Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-04-09
The Execution in Leesburg day,

The Execution III E.eesbErg To-Day.
Special Dispatch to the Alexsrdra Gazette
LEEsBURG Va, April 9.-SluuelJ. R,bio
SOD, convicted at the Ja1uary term Of the
County Court Of tie murder of Edward Thomas
was hung 10 the yard of the jli! ct this place,
this mcrnng ct six O'Clock.
Ga the 22l Of October Robits,u With other
parties, one Of whom was the the murdered
mac, were engaged in playing cards, at ss|oon
in the neighborhood, u1til lsto in the evening.
lie had quarrel with Thomas, ard they
parted a. enni:tV with esca othe: Ga the
evening of ttas dey. sbou: eight or nice O'Clock,
Robinson armed himsel with loaded gun sud
went cut on the road leading from Lincoln to
the Aldis Turnpike, along which he
knew Lis victim Woull pass in few
misutes where be stcrettd bIsclf behind
a cl1stcr Of bushes aud awaited bis arrival
Thomas SOON olms along on horseback, aLd
when iew steps bsyoId Robinson. tho fatal
shot was fred by Robinson, the charge taking
effect ia tho neck and back Of Thomas, fon
which he died 10 few days. B,iDg c>niront
cd JUS before death By Robinson. who had
been brought 10 the h9use by an officer, Thomas
declared that he Was tho man who had sbot
him. The cviderc, 1T tie triel vas conclusive
to the jury, atd tho court in reviewing the tes.
lmoDy said tie jury could not have rendered
any other verdict.
Robinson YES bright mu!attc, Eve feet Liae
llcht 10 height, aid IS yeGIs OF axe. lie
leaves a wife and SIX children. Thcrs was
some idea that the condemned man would
make q confession, but in this tho gen.
eral expectation was disappointed. at least so
far as any written matter is COLO ,rned. lie
constantly expressed wish that tho t!me fer
bis execution might soon arrive, aud that hc
was tired of life. Ho had, he said. b,en of 20
use TO himself or his family or to any ono else
10 the world, and he was willing to 60 whenever
they were ready to send him. He expressed
his thanks for The kindness Which every one
bad displayed towards him. The whito peo1ls
OF L0esburg heva been very considerate OF bis
nesds and desires. His only regret was 10
leave his wife and family behind him. lie
slept comfortably last night
The galIows on which the morainz light
shore CHASTITY and c)d was one OF modern con-
slrucion. with the usual trap and draw bat
and trigger 10 make the death lc!pe az liul |,
horrible as possible. Upon arisiog this mora.
the condemned msu Vas 10 good spirits. His
breakfast over. Robinson shook hauGs AID bado
o final farewell to his trienda and others,
whom ho had konwn in Jail. The solemn pro.
cessoD TO tho gelows was begun, Robiusoo,
his spiritual advisers and The sheriff moving
first. The patty csc ended tn, sostfold. Rob,
irson's hands and feet we're piaionsd, and be
took his stand Oh the trap, as calm and collected
as if he stood 10 church during prayer.
At ESQ the trap fell aad the negro dropped
downward. with force that sounded like The
ofack OFT whip. and although the rope stretched
Gs TO allow the toss OF the corpse to touch tho
ground the mack Was broken, and when 10
second the rope was pulled so as to Iift tho body
it was dead body that was lifted. and the sen.
teDco oi the law had been executed. The body
buug uutil soVe0 o'cook. when it was tX,nin ID
by physicians, and net the slightest signs of life
remaining, the ropo was cut and the remains
lpltc,d 10 cofic.
S,mo sixty CT seVcrty persons, itctudiug
representatives from the AhX,udIia Gszstte,
end Bsltimcte acd Washington papers, Wit.
Des:ed tho execution.
LATER DISPATCH.
LEEsBURG. April 9.-Robioson, the mur-
derer, was taken from the Jail to the gaows ct
about 6 o'clock this morning, e!ttr he had eaten
light breakfast. He asc.nded tho scafold
without falte,ing, a1d Sheriff CaruheIs ad-
ius;ed tho rope around his neck. A prayer
vas then cfered up by Rev. Mr.. Cacaon, Of
the Pr sbytetIan Church, after which chapter
the Bible was read by a colored ni1is,er.
D1liag tho rrayor the cllp;ii r: iaed with bis
head resting Oh the !si.iog rf tbs scsff,ld. Al.
the coac!usl1o Ct tho prayer he sheriff asked
Robl1sou if 10 had anything t. cay. a1d was
answered laco1icaly, mo, have 20 c,tf.ssion
to msko. The sheriff then sprung ths trap,
AID the body daugl:d 10 the air, tins D. OK being
brokeu, 1t Is supposed, st once. Alter hanging
for nineteen Giautes tho body was cut dosn
aud taken 10 charge by t5e jaiIor. who delivered
it over to tho relatives aud tlieods of the &c
ceased TOR jn!erment.