Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-03-30

L
THIS AoRSIsG-HE BIDS FAREWELL TO HIS
| "FBIENDs AND FELLOW CREArUREs"-HIs NECK
| BROKEN BY TEE FALL
Special Dispatch to THE EVENING STAR
LEEsBuRG, LouDoUS COUNTY, Va, Mar. 80. 1888
| This morning, little before o'clock, Charles
William Beaner, colored youth of II years, was
hanged In the Jail yard in this town for the crime
OF rape committed September 5th 1881, on the per-
son OF little white girl. ii years OF age in the
| neighborhood OF Purcellvtlle. The hanging was
witnessed by not over fifty persons.
The circumstances OF the crime were peculiarly
| atrocioua The two children OF Mr. G. A. Hunt.
| While on their way from school, and nearly home
were stopped by Beaner, who assaulted the eldest
lie was seen by their parents while running away
from fence corner, he having in his haste left
| part OF his clothing behind. He was captured in
| endeavoring to hide in hay NOW, and taken be-
| fore the Children who Identified him. The father
/ with much forbearance, notwithstanding the i'm
portunities OF his wife to execute summary yen-
geance upon his prisoner, carried him to HiIsboro,
and there Justice Gaver committed him for trial
He was lodged in jail On the 9th of September by
] constable Grubb. On the following night about
| nfty mounted men came into town to lynch the
prisoner. but they were prevailed upon TO aban-
don their purpose.
| his TRIAL AND CONVICTION
AT the October term OF the county court he was
\
! court he was tried before Judge Keith-Capt j. W.
| Foster representing the state, and Messrs Mat
tnew and Pollock the prisoner. The evidence was
| 1Treslstibie, and the verdict was guilty. Judge
! Keith passed the sentence, naming to-day be-
! tween and am, as the time for the execution
FOR some time after his sentence Beaner appeared
| prleVe or Communication, but for q month or more
past he had been growing more serious.
HIS RELIGIOUS PREPARATION.
Kew K T. Davis, of the Episcopal church; Rev
Samuel Rodgers, of the NJ. E. church SOUTH and
Rev. Messrs Love IN. E) and TilChman dBaptis,
colored. had visited him quite frequently. Some
three weeks ago he pr0fessed forgiveness OF his
sins, and his conduct since has shown a decided
change. The 1ailer, Col. j. l. Nixon, some weeks
| ago, at the request OF Beaner, allowed a fellow
prisoner to share his cell with him, and they have
spent many hours reading the Bible and convers-
| Ing together. Beaner was a well-grown boy, OF
more than ordinary intelligence for one OF his age
and race, and could read well and write a fair
| hand. He was reared In a white family
Notwithstanding his profession OF religion he
nad moi, up 10 yesterday afternoon, admitted his
guilt Dor had he explicitly denied 1t When ques-
yesterday, evade direct answer.
yesterday morning he received visits from the
Rev Mr. Rogers HIS fellow prisoner % pannis am Gnc
berp during the day had been talking to the prIs-
Sher ON ana soon after dinner the prisoner sent for
MI. Pollock, 10 whom he made a statement
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CONDEMNED Roy
Yesterday representative OF THE STAR had a
short Interview with Beaner In which he smoke OF
his father and mother. sister and brothers having
visited him last sunday. His eyes were fearful
when he said: 81 then bid them good bye. and
told them to meet me in Heaven He remarked
he had been reading the Bible; that he was sure
That God had pardoned his sins; that he had felt
the great change while engaged I'm prayer about
CnTee weeks ago. When the reporter asked SLOW
about the crime, Charles?" he answered, II don't
feel Ike talking about that" The reporter re-
and die II you are guilty without making IL known.
Inat VIII De living lie" For half minute or
MOI more the prisoner was silent, and being pressed
Ior an answer said, "Yes, 1t Is true about the
cline. did what was sworn to-" Other visitors
then entered the cell, among them Mr w. Mat
thew. OF his counsel. and Mr.. B, f. Sheets, of the
Mirror, and he signed the following statement.
which MT. Matthew had written out from notes
dictated by him:
BEANER's CONFESSION.
l. L. Charles h. William Beaner. now under sentence Of
by the ocers ra oi h sw o
TO- morrow desire to say that am guilty of the crime
stantisly al the facts proved AGAINST the trial of
the wrong and injury DONE fray forgiveness OF the
Sees d haSe I PRAYED Of hssy
that have caused sem 90 much sorrow. but hope to
my counsel tor their efforts my behalf sheriff
Mr. Nixon. my jailer. for his Kindness while un
In jail. Leesburg. Va. March 90, 1883.
CHAs. W BE.yER
Rev MI. Davis called about 5 O'Clock and found
long conversation with him he administered the
rite OF baptism. The prisoner requested Mr
Davis to attend him TO the scaold, and also asked
Rev. Mr.. Love.
was erected during the day, without any noise
1t was placed In the south part OF the fail yard
which Is nearly 100 feet square, and is surrounded
by a brick wall about 16 feet high. The scafrold
was built Of heavy timber, the top beam being l6<
ieet from the ground; the platform, 6XS feet,
reached by flight Of IL steps, at height OF feet
and the trap is about by 5 rect Tie rope was
adjusted for fall OF 81. feet
THE PRISONERS BREAKFAST AND MORNING DEyo
TIONa
Beaner went to sleep about II 80 O'Clock last
night and awoke at 5 O'Clock this morning. His
breakfast consisting OF meat, eggs, bread and but
and he ate heartily. The ministers, Rev. Mr. !
Davis and Rev. Mr.. Love, at the Jail promptly
at o'clock, and were at once admitted to the cell
Here they engaged with the prisoner In brief reli
gtous converse, and Mr. Davis concluded the inter-
view by o1erlng prayer, and the hymn "Jesus, |
saviour or My Soul, was sung.
THE PROCESSION TO THE 6ALLowa
The sherin then entered with his deputies and |
read the death warrant, announcing that 1t was |
now time to execute the sentence. The prisoner |
was dressed In suit OF drab, and his arms having
pee Geen pinioned behind him by Deputy Summers
Davis, Rev J. G Love and Rev. W. Nessrs N TS TI,shman
ey
The procession moved out OF the back deor OF the
Jail TO the scaf1Old. The prisoner walked firmly
up the steps of the scaffoll He was placed back
OF the trap with his face northward Rev. Mr
Davis Davis then @ offered @ prayer and the ministers and
The legs were then pinioned by Deputy Russell,
the rope was adjusted by the sheriff.
FAREWELL 10 THE WORLD
As the black cap was being drawn over his face
by Deputy Shawner, Beaner exclaimed "Fare
WELL friends and fellow creatures At 6:52
O'Clock the trap was sprung and Beaner dropped
After the body had been hanging about nfteen
minutes, nrS Edwards and West examined ft and |
pronounced life extinct 1t was discovered that
the neck was broken by the fall. The body was
thereup0n placed in common coffn and buried
Ia the Potter's neid, near the east end of the
town.
A Car Conductor Found Guilty 0f MAN.
SlaugheeF.
BOSTON, MAss., March 3Q-Conductor 4 L Hos
ley, OF the New Haven and Northampton railroad, |
was found guilty OF manslaughter In the superior
court az Greenfield, Mass, yesterday for dtsObey-