The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-05-04


Making Arson Capita: OHence-Last
Hours and Words of the Doomed Ne
groes.
Special Di,pateh 10 Neus NIL tvuriec.
GREENyILLE, s. c., April %.
Pleasant Adams, Richard Bates aud
Joe Burton were hanged here to day for
burning the Academy OF Music in 1879.
The condemned men passed asleepless
night, which was spent in singing and
prayer. They were up at an early hour,
and bore little trace of suffering or anx-
iety. They were cheerful, and expressed
themselves rs ready for the terrible or
deal. After partaking Of a hearty break
fast furnished them by noted courtesan
Of this city, who had encouraged them
ito die bravely, as there was no he'll" !"
Of friends and relations until II o'clock,
when they were taken separately into the
hall Of the Jail and each dressed in neat
black suit furnished by the Sheriff for
the occasion. They then returned to
their cells. The Rev: j. Ii. G. II. Young,
the colored pastor of the First Colored
Baptist Church, Macon, Ga, entered the
cell. conversed with them as to their
spiritual condition and had prayers, in
which the doomed men joined. From
this time up to IL o'clock the prisoners
were engaged in conversing with their
spiritual advisers. They were then taken
from the cell, their hands tied behind
them, and conducted to the scafold
which was erected in the jailyLrd, wLere
they arrived at 1910 p. m.
Up to this time the prisoners had been
frequently interviewed and protested
their innocence. They mounted the
scaffold with firm step, showing no signs
of fear. The Sheriff told them they
could make statement if they wished
Burton then said "You all see have
to die. am brought here without cause,
but for keeping bad company. 1 die in
nocent. When yon swear against your
fellow man you ought to remember THAT
is your responsibility. Remember you
don't cut off chickens head when you
kill q man. My counsel have served me
well, and put off the day of my death
till have made peace with Heaven"
Bates said: II am innocent, and feel
prepared to go to Heaven. l believe Mr.
Nix has done all he could for me."
Adams said: 81 stand before you to-
day for something have never done.
am innocent. When jurors are sworn
and kiss the Billie they ought to be more
cau:,ops end not shed innocent mems
blood. If man committed the crime
don't know anything about it. Alr. Gill
reath and Mr.. Nix, you have done we'll
by me. My counsel, Mr.. Nix and Mr..
Stokes, have done everything they can
for me.'
Mr.. Nix said to the prisoners II have
done ali can for you. You have no
hope. If you are guilty you should con-
fess." But all answered saying they
were innocent.
The Rev. p. V. Hazel, colorcd, OF
Greenville, read the 103d Psalm, during
which Burton and Bates stood erect, with
smiling faces. Adams stood with his
face lifted heavenward and eyes closed as
if in prayer. Rev. F. Brown, color ed,
of Greenville, read hymn and sung,
the prisoners joining in the singing with
clear, strong voices. At the conclusion
of this the Rev. r. P. Rumley, of Spar.
tanburg, offered a fervent and earnest
prayer, the prisoners kneeling and join
ing in with devout feeling and seeming
much affected. Rev. Mr.. Rumley praved
for those who had prosecuted these un-
fortunate men, and the officers of the
law, judges and the Governor and asked
| the blessing of God on the Sheriff and
his assistants and the poor Ethiopian
race, and hoped they would stand to.
gether like the white race
Al half-past u Mr.. Nix interrogated
the. prisoners separately, each one still
declaring his innocence. The Sheriff
and his deputies then adjusted the ropes
| around the prisoners necks and proceed.
ell to read the death sentence. Their
legs we're then strapped together and the
black caps drawn over their faces. when
the Sheriff bade them goodbye and
| asked them if they were ready. They
replied yes, and the Sheriff descended the
scatfOld. As he reached the last step he
sprung the trap, and the drop fell at pre-
| cisely l2.40 o'clock, and the unfortunate
men were launched into eternity.
Bates and Adams died 10 seventeen
minutes aud Burton in nineteen, their
necks being broken. Thirty-five minutes
| after the drop fell they were pronounced
dead by the physicians, and the bodies
were taken down and placed in plain
pine coffins.
When the caps were removed the feat.
| ures of Adams were found to be natural,
the eyes being closed and with no indi.
cation of suffering in his face. The
features Of Bates and Burton were very
much distorted; the eyes were open and
glaring and tongues protrudDg from
their mouths. The bodies will probably
be buried by the authorities.
A detachment of the Greenville and
Butler Guards were present, under the
command Of Capt. Norwood and Lieut..
Hill, to preserve order and prevent any
disturbance. The crowd in the adjacent
streets was quite large, but no disposition
to disorder was manifested. The ar
rangements were complete, aud the Sher-
1T, 2. d. Gilreath, performed his sad
duty with GOODNESS and determination.
Only the number of persons permitted by
law were allowed access to the iaiiyard.
= Returns from the municipal elec-
tions held on the 1st inst in the various
cities and tow "a in North Carolina show