The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-04
EXECUTIONS YESTERDAY.
Two Men Hanged a, Newark. N. J.


Ivy telegraph 10 The Dspatch.l
NEWARK, n. j., January g. Robert Mar
Tin was hanged this morning. Martin was
condemned to death for the murder OF his
wife and child. He was iiity-thrce years
oi age, and was born in England. On the
night OF June Is, 1891. he returned home
IN an intoxicated condition and engaged
IN quarrel with his wife. She left the
house and he went to his room. y few
minutes later she returned and went 10 the
room where he was. picked up her infant
daughter, who had been lying in the era
die. aud started down stairs. Martin fol-
lowed her from the room, and with re-
yolver fred at her three times. All of the
shots took effect. and one shot struck the
baby in the abdomen. Both mother and
chila died almost instantly. Martin was
arrested. On his trial he claimed TO have
no memory of the crime. He was con-
victcd in October. 1881. but the execution
was delayed by appeals and respites until
to-day.
Martin received communion and re-
fused stimullnts. He babe his family faro
well. and welcomed the execution hour,
being much distressed by the suspense
AT 1913 Sheriff Wright appeared and read
the dcath-warrant TO Martin. His arms
were plnloned. with a strap, and he was
conducted to the gallows, attended by the
Rcvs. III. Goodwin and 4. l.. Wood, who
said the prayers OF the Episcopal Church.
At 1927 Dcpuiy-Sherilr Davis drew the
black cap over Martins face. and gave the
signal. Sheriff Wright, behind the screen.
touched the spring, and Martins body shot
up TO the croSS-bCam. fell back five feet
with thud. and spun around. The left
hand was raised to the moose and then
dropped. The c0nvulSivc movements
lasted almost five minutes, and at 1910
The physicians pronounced him dead from
Strmgulation and without apparent suffer-
ing. The body was delivered to his friends
for burial.
James b. Graves was hanged If 1l:0i
O'Clock. lie had TO he carried tc the
scaifold. Graves was rcclusc, and lived
ut No. 1873 Commerce street for several
years. lIewas siyty-tiye wears OF age. In
the same house lived a family named So
den. incudiu" Il boy named Eddie. who
was employed rs 4 strcct-lamp tighter.
Graves was ANNOYED hy a number Of boys,
among them Eddie SOdcn. who ridiculcd
his appearance and manners. Graves had
often made threats against the bows. and
crcpt up behind Eddie Soden while the
latter was lighting a lamp. pulled Il pistol.
and discharged it into the boys back. The
child fell dead. Graves was arrested. and
in the following January was convicted OF
murder, his defence being insanity.
immediately after the execution OF Mar
tin the sheriff and his deputies went for
Graves. who was in the hospital room,
where the death-warrant was read, and he
was brought to the galows. lie Sobbed
and moaned pitcously. No religious ccrc-
mony took place. He was pinioned, and at
four minutes past II o'clock the trap was
sprung. The body few up 10 the cross
beam, and he struggled hard ior an instant.
His pulse ceased to beat az eighteen min
utcS past II II which time he was pre-
nounced dead. Martin gave his counsel a
short address to tie public. expressing deep
sorrow for the shedding OF innocent blood.
attributinq the crime TO tie influence OF
disease. medicine, and liquor, which bad an
unusual effect on him. setting forth that he
bore no malice. and hoping he should die
in peace with God. The address closed
with extracts from lhe Episcopal litany.