Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-08-07

An sRed couple, Mr.. and Mrs. HeIry
Porter, lived on spur Of the Sand Noun.
tain near the town Of Carpenter, Ala.
Mr.. Porter WAS a native OF New York, but
came here from Michigan some 20 years
ago. They were both in feeble health.
In the family was sister OF Mrs. Porter,
Miss Standish, Mrs. Chubbuok, visitor
from the North, and two young girls
adopted by the POrters. On Sunday
evening, March 25th, 1883, Miss Standish,
while sitting on the piazza, was startled
by man with revolver In his hand.
As she retreAted into the house he fired at
her twice, without effect. The household
fled to the upper rooms, when the
three men hanged to day began plunder-
ing the house and destroying property.
Miss Standish expostulated, when they
demanded $500. She told them there
was no money in the house, when they
resumed their work Of destruction and
set fire to the building. The family
escaped to the woods. The misorsRnts
drove one Of the children back into the
burning hOuse, but Miss Standish bravely
rescued her. The house and its contents
were completely destroyed, leaving the
family destitute. Mr.. Porter died soon
after from the shook and exposure, and
his wife became blind from the game
causes.
AN EXCITING SCENE.
At Isl minutes to they were led
from the jail to the stookade enclosing
the soatfOld. Il adjoined the jail and
shut off all view Of the gallows. The men
mounted the platform with q firm step
and Joined in the hymns as the minister
began his prayer.
A disturbance was heard on the outside
and men began shouting stake them
Release them Follow me ~ Instantly
there was q rush from the stookade and
the prisoners lesped to their feet and
their eyes lit up st the prospect of rescue.
Fifty guns wero levelled ct them and q
strong line was formed outside the
stockade. A minister mounted the top
of the gsllows and exhorted tie mob to
be oalm, but there was great excitement
and for q long time it seemed that
terrible battle would ensue. The firm
demeAnor Of the guards had quieting
effect, however. The prayer was not oon-
oludsd, but the prisoners were quickly
pinioned and the black caps adjusted.
Even then they protested their innocence.
Aho AOPO woo Outy anu tho hhIbo
simultaneously 81 feet. Smiths neck
was broken by the fall and he died in 10
minutes. The Hughes boys struggled
long and died slowly and painfully. They
were ont down In % minntes and their
bodies shipped to their relatives.
THREE MORE HAEGINGs
HUNTINGTON, I ENN., August L. Charles
Phillips WAS hanged here to-day for the
murder OF Frank Prince, oolored, at Hol-
low Rock, Carroll county, last fall.
Phillips, Prince, aud several other men
we're talking together, when Phillips
quarrslled with two or three of the mum
Der. Drawing a knife he declared that
hs would kill soms one before another
day had passed. Finally, he commenced
10 abuse Prince, who replied in heated
terms, and Phillips went away. Return
ing soon afterwArd he made dash at
Prince, stabbing him in the breast
just above the breast btne. The
blade broke and Phillips threw the
handle Of the weapon on the floor and
left. Iu a few minutes death relieved
Prince from his suffsrings, and Phillips
was afterwards arrested.
ST. Louis, Mo, August Frank
Williams, ool0red, who shot and killed
his wife, Rife, in cotton field last
October, and seriously wounded his
daughter, was hanged to day at Pine
Bluff, Ark, In the presence of great
crowd Of people The drop fell at IL Is
p. m. Death ensued in about Is minutes.
COLUMBIA, s. c., August 1.-Wil on
Stevens, ooiored, was hanged at Edgefeld
court house at noon to-day for the muir
der Of Henry steiter, q German peddler,
in November last. Stevens neck was
broken and life was extinct In IL minutes.
The drop was five feet. The body was
cut down at the expiration of Is minutes.
Stevens was resigned to his fate and said
the sentence Of the law was just. The
execution was ostensibly private, but 1t
was witnessed by hundreds Of people
from surrounding trees, housetops and
windows.