Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-06-09
STEVENS0N'S EXPIATION.
A TRAGIC SCENE ON THE LAW.
RENCEVILLE GIBBET.

hENCENlL LILLE GIBBET.
Inc Last fareWells-A Night of Unrest
-Nerving for ~the Ordeal-Marcbed
from the Jail-A MelO-dramatie Har-
angue-BOId to the Last-A Torturous
StrangulatiOn.
LAwRENCEvILLE, June S.-EIbert NJ
stevenson was publicly hanged here to-
day in the presence Of 5000 spectators for
the murder of his aunt in August. 1881
The gibbet was erected in an omen field
half mile distant from the iail. and so
situated as to afford advantageous accom-
mediation for fully 10000 spectators.
NhlIe to-day's throng did not cover every
available standing place, it was neyerthe-
less one OF the largest ever present at any
georgia execution. Two facts question
less had great influence in collecting the
thrOng. One is that Stevenson was the first
White man who had paid the death pen-
atty IN Gwinnett county in forty years.
stevenson's relatives and more intimate
friends took their farewell yesterday after
noon. The only time that the scene was lent
tlnge of the pathetic was when the
doomed man parted with his sister. whose
love for her brother was constant when
all the world seemed to have turned
against him. Both wept copiously.
He lost all control of himself She
was frantic and almost convulsive.
They were the first and only
tears which Stevenson had shed since his
arrest and Imprisonment. His wife did
not visit him. When her absence was re-
marked it was explained that the enor-
nifty of her husbands crime had alien
ated her affection. After his sisters depar-
ture the murderer regained his COM
pOsure, and dOnned his old air of indiffar
ence to his fate. He talked freely with
the visitors who were admitted to the iail.
and found time during the day to write
several letters-''tarewells" as he called
them-tO his friends. Throughout his
conversation it was noticeable, however,
that he studiously avoided any reference
10 his crime. At supper time he ate
heartily, but could not conceal the ner-
YOusness which was slowly but surely
overmastering his determination as
daylight gave place to the dark
ness OF night. At 10 O'Clock his con-
dltlon was truly pitiable. From time to
time he appeared startled, and a horror
stricken expression chased serenity from
his face. During the whole night he con-
tlnued restless, and when he slept moaned
and tossed almost necessarily. The death
watch narrates the hours as heartrending.
Stevenson got but three hours of this un-
refreshing sleep during the whole night.
remaining reclining but wide awake
during most of the rest of the time. At
the first peep of dawn he was astir in his
cell. and dressed himself with scrupulOus
care in suit of Confederate grey. Rv
breakfast time he had quieted his nerves.
and when the meal was served eat with the
aYldlty of apparent hunger. At an early
hour crowd gathered without the iail
and stood patient sentries awaiting the
prisoners removal. From time to time
Stevenson cOnversed with the
thrOng through the iron bars of
his cell window. The sight
of so many people seemed to inspire him
with new ambition to die without finch
ing, and from 8 O'Clock out his demeanOr
was jOcOse and intended to convey the
impression that he rather gloried in his
fate than otherwise. At IL o'clock Rev.
VIM. Winn and Mr.. Reid were admitted
to the prisoners cell, where they spent
the time until u O'Clock in prayer, eXhOr-
tation and singing. Shortly before noon
guard of sixty men drew up in front of
the entrance to the Jail, and held the
curious crowd in bounds, A few
minutes later Stevenson appeared on
the threshold escorted by the Sheriff and
his deputy. A few steps took them to a
carriage which was in waiting to convey
cool and unconcerned and walked with a
braggadOciO swagger, which evidently
''tOOk" with some of the crowd.
Before the c0achman gave the word Ste
YensOn turned to the crowd, and with a
satirical curl playing around his mouth,
harangued saying: "YOu will see
will see a sight to-day never seen before
Put down your umbrellas so that all can
see me-"
a crowd through which the guard had
to fairly push their way, followed and
preceded the conveyance to the gallOws.
Fully 500 white women were noticeable in
the crush, not TO mention the swarm
of negresses. During the drive
the prisoner regaled his fol-
lowers with song, which seemed
to be greatly appreciated, some giving
vent to their enjoyment by joining in the
tune and others by vOciferOus plaudits.
He betrayed no trepidatiOn while mount
ing the gibbet, and once upon it, sat down
with one foot on the trap. While with
his hands he playfully dangled
the hempen rope which he knew was so
soon to play so important a part in his
death. Now and then as he espied IA
miliaT face in the crowd he called the
person by name and banded expressions
with him. Many asked him if he was
guilty, but he answered equivocally.
His farewell speech was an incOherent |
tumble of rambling words spoken with |
out apparent aim and evidently for the |
purpose of prolonging the spectacle. Dur !
ing the whole of his mummery, however, |
he did not forget himself sufficiently !
to make the slightest allusiOn to the crime !
for which he was to die. Even when the !
black cap was put on his GOODNESS did not |
desert him, and he stood without emotion. |
Hosts of his friends in the crowd shouted |
goodbye to him and urged him to
admit or deny his guilt, but he stoically |
refused to say either yes or no. After |
the singing of song and prayer by the |
Rev. Mr.. Winn, Stevenson was notified !
that he had but three minutes to live, and |
again urged to make confession, but |
he still refused to admit or deny, !
although even urged with tears, |
He had just commenced to eX- |
hort again when the trap fell at
/ :O7 O'Clock, and his words were cut |
short by his terrible plunge into eternity. |
The fall failed to break his neck, and |
death did not ensue until fully twenty min |
utes had elapsed. The eOnvulsive clutch |
ing of the hands and the relaXa- |
tiOn of the muscles told the most dis |
tant spectator that Elbert Steven
son was dead, and terrible crime, as
far as possible, eXpiated. 1t was fully |
forty minutes before the body. was
cut down, but throughout the whole of
that time the crowd stood with !
their bullying eyes riveted on the |
corpse. surmounted by the hideous black |
cap, as though spell-bOund. When the |
remains were finally lowered they were !
taken in charge by an uncle of the dead
man, his wife having refused to receive |
them. They will be inferred in the same
church yard whero lies the woman he
and her little son.
STEVENSON'S FATAL PASSION.