews tern Virginia
MARRIAGE OF THE MURDERER BEFORE
HIS EXECUTION.
Marcus De Lafayette Hawley was execu-
ted last Friday at Salem, Roanoke, for the
assassination of Zacarlah Hayes. both
were white men, Hawley and two OF his
brothers were tried for the murder TIE
trials resulting i'll his being sentenced t"
be hung, his brother Peter being sentenced
to thirteen years in the penitentlary ana
another brother, Charles, being sentehceG
to year in jail. The proof agains, the
latter two as accessories was not very
strong. The day Of execution Was cold
with snow and sIeet filing. A telegram
from Salem says:
On Wednesday evening last Hawley was
married to Mamie Hawkins, his para
mour He had previously sent rote TO hes
in which he 81 at ed that in accordance VIII
her expressed wish am his own desire ne
would like to carry out the vows he had
made to her and that he wanted their wv
children to lave the light to bear MI
name. Accordingly the two were united
in wedlock by Rev. r. A. Goodwin, OF tht
Episcopal C lurch. The ceremony Was .
unu .ual soennity and impresSivenesS ano
the prisoner wept freely. tie was attlreo
I in new SUI of black. with whlle vest ano
necktie, The scene between 1aWley and
his newly-rnade wife when she lett MN
that evening was very affecting, as was
also the final parting yesterday. AS she
was about leaving the grated door their
| lips met through the bars IN
A LONG. LINGERING KISS,
and she turned from him in an agony OF
grief. HaWley was greatly unnerved by
| this, but he soon recovered and became
Cam and firm to wonderful degree. UP
| to ~ O'Clock last night he was visited by
number of persons, with whom ne con-
versed freely, giving in detail all the CIT
! cumstances connected with the leud winch
| had existed between his family and Hays,
reiterating time and again that, though
reconcled to die. his sentence was unJast,
as he had only done what any other man
would have done placed in similar posi-
| ton. He had taken the life of a man who
| had often threatened and attempted to kill
! him and he was satisfied that it was only
question of which of the two would be
the first victim. His brother Peter, who
is under sentence of thirteen years. impris-
onment as an accessory, was confined IN
| the same cell, and they spent
| THE LAST NIGHT
together. Hawley slept soundly for sew
eral hours and ate good breakfast early
this morning. His spiritual attendant,
Rev. Mr.. Goodwin, spent some time with
him and administered religious consolation
! until the fatal hour came. Before leaving
| his cell there was another deeply affecting
parting scene between the two brothers,
| the Younger. Peter, being completely pros
trated with grief. The doomed man was
! taken from the Jail at 1920 a. m. and con-
| Quoted to the scaffold, which had been
erected in the rear of the courthouse, the
| place surrounding it being enclosed Dy
high fence. He walked erect and firmly
| between Sheriff Brand and JallOr Weber,
maintaining astonishing calmness OF de-
meanor. At the foot of the scaffold the
| party halted and the minister offered up
fervent and feeling prayer, after Wnlch the
prisoner assembled the steps to the platform
and was placed on the fatal trap. The
sheriff then told Hawley thath he was about
| to carry out the sentence of the law and
asked him if he had anything to say.
HAwLEY's DYING WORDS.
The prisoner made no answer. but the
minister read paper containing Hawley's
dying words to the following effect: my
time has come to die. l shot Zach Hayes
but l shot him believing that it l did not
kill him he would kill me. know [ did
wrong. 1 committed sin in Gods sight
for His Word says, 'Resist evil" but ]
knew little about the Bible at that time
l thank God know now that Jesus died
for sinners. and that his precious blood
cleanses those who trust in Him from al
sin. pray God to forgive my sins, and
they are many. I ask all whom | have
wronged to forgive me from my heart;
forgive all who have wronged me. I am a
great sinner, saved by Gods free grace in
Christ Jesus. The officers who have had
charge of me have been very kind to me-
May God bless them and all my kind
friends. May others take warning by my
sd end and come to my blessed Saviour
who alone can save from the power as vel
as the everlasting punishment of SIM
Goodbye. believe that God is my Faith
er. l believe that Jesus, the Son of God
is my Saviour. I believe the Holy Spirit
has changed my heart. l believe in the
forgiveness Of sins, the resurrection Of
the body and the life everlasting. I an
ready. Lord Jesus, receive my spirit
THE CLOSING SCENE.
The minister then placed his hand on
the doomed mans head and invoked a
blessing on him and babe him goodbye
Hawley kissing him on the cheek. The
prisoners hands and legs were then pin.
Toned, the rope adjusted, the black car
drawn over his face, and at the giving Of
the signal at 1880 clock Deputy Sheriff
g. J. Stevens sprung the trap. The fall
was over eight feet, and death ensued
without struggle, not single tremor OF
contraction being perceptible. After ff
teen minutes the physicians announced
that pulsation had ceased, and at the end
OF thlrty-one minutes the body was taken
down and turned over to friends for inter
ment. An examination showed that the
neck was dislocated. Hawley was in the
18th year Of his age, of fine appearance
and good figure, and weighed about 100
pounds.