The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-04


Future Reward-A Brief Review OF the
Crime for which He was HunR-Barbara
Miller, His AccompIice In Crime, with Him
In his Last VI oments-SiRhts and scenes In
and About the Jaii-Ynrd Something About
Lees Parents sheriff Southwark Speaks
from the Scafrold.
II was well understood both in city and
country that on Yesterday at some hour be-
tween sunrise and noon n negro boy
named Charles Henry Lee would be hung
i'm the iail-yard at Henrico courthouse, In
this CITY. There Is nothing that attracts
the morbidly curious more than hanging,
not even q circus or a game OF baseball
and the result was that early yesterday
morning crowds OF people from the coun-
try were making their way to the city and
thence to the county courthouse. City peo-
ple also flocked toward the same place, and
by 10 O'Clock in the morning dense crowd,
composed mostly OF colored people. had
wedged themselves into the lots around
the courthouse and county Jail.
And this. too, when il was well known
that the execution must, according to the
law OF the land, be private.
But curious people thought they might
be able to get glimpse OF the criminal, or
possibly prevail upon the authorities to
make exceptional rulings, and admit them
TO the scene OF the hanging.
The doors were closed. however. and
only those who were armed with tickets
were admitted. Outside the pressure con-
tinued, aud the hum Of voices roared with
n dull sound above .he inging OF street
ear bells or the rattling OF wheels over the
stony pavement. Now and then the
scream OF a vender Of lemonade, or the
melliluous drone OF the owner OF a cart
filed with watermelonS, could be heard in
distinct tones. Each newcomer was be-
sIeged by the motley crowd with appeals
of "Get me in"; and now and then could
be heard offers Of money to anv one whose
influence would secure a permit. On top
OF nigh piles OF lumber adjacent TO the
iail-yard were groups Of people. Others,
with more bOldneSs, secured q long ladder,
and upon this mounted TO the top OF the
iail-walls, and there perched themselves,
resting for two hours under blazing sun,
lust to see man hanged.
LEES CRIME.
The crime for which Charles Henry Lee
was hung was murder in the first degree.
The readers Of the Dispatch remember
perhaps the story of the manner in which
Lee and Barbara Miller, the murdered
mans wife, made away with Daniel Miller,
an ino1cnsiye sort OF darky, who lived
near Hungary station, on the line OF the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
road. The old man was found dead on
the railroad track on the morning OF the
14th Of February last, and ut first 1t was
thought he had been accidentally killed.
lie was buried, but Constable Solomon,
suspecting foul play, arrested Lee (who
lived with Daniel Miller and Barbara
Miller, his wife; had the body eXhumed;
and the evidence adduced was sufficient to
cause them 10 he sent on for trial before the
County Court Of IIenrico. Lee was tried
first, and the evidence OF Barbara Miller,
his paramount, was sufficient to convict him.
He was found guilty by jury, but new
trial was granted him on a writ OF error
awarded by the Circuit Court on account
of the fact that the jury had read the news
paper reports OF the trial. At his second
trial he was again found guilty, and was
sentenced to be hung.
After his sentence, the criminal professed
n change Of life, and was baptized in bath
tub in the iail-yard, a colorcd preacher
named Boswell officiating. Lee also made
confession, in which he charged Barbara
Miller with the murder OF poor old Daniel.
She killed the old man while he slept,
using as the weapon of demolition an axe.
Lee took the body 20 the railroad and placed
il on the track. Barbara was subsequently
tried and found guilty, and sentenced 10 be
hung on the 14th OF September next upon
the same rope and gallows that held Lee in
his last moments.
Thus il will be seen that man and mis-
tress, at the fiat of the law, will shortly be
made to travel the same road.
PREPARING TO co.
Like all criminals. Just as soon as Lee
found his fate sealed he made extensive
preparations for the journey OF death. The
nearer the time approached the more anX-
ious he became, and the greater necessity
did there appear TO him TO be for public
and noisy protestatlon. So on Thursday
night he besought Sheriff southwark TO
allow him to have midnight prayer-meet-
ing, and the kind-heartcd sheriff consented.
BY the light OF Pickering lamps, in the
presence OF his old, gray-haired father and
mother, surrounded by some haii-dozen OF
his friends. the condemned man listened
TO the words OF counsel let fall by minis
ters of the Gospel OF his own race. Ever
and anon the stiffness of the midnight hour
was broken by the wild, intOned chants OF
the colOred worshippers who were raising
their voices IN songs Of praise in that
weird manner so peculiar TO colOred peO-
pie. Charles seemed TO enjoy the services,
which lasted for more than an hour. When
they ended he stretched himself upon his
pallet, the death-watch took his position,
and soon the doomed man was sleeping.
He rested well during the night, arose yes
terday morning early, and notwithstand-
ing it was the
LIGHT OF THE LAST DAY
he was ever to see upon this earth, still
he appeared cheerful, and ate Il hearty
breakfast.
He then attired himself in the suit in
which he was to be hung, except the coat
and shoes, which were left of. His shirt
was white and fresh from the laundry. and
he wore dark pants and vest-evidently
The prayer-meeting was renewed about
o o'clock. This time, in addition TO the
three cOlored preachers, there were present
i'm the cell seventeen men and seven women,
including the condemned woman, Barbara
Miller. This bold-faced criminal begged
to be present, and Charles Offering no OBJ
lection, sheriff Southward consented, and
She came i'm and sat on the floor OF the cell,
at the feet OF Charles Lee, thrusting her
ugly presence upon the father and mother
Of the boy OF whose destruction she had
been the author and finisher.
WHAT THE PARENTS THOUGHT.
When old Sandy Lee, the father OF
Charles, was asked what he thought OF
visiting his son, he replied in
emphatic tones:
81 don't see how she can do as she does.
She takes more authority over Charles than