Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1880-01-27

VI VI WI tOEOGh
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both hands claspcd the rope high above
his head and made several efforts to
raise his body. A thrill of
1 HORROR
ran through the crowd Of some 20 per-
sons who witnessed it, and cries of look
Look thcre!! were reiterated. The
movements of his hands seemed directed
by intelligence. He caught the rope
with both of them and made quick eff
forts to relieve himself Yet the mans
neck must have been dislocated.. In u
few seconds his hands fell motionless at
his side, There were no struggles and
with only one movement of the feet
barely perceptibie, all was over. In ten
minutes the pulse had ceased to beat.
At the end of 30 minutes the body was
lowered into the coffin and delivered to
the family,
Rev. James Mahoncy was in constant
attendance on him in his last hours.
Drs. L. X. Herren, II. II. Morrison, II.
G. Taylor and w. Quillen acted as sur
geons at the execution.
Sheriff Sames Wilhelm deserves cred
it for the efficiency of the execution, for
with the single exception alluded to it
could not have been mere successful.
1t is worthy Of note that except in re-
ply to pressure Deen was not inclined
to talk much and it seemed evidently
his intention, after leaving the Jail, to
pass in silence and with sealed lips to
the other world.
HISTORY OF THE CASE.
On the 25th of June, 1877, Henry i.
Fugate was shot in the back and NOR
tally wounded, between the handles of
his plow, in his own corn field near
Nickelsville, in the county of Scott, Va.
His house was distant some 300 yards,
and his wife, while standing in the door
heard the report of the gun, and seeing
his horse plunging from fright, went to
his assistance and had him taken home,
where he died the next evening. Dan
icl Deen, his uncle by marriage, WAS
suspected, and before Fugate died he
sent for Deem to come and see him, with
the message that hewould forgive him.
Deep declinedto CO. During the two
and u hall years that have succeeded the
murder, no mortal has been found, who
on that day saw Decn any nearer the
bloody spot than his own house, three
fourths of mile distant across wooded
ridge. |Nad UUEt
As may he inferred from tie date the
weather was very warm and when Flu
gate had been carried home on a litter
his bed was placed in the sentry" be-
tween the houses, that he might have
the benefit of as much fresh mir as pos
siblc. The news of the murder flew
With wonderful rapidity from house
to house through the hills of Scott. In
n short time several hundred people had
assembled at the house of the wounded
man. A leading citizen, on seeing him,
said, "lIenry, you seem to be suffering
very much" "Yes," said Tugatc, |
am shot aud am going to die" and in
reply to the question who shot him,
said, "I did not see the one who did 1t,
On being asked If he thought Danl. |
Deon did it, he said he did not know of
any one else who had any spite at him,
and said he would like to see his uncle
Dan and have u talk with him, He was
asked If he would like such word sent
to Dccn, and he said "Ncs, wish some
one would tell him | wish to soc him
and assure him that forgive him.
If he did IT,"
The dylngman'smcssagc wos promptly
conveyed 10 pccn, who replied, "Wcll,
there are not enough men on that side Of
the ridge To take me there
Perhaps Il was on the next day that
Sheriff Oscar j. Gibson, u very deter
mined man, armed with = warrant went
TO Deems house 10 arrest him ~ the MUIR
dcrcr Mrs. Deem said he was on the
side of The hill getting hickory bark with
which to bottom some chairs. In pass
ing around The end Of the field he met
Drcn, who had selected hickory on n
point Of the hill commanding full view
of Fugatc's house and the immense
crowd assembled aboutit. He had start
cd towards the house with his bark
when Gibson, with bis pistol drawn,
said,
"pEtNl IAN AFTER Youl"
Deem raised his head and said, whats
up2' "Why Hen. Iiugalc Is shot and
you are accused Of doing III" Without
q word of denial or of explanation Dcen
simply s0id, owen ldon't want You to
take me over there meaning on the
side Of the ridge where Fugatc's house
was, and then asked, "whcre Nrc you
going to take me top" Mr. Gibson told
him, aud he said no more. That night
he was being guarded vi Mrs. Redwine'e
house, when hc said TO Sheriff Gibson,
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