The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-08-05


True Confession OF the Cause OF the MUIR
der.
CHATHAM, Va, August 4.-Walter Ham,
ilton Yeats was hanged here to-day for the
murder Of Presley T.. Anderson in Febru-
airy last. The execution was private, being
witnessed only by the officers OF the court,
special guards, physicians, and the press
representatives. Everything was quiet and
orderly, notwithstanding the fact that a
large concourse Of people from the sur
rounding country was in town.
THE CRIME
for which Yeats was executed was the
murder of Presley E. Anderson, young
merchant and depot-master at Sycamore
station, whose body was found near that
place last February with bullet-hole
through the head. Since the conviction Of
Yeats he has made two written statements
confessing the murder. Before his trial
and conviction, and most OF the time since,
Yeats was engaged in writing book,
which he gave to his father for publication.
II embraces sketches OF his career, and is
to be entitled "Life and History OF w. II.
Yeats; or, A Step to Ruin" In it he at
tributes his fall to liquor and women, and
asserts that three young ladies in the coun-
ty, whose names he gives, have fallen vic
tins to his deceptive arts. This morning
he retracted that assertion about two Of the
young ladies, but as to the third he would
say nothing.
He left full instructions with Mr.. Pigg,
editor OF the Chatham Tribune, in rela-
! ton to the
PUBLICATION OF HIS BOOK.
He requested that he be executed in a
blue flannel suit, and that his body be en-
cased in q metallic coffin with glass face
and be placed in an upright position in
cemented grave with steps leading down
into it so that those who wished to see him
"lying in state" could do so.
He desired also that handkerchief be
tied around his neck to hide the traces OF
the rope, and that cross of flowers be
placed on his breast. lie requested, further,
that his funeral sermon be preached from
the 21st and 22d verses OF the xiii. chap
ter OF Luke.
During his entire confinement his de-
meanor was calm and composed. He
never displayed emotion Of any sort.
When informed yesterday that the Gov
ernor had decided to let the law take its
course he received the announcement with
unconcern, and said he would prefer death
to confinement in the penitentiary. Yes
terday evening he made quite
AN ELABORATE TOILET.
He took bath, and had barber shave
him. He then donncd his burial suit,
with clean white shirt, standing collar,
and black silk scarf.
His father, brother, and brother-in-law
visited him last night, and after spending
about an hour in his cell took final leave OF
him. He assured them that he was pre-
pared to die. This morning when visited
the condemned man was found seated at
small table reading Bible as he had been
in the habit Of doing daily for month past.
He said that he had rested well during the
night, having slept five and half hours.
During the morning hours he was visited
by number OF people, to all OF whom he
had something to say. About 10 O'Clock
Rev. W. A. Alrich, Of the Episcopal
Church, went into his cell and spent some
time with Yeats, praying and administer
| ing
RELIGIOUS CONSOLATION.
| At few minutes after IL O'Clock he was
taken from the Jail to the scailold, which
was in an enclosure about one hundred
wards in rear Of the courthouse. The
march to the scaflold was somewhat I'M
peded by the crowd which blocked the
way-all eager to get sight OF the prisoner.
Yeats was escorted by Sheriff OVERLY
and his assistants. He assembled the plat
form, and in a few minutes everything was
in readiness for the final act OF the tragedy
In reply to question il he had any
thing to say he answered distinctly, "No,
sir; nothing at ALL" \
WHITE CLOTH WAS THEN TIED OVER HIS FACE
and the rope adjusted, after which Sheriff
overly asked ii he was ready, and prisoner
said. "Giye me a minute to think" This
was done, Yeats meanwhile standing erect,
with his head slightly bowed, seemingly
engaged in prayer.
At 1l:2l O'Clock the sheriff pulled lever
attached to the bolts OF the trap, and in an
instant Yeats was swinging five and hall
feet below where he had previously stood.
His struggles were not violent but spasmo'
die. contractions were visible for several
minutes; pulsations ceased in ten minutes,
and at the end Of sixteen minutes DR.. Mar
tin pronounced life extinct. At 1l:40 the
body was taken down and placed in a nea
IMITATION ROSEWOOD COFFIN,
, with white metal handles and neat interior
, trimmings.
An examination showed that he had dice
from straneulation. About an hour after
, wards the remains were turned over to hi
e hrotber-in-law, who took them to the lam
ily burial-place, some miles distant.
After the execution the crowd turne'
\ their attention TO the circus, which hat
a inst entered the town, and Yeats and hi
e crime were for the time forgotten.
! Some time since Yeats wrote quite
! long poetic effuSion OF a blaSpnemouS an
II sacriligious character, and on the day aite
:. he was respited by the Governor, on oein
Y informed that party OF men had come
g tho ia;l to lynch him but had abandone
d the idea. he wrote the following;
n ,on..a from slumber by the tread oil horses
IS Which came laundering round my CELL
n listened 70 learn their rider voices,