Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-07-05
EXPIITfON.


George Lakes Horrible Crime
Avenged by tho State
special Correspondence of state Journal.
CAMBRIDGE MD, June 29.--Gsoree
Lake, colored, was hanged here at IL Al |
o'clock a. N. to-day for outrage upon the |
person OF Mrs. Stewart c. Simmons. |
An EVERY EVENING representative |
interviewed Lake last pight. The prisoner
wsa engage in earnest prayer, alone IN |
Lil room, when the reporter WAS admit
ted. He confessed his guilt, and stated
that he had submitted all to God. The
manner in which he accomplished his
crime, and the facts relative thereto, are
of such & revolving character as not to
admit of publication. He said that he
had no intention of committing the crime
when he entered the house for the pur.
pose of lighting his pipe.
He protested Willingness TO die, and
claimed to have no fear of death on the
gallows. He stated to the reporter that,
when he escaped prison some time re-
Gently, he did not intend going any
further than ths hons OF his parents,
which is in the neighborhood where the
crime was committed, Notwithstanding he
ragged people. He says that he has no
i'll feeling, and never had any against
Mrs. Simmons or any OF her family OF
friends, and hopes that they have all tor
given him. lie declared his terrible posi-
ton the result of not having obeyed the
teachings OF his dear parents, who prayed
| for him in his youth and often besought
| him to become member OF the church
lie was very grateful To Deputy Sheriff
| Adams, the keeper OF the Jail, and those
| who have acted as watohnen, for the
| kind words aud treatment, and TO many
| ghn have visited him during his in.
| prisuilnein.
| Lake ,a'krl very iuGUh-rrntly, aud at
| INT one la led SO hrllsve hun sDmeT h. at
nsAur, bat II wlu rs r-rd ly ssen that,
after talking with him, his apparent in
sanity is but the manifestation Of dep,,
Ignorance.
Lake slept we'll last night, and he
ate a hearty breakfast this morning.
His spiritual advisers, the Revs.
Sturgis of the NJ. 4. Church South, and
Mourue aud Collect of tue colored churches
held religious services in his room at al
early hour. The prisoners nerves were
then strong.
AT IL 30 o'clock Lake was conducted
from the jail to the scaifuld by Sheriff
Fletcher and his guards, the Revs
Sturgis, Balm and Hayes OF the Nj. II
Church South aud Monroe and Collect
colOred, accompanying the little process
sion. There were but 80 persons gathered
III tue jail yard, none OF the family eithe
Vi Lake or OF airs. simmons being pres
ent, and ali unexpectedly small humble
NJ persons coming lut0 to Rn from the sur
rounding country,
There We're prayers and singing on tn
scalluld, Lake joining III both, and whsl
i got thus engaged he muttered unintelli
: sibly. He was perfectly cool, his nerve
being strous To the last The religion
ceremonies over, ne bade adieu to til
!, Sheriff and the olergymeu, baking hand
. with them.
L Tie Moose was adjusted, the last word
, said, aud At Ii Al the tatal trap wa
}, sprung. The rope slipped round hehiu
the victims neck aud lac died OF stIangU
y lation, he only evidence OF suffering bvin
- thrse slight commissions. In six an
n half minutes after the ira
Tell Drs. Steele and Shepherd pronounce
&c lite extinct, and sho.tly af,tr tbe bod
vas cut lowu and given in change to M
hunrue, to be buried al tue expense
the negro church OF which he Is paste
Sheriff Fletcher YVES cool and cal
" throughout the execution.
THE rRIME.
Lske's victim, Mrs. Clara j. Slmmon
wife Of Captain Stewart C. Simmons, Il
master of au oyster bost, ia d-lioa
u woman of ~, whose home is on Hoop r
" Island, III Chesapeake bay, ,H .he Do
y chester county COST, and separated ire
~ the mRiulNud by shallow Gna.u
: known as Honga river. ..-.
~ Ol the evening Of sunday, Aprtl 10
'' last, as Mira. Simmons sat halt asleep ~
chair before the lire ia her own roo
With 10 one beside herself Ia the bon
save her infant Guild, she sudden
IS became conscious OF something tOuchii
;, her face. She awUke aud felt a sha'
over her head, She though. at first
Gas her husband, hIt Ou har a.temptii
TO pail II thu shawl rough head eauE
~ | hers and she knew II wsa not her Lu ti,A4
is sue made another ellTt To pHll OF q
al shawl, aud sAE tnal ne haud yAs thai
.'s black man. Sue stru led harder 8
u got vi the SHAWL, and recognized 'Y.ur
ID L'l<H, who lived hard hy, s.ud G.i b4
RE- employed hy her huSrani. She cL''
rk him by name aud asked hiln whst he y
liz tong in Lof room. ils go ,Ir sha
lis over her mUllh aud eyes assiu, set ~
~. prOtTaGted Struggle SIS Was uvl
"a powered. Ia the struggle Mira S'mmo
~ gaa Severely hurt, - IL ailerwGfI prVvt
of having sustSiued IT. ken RID Is
Oh several painfn! wGund3, .nj "'au |
st. | guilty Vr4; u, Il Il taI bousY Ire, i-i Il !