Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-01
ONE MAN TWICE HANGED.
THE ROPE BREAKS AT THE
WORTH COUNTY EXECUTION.


West Revived and Finally Dies Game
After an Hours DeIay-The Original
Rope Forgotten and the Frail One
Twisted on the SpOt-Hanging in Other
States.
TY TY, GA, Nov. 30.-Ambrose West.
eolored, was hanged three-quarters of a
mile west OfIsabella to-day at :15 O'Clock.
He rode from the railroad to the place of
execution without showing any signs of
emotion, He was smoking a cigar before
reaching the gallows throughout the
three-quarters of a mile, and only relin-
pushed it at the foot of the gibbet.
Owing to the failure of the rope to ar
rive, Sheriff Holton improyised one out of
three very small ropes. This was adjust
ed and the prisoner placed upon the drop.
A short prayer was offered by Rev. j. A.
Cary, cOlored, of Albany, Ga. The pris-
oner refused to make any statement. At
quarter past II O'Clock the drop fell. the
rope broke near the cross beam and the
prisoner fell to the ground. In fifteen
minutes he was resuscitated and
spoke freely until another rope was
procured. He said in substance
that ne had been persuaded to commit the
murder, that he only struck James Mon
roe one blow; that Ike Mathews struck
the blow that killed him; that he was
oyer-persuaded by those who pretended
to be his friends, and that they went to
the court house and swoTe falsely against
him, and that he was over
Matthews Matthews andi Henry eDp Hayw'ard RaeRE' lf9 fe
commit the murder. At o'clock the
prisoner was assisted up the gallows
steps, the moose was placed around his
seek the second time, and he then said:
81 tell you all I'Ve tried to be ready to
meet God: l want you all to meet me in
heaven: Paul said, Let every man be
'suaded by his own 'pinion.' let others
'suade me and Tve got to die. |
don't know how old | am. When
| go now | hope the breath will
leave me. l hope to 90 to God.
| wanted my brother to be here. Tell him
to try and meet me in Heaven. | have
been praying to God to take my sins
away, and L feel that they are forgiven.
Don't none of you do like | done, L ask
you for the Lords sake"
Rev. Z. M. Knighton, cOlored, then as
cended the gallOws and offered up a short
prayer, at the conclusion of which Sheriff
H0lton drew the black cap over the pris-
Oners face, and at 1:15 O'clock the drop
fell and West was launched into eternity.
He fell five feet and broke his neck. In ff-
.
L. W. Ilson pronounced life extinct, and
the body was cut down and turned over
to the negroes, who buried it.
This is the first hanging which has ever
taken place in Worth county, and was
witnessed by about 1,200 people, about
half of whom were negroes. A number
OF ladies also witnessed the hanging.
There was not the slightest disturbance,
and all seemed relieved when the horrible
SDeCtacle was ended
THE CRIME.
On or about the 18th of September last
Ambrose West, a negro aged IS wears.
Waylaid and killed James Monroe. anegro
on the plantation of Col. J. Early Billays,
in the Fourteenth district of this
county. There seemed to have been
an old grudge between them,
but of what character was not
revealed in the trial. West stood behind
a gate post and, with a maui in his hand,
awaited Monroe. 1t was a moonlight
night. When Monroe opened the gate to
pass West struck him on the head with
the maui, telling him to the ground and
Kicking him senseless. He then struck
him several times again, crushing the
skull with each blow, and kill
ing him instantly. He then
left and was pursued by the negroes on
the plantation, brought back and held un-
til the Sheriff arrived. He was then con-
Veyed to the Albany Jail, from whence he
was brought to Isabella and tried at the
October term of court. He was ably de-
Tended, but the evidence was conclusive.
and the jury, after receiving the Judges
charge, retired and in about an hour
brought in verdict of guilty of murder.
and he was sentenced to be hanged to-
day.
Isabella, the scene of the execution, is
five miles distant from Ty Ty, and the
NEWS and its enterprising correspondent,
the editor of the Worth County Star, are
under joint obligations to DR.. j. O. Ham
mond for the courtesy of a swift drive,
which greatly facilitated the expedition
with which the dispatch was filled at the
0EtDrn ITnInn o. so,,I, ~,