Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-05-04
Hanged FOR Arson.
lTnsss Moro 1soEaDIARiEs Pay TnE DasAp
PENALTY.

4 {. . {. i
GKsENvILLs. 8. O.. April 28..-Pleasant
Adams. Richard Bates and Joe Burton were
hanged here to-day for burning the Academy
Of Music In 1879.
The condemned men passed q sleepless
night, which was spent in singing and prayer.
They were up at an early hour. and bore
little trace Of suffering or anxiety. They
were cheerful and expressed thouselves as
ready for the terribie ordeal, After par,ax-
ing Of a hearty breakfast furnished thom
by a noted courtesan Of this oity. who had
encouraged them ITO die bravely. "a there
was no hell" they remained In their cell
taking leave of friends aud relations until
IL o'ol"ck, whom they we're taken separately
into the hall Of the Jail and each dressed in
neat blnck suit furnished by the Sheriff for
tho occasion. They then returned to their
cells. The Rev. j. II. q. r. Young. the
colored pastor of the First Colored Baptist
Church, Macon, Ga, entered their cell, cpu-
sersed with them as to their spiritual oondi.
tion and b ad prayers, in which the doomed
men Joined. From this time up to I2 O'clock
the prisoners were engaged 10 opuversiug
with their spiritual advisers. They were
then taken from the cell. their hands tied
behind them, and conducted TO the scnffoId
which was erected in the jailyard, where they
arrived at l2.l0 P. Nj.
Up to this time the prisoners had been
frequently interviewed and protested their
innocence. Thoy mounted the scaff,ld with
firm s'ep, showing no signs Of fear. The
Sheriff told them they could make state-
ment If they wished.
Burton then eaid: "You all eco have to
die. am brought here without cause, but
fur Keeping bad company. l die innocent.
When you swear against your fellow .man
you ought. to remember what is your respon-
sibility. Remember! you don't out off
chickens head when you kill a man. My
counsel have served me well, and put Of the
day Of my douth till have made peace With
heaven"
Bates said: II am innocent and feel: pre-
pared to 60 to heaven. I believe Mr.. Nix
has dune all he could for me-"
Adum. said: II stand before you to-day
for something have never done. l am in.
nocent. When jurors are sworn, and kiss
the Bible they ought to be moro cautions and
not shed innocent mems blood. If man com.
mi,ted the crime doR't know anything
about it. Mr.. Gilrea,h and Mr.. Nix, YOU
have done we'll by mo. My counsel, Mr.. Nix
and Mr.. Stokes. have done everything ,hoy
can for me-"
MIR. Nix said 10 tho prisoners: II have
dono all cau for you. You have no hope.
1t you are guilty you should Confess" But
oil answered saying they @erc innocent.
The Rev. P. V Hazel. colored, of Green-
vile, rcad the l03d PsalrnS. during which
Burton and Bates stood erect with smiling
faces. Adams stood with his iace lifted
hcavenwnrd and eyes closed as if in prayer. |
Rev. F. Brown, colored, of Grconville, read u |
hymn aud sung. the prisoners joiuing in tho |
singing with clear, strong voices. AT the
conclufion Of this the Rev. II. p. Rumley. |
OF Spartanbnrg offered fervent und earn
eat prayer. tho prisoners knseling and joins
ing in with devuut feeling and seeming much
affected. Rev. Mr. Rnmley prayed for those
who had prosecuted these unfortunate men.
and the officers of the law, judges and the
Governor. aud uaked the blessing of God on
the Sheriff and his assistants aud tho Door
Ehi"piun race aud Hoped they would stund
together like the white rnce.
AT half past IL Mr.. Nix interrogatcd the
prisoners separately, each one still declaring
his innocence. The Sheriff and his deputies
then adjusted tho rnpes around tho prianners'
necka aud proceeded to read The deuth sem
'cnce. Their legs were thon strapped to-
gether and the hlncks cup. drawn over their;
faces, when the Sheriff babe them good bye
and asked them if they were ready. They
replied yes and the Sheriff descended The
scafnld. AS he reached the last step ho
sprung the trap, and the drop fell at precisely
l2.40 u'clpck and the unfortunate mon were
lanacbei into eternity.
Bates and Adams died in sescnteen min
u'es and Burton in nineteen, their nccks
being broken Thirty five minutes after the
drop fell they we're pronounced dead by the
physiciana. and tho bodes were taken doxn |
and placed in pine collins.
When the caps were removed the features
OF Adams were found to DO natural, the ewes |
being closed and with no indication of suffer
ing in his face The features Of Butea and |
Burton wero very much distorted; tho ere.
were open and garing and tongues protrn-
ding from their mouthe. The bndies will |
probably DO buried by the authorities. A de. |
tarhment Of the Greenvile and Butler Guards
were pcesent under the command of Cant.
N"rwond and Lieutenant Ilill to preserve
order and prevent any disturbance. The crowd
in the adjacent streets was quite large. but
no disposition to disorder was manifested.
The arrangements were complete and the