The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-09-25
HANGED FOR MURDER,
Execution OF Jack ChhimAu-A Shock.
Ink STORY OF Jeniousy aud Revenge.

Ah" ShLhaso, SePteHiuct so.-hL uhll
past !? o'clock +. NJ. to-day Jack Chatmar
was brought from the jail at Belleview
Bossicr parish, to expiate the crime Of MUIR
der. A large crowd, mostly negroes, as
semblcd to witness the execution. Thes,
chatham addressed in q speech lasting
some fifteen minutes, in whichhe fully &C
knowlejged his guilt and the Justice Of hi
sentence. His vile, be said, was the caus.
Of his trouble, but he iorgaye her and
all those !, who had wronged him
and was satisfied and happy to
die. lie said he knew that he was COINS
straight to heaven 10 live In everlasting
happiness with his Lord. His discourse
was frequently interrupted by the attend.
ing crowd with moans and the words,
"That is so," "True, Lord" "Amen." All
precisely quarter to o'clock the trap was
sprung and chatham fell, will, a heavy
thud, distance OF seven ieet. His neck
was broken by the fall and he died
with scarcely struggle. In twenty
minutes he was declared dead, and the
crowd dispersed in the best Of order.
STORY or THE CREME 4'i{
The particulars OF the crime for which
Cbatman suffered death are as follows: On
the Cash plantation, three miles above
Shreveport, on the Bossier side OF Red
River, there resided a colored cotton picker
named John Williams 1t happened that
Williams took, fancy to Jack Chatman's 8
wife, to whom the latter had been married
in another parish by license, although he
had lawful wife living, and she husband
also alive at the time they were married.
Williams succeeded in enticing the woman
from Chatman's cabin on the Larkin place,
three or four miles distant from
the Cash plantation. On the LIST
OF October, 1881, chatham had oc.
casion TO pay visit TO tho Cash place, and
there saw Williams and his late wife TO-.
gether enjoying themselves apparently to
their hearts content. Chairman became
wild with rage. lie made a dash at the
couple without word Of warning, and be-
fore either could recover from the surprise
succeeded in dragging the woman by the
heels into another cabin Il short distance
beyond. The faithless vile, seeing death
staring her fn the face, made n desperate
effort 10 escape and fortunately succeeded.
While chatham was endeayoring TO catch
his wife Williams sprang forward to pre-.
vent him. A fierce fight followed. The
result was that chatham got a terrible
beating and had 10 hurry from the spot in
order 10 save himself alive. But this was
only the beginning Of the end.
SHOT TO DEATH. Gas I.
EARLY the next morning Chairman armed
himself with double barrel shotgun,
which he loaded with heavy charge Of
buckshot. lie then secreted himself in a
field Of tall cotton directly opposite Viii.
lialns cabin. As his rival came out Of the
door the murderer emptied both barrels of
the gun into Williams. body, 10 make his
work sure, and the victim fell dead without
utteriug groan. The thing was too good
to keep, SO chatham told some Of his
friends what he had Gone and why did
it. The penalty Of his crime was q mat
ter that gave him not the slightest consid-
Grafton. The authorities were informed OF
all the circumstances Of the case, and his
arrest followed on October "a, 1881. After
being tried by jury Of his own race and
color he was found guilty Of murder in the
first degree. His attorney endeavored to
obtain new trial on the ground Of some
clerical errors in the minutes Of the Court
but the Supreme Court, to which the ap.
peal was taken, refused to grant the peti.
tion. The Governor fixed the day OF exc
cution as above. 's..i.l5
Jack chatham was tllirty.tllree years old
and weighed $50 pounds. lie was short
and heavy SET His lace presented the
traits Of brute and a perfect simpleton
combined. It would be bard to ssy which
predominated. lie said, when inter-
viewed on the subject, that he had killed
Williams, but if it was to be done again be
did not know if he would do it. He fur
ther declares that he had "got religion"
and knew lie would 70 straight TO heaven;
but then he "did not expect TO meet vii.
liarns there" and at this be would laugh
like IN idiot. -