Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-01-19
DEATH BY THE ROPE
EXECUTION OF CHARLES SHAW.
HANGED FOR KILLING HIS SISTER.
ELS LIFE IN TIE DISTRICT JAIL.

HANGED FOR KILLING HIS SISTER.
ELS LIE IN TIE DISTRICT JAIL.
THE CLOSING SCENE ON THE sCAFFo1D.
Charles Shaw, colored, was hanged at the Dis
trict jail this afternoon, Dust two years
from the day of his admission to the
PRISON., for the murder of his Sis
ter, Susie Carter, committed on the night of Sum
day, January 49, 1881. Shaw had induced his Sis
ter to leave her home on Louisiana avenue near
the City Hall and accompany him by stating that
her grandmother, who lives on the Oxen Hill road
just beyond the District line, was dying and wanted
to see her. The next morning the woman was
found in the road beyond Uniontown insensible
from wounds about her head. Three days after
wards she died. Meanwhile Shaw was arrested on
suspicion OF theft, and circumstances gradually
became known which led to his being committed
on the charge Of the murder. Shaw was tried
before Judge Wylie in March last, the trial begin
ning on the 18th and ending in conviction on the
29th. motion for new trial, made April Sd,
Ws f Leo May Sh ana the prisoner was sen
between the hours OF 12 m. and 2 pm. In Novem,
per the Judgment was affirmed by the Court in
General Term
sHAw's AGE AND APPEARANCE.
Shaw claimed to be less than 16 years old at the
time OF his arrest but his grandfather testified on
the trial that he was 10 years old. He was quite
piack In color, rather well-built boy, of about
leet or inches IN height, and in health would
polite In conversation. On his commitment to
jail he was at first confined On the second tier Of
the south wing of the Jail, and he soon earned the
name among his fellOW-priSOnerS OF being one Of
the most ungovernable within the walls OF the
prison, and he was quite often punished Then
he was removed to cell on the first floor in the
nd
here he kept the other prisoners in hot water and
on on one occasion, he having attempted to cut
lined. F
TIE TRIAL OF GUITEAU.
came on before his, but he took no interest other
than to express the hope that he {Guiteau) would
be hung. Up to the time that Shaw was taken to
the court for trial he was OF stoical disposition,
seemingly entirely Indifferent as to the dispOSi-
tion of the case. When the foreman of the Jury
announced the verdict, "Guilty as indicted" he
showed no signs OF weakening; but when the
and had to be assisted to the van. On his return
10 the jail ne soon was apparently as callous as
ever, and his thoughts were directed more to
Whac ne should have to eat than to other matters,
ana IN short time after his return the jail he
asked the officers why he could not have fresh
kept up his opportunities for some time. Before
the execution OF Gu!teau 1t was pretty evident
that he would, If he had the opportunity, save the
trouble and expense OF judicial execution by
doing the job himself.
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST SUICIDE
SO, as precautionary measure, he was placed In
one OF the double cells at the end OF the wing,
where his fellow prisoners watched him, and be-
fore the execution Of Guiteau, on June sOth last,
When the execution OF Guiteau took place he
Talked and converSed about the arrangements and
tne manner they were carried out as If it was a
very commonplace matter. When told after 1t was
over That Gulteau said he was going to glory he
cooiiy said: 1T is mighty hot place of glory he is
hopeful OF obtaining new trial or a Communication of
sentence at times, and at others was somewhat
respondent: He did not at all like the idea OF
he should be removed 10 q single cell, but, of
course, his wish was not gratif1ed In little
while he became somewhat attached to one OF his
IeiloW prisoners, who advised him to prepare for
the worst, even II he had hopes, and II guilty to
make clean breast OF the matter. In the early
Term had affirmed the Judgment OF Judge Wyiie
Shaw commenced to write out his confession. and
n nad nearly completed it. when he concluded that
what ne had written. About two weeks after
wards November 26th), in the presence of Mr.
sg Hagett Oh ms counsel he made lengthy state
his guilt, stating that he picked up a
stone some little time before, ana he struck his
sister because she had cOntradicted him This
statement was noted down, and having been writ
ten out, SHAW on the following day signed it
AN ATTEMPT TO ROAST A FELLOW PRISONER.
A snort time after he had made this statement
his companion in the cell left the jail by reason OF
the expiration OF his sentence and another pris-
oner was placed in the cell This arrangement
was Objectionable to Shaw, and he protested
man they would find ga roasted nigger" soon.
1t was thought that the man could take care OF
himself, and but little attention was paid to his
tnreat A rev nights thereafter Shaw attempted
to put his threat into execution by setting the bed
on which his fellow prisoner was asleep on fire.
him, and in little time thereafter he settled down
70 MS work OF preparation for death should it
come m For the last two weeks he devoted almost
the directions of his spiritual adviser
Kew. Father Hurley, OF ST. Augustlne's church.
sHAws CELL MATES.
About a week ago Shaw complained that the two
colOred prisoners placed In his cell to keep him
company did not behave In his presence in a de-
aspect of his case. The o1cers thinking that this
was complaint to get the prisoners out and to
have cell to himself, were foathe to pay any at
tentlon 10 II, put receiving note from Martin j.
Casey convicted OF an assault with Intent to xiii
Mrs Bergevin). whose cell is just above. corrobo-
removed from the latter's cell. Casey and Joshua
Anderson. under Indictment for the murder of
Carr, December 80 1881, both volunteering to take
These men seemed to have the religious interest
OF the prisoner at heart, and their conversation
With him has been almost entirely Of serious
books In their hands reading and saying prayers
and 1t was observed that on Wednesday night thev
were on their knees for some time before they re-
t1reda
how THE CONDEMNED NAN SPENT YESTERDAY.
Yesterday, although the prisoner had slept ap-
parently well during the preceding night, he did
not appear to have been much refreshed. He
spoke only when spoken to, and evidently was
thinking of the prospects of s reprieve. OF WIS.,
itor he inquired anxiously If there was any hope
for him, and was told that the Attorney General
would report against granting q reprieve. He
asked: "Do you believe 1t, sir?" The answer be-
Ing "Yes," he seemed to droop at once and after q
talk with Deputy Warden Russ seemed to give up
all hope, and asked that Frank Minor, the cOlored
man who some months ago pleaded guilty to the
murder OF his wife, be allowed to visit him and
read prayers with him. At three O'Clock Shaw
with Minor and his two fellow prisoners. engaged
In religious conversation. About 3K O'Clock, Mr.
Clagett, OF his counsel, called and had an inter-
view with him, In which Shaw spoke OF giving his
body to the doctors. About four O'Clock Rev.
Father Hurley, Ut st. AuguStine's church, called
and spent nearly two hours with the prisoner in his
cell.
THE SOUL OF MORE IMPORTANCE THAN THE BODY.
Yesterday afternoon, while Rev. Father Hurley,
Shaw's spiritual adviser, and his counsel, Mr. II.
c. Clagett, were In the cell with the condemned
man, he stated to them that 1t had been suggested
to him that IL would be good thing for him to
leave hts HOdV these oenf1onon on6 lat fhouo