Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-11-10
rsK HANGING ro-DAv
or Sam and rIilt Hodge for the Murder of
Mcfarland.

The Execution to Take Place About 80.
south of the River,
Sam and Milt Hodge, colored, brothers,
viii expatiate on the gallows to-dC the
murder of their brother-in-law, Jas. Nc
Farland, at Black Oak Ridge, Knox
County, in September, 1881.
Since the affirmation of their sentence, a
month ago, by the Supreme Court, both
have been apparently resigned to their fate,
and no special effort has been made for
reprieve or any other interference with the
course of the law. They are kept in cell
in the Jail to themselves, and have been
very kindly treated and their every want
looked after by Sheriff Homer Gilmore and
his kind and obliging jailer, Mr.. Landon
George.
The spiritual interests of the condemned
culprits have been by no means
neglected They have received fire.
quent and repeated yisitations,
especially in the past two or three weeks,
from ministers of their own color, as well
as from other Christians and ministers.
Both have made professions of religion,
and although they have not attached them
| selves to any church, they lean
| to the Baptists. They have been
visited quite frequently by Rev. @. G,
Russell and Reu Mr. Masterson, both col
ored Baptist ministers of this city.
Rev. B. "a. Johnson, pastor of the COL
/; ored NJ E. Church in this city, has per-
hsps visited them more than any ether one,
and they seem to have become attached to
him. He states that they have made full
and free statements and confessions to him,
aud his daily visits and minstrations to
them have been satisfactory.
Sans wife and child came down from her
home Wednesday, and she has been close
attendant during the day time at their cell
Sheriff Gilmore receives many application
to visit them, but is unable to accommo
date everybody, though is very socommo-
dating to friends
A CHRONICLE representative had brief
interview with the doomed men yesterday
afternoon. Booth were in cheerful mood,
conversed freely, and answered
readily any inquiries, both speak
ing at time usually. They
ssid they were fully prepared for their fate
and felt like they had a home to go to.
They say they expect to have something to
say on the scaffold, If the Lord is willing.
They were receiving their meal frcm Jailor
George at the time. They eat hearty and
lose no sleep. Both say they
have received the very best of treatment in
the jail and they haven't the slightest com
plant to make against anybody.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE HANGING.
As has been stated Sheriff Gilmore Sc
lected the cite for the hanging soutl
of the river, about three hundred yards from
the end of the bridge, just in the swag be
yond the first hill. 1t is secluded spot
and is only in sight of two houses, about
I quarter of mile from each This is tn
only suitable spot the sheriff could fine
within the prescribed limit The gallows
which is a plain scafold, with two upright
and a cross-beam, was erected yesterda
morning, by Mr.. c. Baker, well know
carpenter of the city.
i Sheriff Gilmore procured the hemp roI
! yesterday, and constructed the two noose
and has everything in readiness. b
has engaged the services of Cap
> D. Newman and his KnoxviI
Rifles, twenty or twenty-five in number, ,
> act as guards, to attend and preserve orde
A rope will be stretched around the scsffol
at convenient distance.
A wagon has been secured at Bells stabl
and they will leave the jail about IL o'cloc
for the gallows. Ap hour will be give
at the gallows, for the accommodation
the condemned men and their friends an
spiritual advisers, to make all the prepart
tons necessary. The final scene will /
/, enacted about half-past one. Both viii /
1 swung off at once. By their own reque
! the drop will not be used, but the noos
= will be adjusted and the wagon drawn OF
from under them.
: 8 The spiritual advisers, Messrs. johnson
Russell and Masterson, above mentioned
will attend them on the scaffold, by the
= request.
The men were very anxious that the
bodies be buried and not given to the dii
sectors and arrangements have been mad
by the sheriff with Esq. Shepard to hay
!, cofins on the ground as soon as the excel
ton is over, and the bodies will be taken u
to their former home, Hodges Tank, fc
burial