Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-10-31
| ". m. 8 NJ. 6 m. lyr.
s. 25 S6 60'Sl5 90 s2s 90 $50 CO
40O IL 90 ~ 00I 35 OOI 60 co
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100 70 00I 40 QO GU OOI 80 90
$50 25 00I 80 00 rs OOIllO co
1G 81 80 col 20 OO 30 OOI15O 90
Is 90 40 0OI 80 OO 100 OOI175 co
20 % 50 COL 100 col $50 OOI225 60
36 or rs Dol l50 col 200 OOI30O [ @
Superstition OF NesrOes.

Olo OF the most remarkable cases io Criminal
annals was tried at the Court of General Scg-
siors OF Sumter county. on lass Wednesday. 1t
was the case Of the State vs.. Henry Johaston
for tho murder Of john Davis on tho 5.h day
oil last February. Beth tho prisoner and his
victim wcro utgtoea, AID tho trial developed
the syalcm Of voudooism. or ot;chism. to which
their rGoo il s!ill addicted in tho Southern
Status. THO prisoner before bis trial rado tho
tho following confession, which was put in owl
dorc,: lilo stased that no vas in lovo With tho
vile OF tho decreased, woman near twenty-five
years OF ago, the prisoner being about forty;
that sho feptltd his advances, aud he sought
the old OF cohinrdr. ono Otango lalscs, an
aged Dogro. Tho Sc oslled copjurcr gave HIM
a cham, ktown ia tho language of naero
Witchorslt as a hand composed OF various
articles, viz: bceswax. f.xes' hair. little sand
from tho shoe of tho person intended to b.
scIed op. AID dreka's toOi, all s98td np 10 a
small cotton bag. lilo Was told to wear it
next TO his skin. ovar his hoert, for
ono week, and the woman would lovo
him. lie did 40, and at tho end of tho week
reported to tho cor Juror that tho woman had
confessed her love Ter him, but had refused TO
accopt him ss her paramour uness her husband
separated from her. The oonurer then gavo
Johnston another charm desiguad to ALLEVIATE
the husband from tho vile. 1t Wss worn tho
prescribed time, but no reported that the Wo-
man AMI her husband oCn!inusd TO 1.-Two happily
together, sud that tho charm would not work.
Ite c)Djurer replied That Davis faSas be pos
sasS2i hy q d3vil, aud that ho you'd eivo
Johnston charmed bullet. EhicA he must put
in his gDn aud iito at DsV5'a head ss hn passed
i5om tho wood in which no vas wo!kirg to-
wsTds his home. at suadawn tdo next evening.
iohuston objected that il ha killed tho man tho
law wiud hang bin ii ho vere f6und out,
Ills fears cn this head were asysd by tho con-
j 7rer el7lGR bin aao!hcr charm, which he said
would be proof against the Law, snd Inst 20
judge or Jury could convict him vhila ho we're
il upan his person. Thus fortified, Johnssoa
shot Davis through tho head on the fclIowiae
c7eniag, killing him instantly aud c0varcd his
bvdy with loascs ia Cha wood aoar tic SPOT
whore he fell. lie 'hon proceeded to tka
htu5o Of tho deceased srd Was received and
welcomed by tho w!doE. aud iomicioi himself
10 the rlaos of tho dead man. The brother Of
tho deceased, susptc:icg lrorn his hbssac that
ho bnd been tho victim Of loul play and iiudiCg
JOhnsOn in possession of his house. had him
arrested on suspicion Of murder. The bcdy
wss fGuOd covered up ss described on The
fourth day otter the killing. Tho prisoner ooG-
iesset the decd as stated. and was placed Oh
iial betoro judge Mackey. at Sumter. on
Wednesday last. Tho trial drew an ia. mouse
lbr0ng OF nagrcts to tho courthouse, wharo
faith in tho power OF tho c1ru.cr satisfied
t!em that tho prisoner cauld not ba convicted.
His lailh VAS strGpgshend by tho fact that two
Of tho jurors cmpanelcG in The csao, Qua @ no
sro ard tho o'htr whio msp, were tnkcn
suddanly i'll, G1d two cthcrs Ind 10 b, eubsti-
;utcd in their r'Gcas. Tho jury, as fioaiiy or
esnz,d, consisted of Diuo whites aud lhreo
blacks. The lary were ont but ten minutes
sDd roturncd With verdict Of guilty. Tho
verdict was received with eyc:smatiors OF sur
piiso fr"m many Of tho negroes nrs-
sent. Judge mickey, who in not sen
slivo 10 charms Of The GLASS described, at
| nuoo proceeded to stnsenc, tho prisoner.
La rcspoEac 10 The question from tho
iudgo, Whuther no had enything to say why
| acncnce of dosth should hot be rasscd upon
him. the prisoner replied that ho had had o
fair asa impartial trial. but thero were powers
at work which tho Jury could not understand,
| and lElmatod that those poTers would yet 10
tcrfero in tis bohslf. IIo requested tho Judge
| to RiVo him 6s long timo to live as tho law
would patmi:, saying. with v.ry pertinent
use of tho srgunon,un I'D homi1cm. "Iow
Ttuid sou like, Your Honor, if you vera in my
| place. to DO hung in hurry?" Judge Mac
kcS, anprcosting the foIc, of tho argument,
sonIe' cd him to bc hargad Oh Friday, the 18th
day of November next. Tho negro faith iu
thor system of ietchsm or Tho power Of charms
he's hsen strengthened by tho fact that the
sheriff Of tho county. robust man in tho prime
ct lie. dropped dead within thrco hours after
the prisoner hal! boon sentenced aEd few mic
utes after be hodeXpressad his abhorrercs o! per
forming tho painful duty imposed upon him
hv law OF executing the sentence. Il o9umbio
| Rcgister, CT. II.