Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-04-07
A SHAKY NECK.
Sandy Mathess; the Murderer OF Es-
sick Polk, Sentenced to be
Hung in May.
The Ruffian Makes a Long Speech TO
the Jury and Courthouse
Crowd,

In the Criminal Court yesterday afternoon
Judge Horrigan oyerruled the motion for
new trial in the case Of the State Is SANDY
Mathews, and sentenced him TO be hanged
on the 18th day of May next. 1t will be re
membered that Mathews was convicted 3
lew days ago OF the murder of Essick Poll
about the 18th of last October on w. NJ
Coleman's place, north of Lucy Station
Judge HorrigaD, after overruling the motion
OF the defendant for a new trial, asked hin
If he had anything TO say why the Cour
should not pass the death sentence, and the
defendant thereupon arose and, in an agi
tated manner, said: Judge, have nothing
against this court, nor any one connected
| with it, for what l now am about to be
sentenced for, nor have l anything to say
against the jury who found me guilty, for
the evidence as given in before them here
was strong, and don't blame them for what
they did. l am long ways tfrem where
was raised, and had no chance to prove my
character. If l could get witnesses from
Louisiana, where l was born and bred, !
could prove a good character and show that
| was not man TO raise a fuss, and that i
had always been peaceable. The negroes are
all my enemies, and they swear away each
others life. Essick Polk came to my
house last fall. He interfered with
my wife. He use to tell her
that she was toe. good looking TO work ia the
field. have alwsysg2rked to support my
wife and family. nally told her he
could get her easiS e5rk, and as we were
very poor and had little to eat, and not much
work to do at home, / agreed TO let her come
with him to town and see if she could find
work to do. Frequently, when he would
speak to me about my wife, ! would tell him
to go away from me; that / did not want to
talk to him about her. This gal that has
created all this disturbance is a bad gal: she
has lied ON me from beginning to end. 1t is
true kept her close, and would not let her
run about on the streets. / did not leave up
there, on Mr.. Coleman's place, because of
this murder, but come to town to get work to
do, for, if had been guilty, 1 had plenty of
time to have left town after the gal went
back up to Mr.. Coleman's. She left town
and went back up there with heap Of mall
ice in her heart toward me. My wife has
never forsook me yet, and never will, even if
l am swung up by the neck. If she could
speak she could tell you just how it is"
The prisoner made some half hours
speech, of which the above is a fair
sample, but never came down to
the facts of the murder. He seemed very
restless, and even his actions indicated be-
yond all doubt his guilt. Judge Horrigan
said that he had not listened to his state
ment with any idea that it would throw any
additional Ii ght on the rraurdar, or change
the opinion of the Court. But as it was his
last opportunity to be heard, he felt disposed
to give him time TO say all he desired; but
that the Court was perfectly satisfied Of the
defendants guilt, and did not have a single
doubt as to his being the murderer, and that
from the girls statement and the very strong
circumstances that supported her in what
she said, and over which she could not have
had any control whatever, the Court felt con-
WINGED of his guilt, besides his own con-
fession TO having committed the murder.
The Court passed the following sentence:
at is the judgment of the Court that you,
Sandy Mathews, be remanded to the Jail of
Shelby county, and there securely kept until
Friday, the goth day of May, AID. 1882,
when you will be taken by the sheriff Of
Shelby county, between the hours of 10
o'clock in tie forenoon and 4 o'clock in the
afternoon of said day, 10 a gallows to be
erected within one mile of the courthouse of
said county, and there to be suspended by the
neck until you are dead, dead, dead; and
may God have mercy on your SOUL"
The defendant took an appeal, and was
taken to Jackson last night in charge of
Deputy Sheriff John Powell. The Supreme
Court will soon pass upon his case, and I'M
confirm his sentence.
A singular scene was witnessed when
Mathews was delivered into the custody of
Newell His wife went up to
him to tell HIM good
"You take my boy" was his injunction,
and bring him up good, and if he doH't
mind you, fay him."
81 WILL" she said. 81 give it to him last
light.
when am to be hung, want you to
'ome TO the jail and stay with me; and you
must be at the hanging and see me go up on
he gallows and hung up by the neck"
can right, Sandy"