The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-04-23
4 Virginia Nurdcress Hanged.

| sD'" "htH WHICH ufLeT
slight opposition from Mr.. Harris, was
agreed 10.
Virginia NurfcPess Hanged.
END or LUCINDA YOwLKEs--HIs10RY OF HER
CRIME.
MEHEEEIN, Va, April 90 Lucinda
Fowlkes (eoIored) was hanged at Lunen.
burg Courthouse to-day for the murder of
her husband in January last. The cxeetl.
ton was private, only the necessary officers
and four others witnessed IL.
Second Dispatch1
PARTICULARS OF TIE HANGING.
MEHEERIN, VA, April 22.-LHcisda
FbWlkes lcolOred) was hanged at Lunen.
burg Courthouse to-day for the murder OF
her husband in January last. The exseu-
ton took place within an Enclosure crested
for the purpose in rear OF the Jail. the State
law requiring oil hanging> 70 be done pri-
Vateiy. only the necessary officers,
preacher, and three other persons were pre-
sent. An outside crowd OF whites and
negroes numbering 100 had gathered. There
was no disorder. The condemned woman.
on being visited this morning, was found
quiet aud apparently uDconcerne6. She
said she had slept a. usual during The night
and had prayed Il good deaf. She had no
dread OF death, and trusted IN a sin-fOrgiying
God, 10 whom she was going In answer
TO inieTro2aiories she said that no one was
implicated in the killing OF her husband
out herself. She hld done il. ami the negro
Isaac Deans, who was suspected 81 com.
plicity, was Just as clear rs IN angel. Her
husband was jealous Of Deans, but without
cause. she killed him because be was mean
to her, constantly abusing and beating ber
These statements she adhered 10 to the last.
At about 10 o'clock cOlored preacher was
admitted TO her cell, where he remained till
the time of the execution. Quite a crowd,
mostly colOred, bad collected, and occa-
sonllly the voice OF the preacher within
could be heard giving out hymns, which
were taken up and sung wilhIeligiOu> feryOr
bv those outside. Al a few minutes after
II the woman, dressed in a white cot
ton gown, was taken OUT by Sheriff
j. w. Ellis and escorted by guards
to the sca10ld. But a few minutes
were occupied in rc1Gin" the death
sentence, tying her arm, and lower limbs.
She was asked If she desired 10 say any,
thing, and answered. $40 more than to bid
all farewell" The black cap was then
pulled over her face and the rope adjusted
around her neck. and at signal from the
/ rU'l IA iiit udU-b WIZ UIu litIl UUtu
for the occasion. Sprang The trap. and the
murdcresS was swung into eternity at 1885
O'Clock. There was no struggle aud but
fcw muscular contractons. The pulse had
ceased beating ~ eight minutes, and after
hanging twelve minutes longer the body
was taken down and placed In a rude cot
fin and buried near the jill. The body will
doubtless be reSurreccd tonight, a. the
deceased had consented that the doctors
should have it.
HISTORY OF THE CRIME.
On the main road leading from Lunen.
burg county, Va, and distant from the VII
lige Of keysvlle. Charlotte county, two
miles, was located the clearing and farm OF
Wilson FOwlkeS, cOored man held in
much esteem by the residents Of both coun-
ties, most OF whom knew him. keysville
was thrown into flutter Of excitement on
the morning OF January 18th last past by
the intelligence that FOwlkes had been acct
dentaly killed by falling into well on his
own premises. Fowlkes had hosts OF
friends in keysyile, where the people were
accustomed 10 see him nearly every day,
and consequently the crowd Of both cOlOrs
that determined to visit his place and asccr.
tain for themselves the mode and manner OF
his death was numerous. They proceeded
with the spirit Of inquiry fully developed,
and on the spot their searching inyestiga.
ton elected the following facts:
The be ly OF FOwlkes was found in the
well; blood and brains presumably his
were found on his bed and in various places
in the room in which he slept, and also at
intervals between the door OF his house and
the well in which his body was found.
Brains were also found spattered on the in
side OF the well three feet from the top.
The forehead Of deceased was found COM
peeiy crushed in IS il by impact with some
heavy blunt instrument welded with ire
sistibe force. Suspicion OF the fIte OF
Fowlkes was derived from the ouigiyines
OF his wife, who had suggested that he had
fallen into the well. II appeared from
further inquiry (al of which at later
stage OF The preceding assumed the shape OF
sworn testimony that deceased and bis
wife had been heard quarrelIing some days
before the report OF his death; that
Mrs. FOwlkes was infatuated with a
negro LOtbario named Ike Deans; that
her association with him went to the eX-
IRENE OF w!ely depravity, and that her De-
lilab-lke prOcliyities were exercised mostly
in drawing Deans about The premises when
its rightfu lord and master was absent
delYing for a subsistence for his uniaithful |
partner and self and children. II was shown |
that he had frequently admOniShed his wife !
Of the imprODrlety OF her association with |
Deans. and that on the Sunday preceding |
his murder, not finding his mOnliOns !
heeded, he had administered 4 severe casti- !
cation 10 the woman, which must have en-
ragged her and led to the subsequent tragedy. |
Among the Threats uttered by FOwlkes was
one to The effect that il Deans was seen on The |
premises again be would shoe. his wife.
Deans did visit the wife early on Saturday |
the day Of the murder, and she,
fearing doubtless that FOwlkeS would
awake or perhaps carried away by guilty
love for the destroyer OF her matrimonial
peace, resolved then and there TO DO away
with her husband, and she proceeded 10 put
he scheme into execution. She took the
IKE used about the premises, went TO the
-oom where her husband was asleep, and
With one fearful blow crushed in his skull.
She then took the body to the well and threw
[ in. The body was thrown into the well
O create a false impression as TO the cause
II death. The murderess was an ignorant
woman, did not seem to appreciate the
normIty Of the crime charged against her,
md was alike Indifferent 10 it> results.
On her trial she was without counsel I'M
il after she had pleaded guilty TO the indct-
nent Then the Court assigned a cOmpe-
ent limb OF the law for her defence, and
er first ayermcnt was withdrawn and n
,lea Of "not guilty entered. Her coun- .
ell made the best defence he could, but I
erdct OF guilty was rendered. and the !
prisoner was sentenced to be hanged. No
witnesses were introduced on her behalf
Ifter Der conviction and sentence she told
er counsel that she had :" glddiness OF the
eat" -; which statement. together with The