Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-21

Pays the Penalty for Numbering Another
Nsro-AIi About a Bog-A Full confes-
sion.
Especial telegram TO the Dispatch.l
WILLIAMSBURG. VA, November
20.--The negro, jacob Butler. con-
yicted Of numbering Griffin, another col
bred man, last June, was hanged at
Yorktown to-day.
Butler was first convicted IN the
York County Court, Judge Warren
presiding, but obtained new trial on
a technical question concerning the con
duct Of the jury. The evidence was
conclusive, and the second trial result
ed in a similar verdict to the first.
While on the way to jail he escaped
from the officers, but was recaptured
after several days search and brought
10 the jail in this town, where he has
been confined up to this morning, when
the York county officials conveyed him
TO the place Of execution. He left the
jail singing in low monotone, and all
along the route the colored people came
to the roadside to have look at him.
About five hundred people, most Of
them coloTed, were assembled in the
neiehboIhood Of the scaiiold, which
was erected near Gallows Creek"
Just above Yorktown. Gallows Creek
has been the scene Of all the former
bangings that have taken place in the
county.
THE SCAFFOLD.
The scaffold was but rude affair,
with a drop Of about three feet, but
answered the purpose well. When the
prisoner mounted the platform he ap-
peared calm and collected, his only ex-
hibition of feeling being cry of fare
well to his colored brethren. lie was
attended by the Rev. Mr.. Burch, Of the
Bruton parish church, at Williamsburg,
who acted, by special request, as his
spiritual adviser. Butler had made
full confession, and after its reading the
moose was adjusted, and he was given
an opportunity to speak.
TAKE WARNING BYM NE.
lie calmly gave directions as to the
disposition Of his body, and as the cap
was drawn said 4: =" Both white and CO.
lored. take warning by me-
At 1890 sharp the trap was sprung.
A short convulsiye twitch Of the legs
was the only sign Of suffering seen, and
after hanging thirty minutes he was
pronounced dead by physicians, and cut
down.
Butler was a young man of rather
bad reputation before the murder, and
his sentence met with general approval.
During the hanging everything was
quiet and orderly, but Immediately af-
ter the crowd proceeded to Yorktown
and commenced drinking indiScrimi-
nately. This soon developed a good
deal Of disorderly conduct.
SEVERAL FIGHTS.
When your correspondent left sew
eral fights were in progress, and an
cient Yorktown appeared to have dis
carded its historic traces of patriotic
warfare for the more active and re-
allstic pictures Of modern pugilisn.
This is the first execution Of a criminal
that has taken place in York county for
forty years. the last one preceding it
being that Of a negro who drowned, or
attempted to drown. a white child. The
egrOts who killed Wooten in 1867
gere hung in Warwick county.
BUTLER's CONFESSION.
The following is a copy of Buffers
onfession II. Jacob Butler, desire /
oefore leaving this world to make,
through my spiritual adviser, the Rev. |
Francis NJ. Burch, a confession of the
crime Of which | have been found |
guilty. James Griffin went my secu-
Iity for a debt which contracted for a
hog. When it became due he came to |
my house and asked me if was going
to pay it. told him that | was ont of |
and had no money, but /
Just so soon as | could get some, would /
pay the debt.
HEAVY INTEREST.
lie came to me again, a short time
after, and said that the amount Of what |
owed had increased from sl0.7j to
:lj. | replied that would not pay
hat much; whereupon he said that if
did not | had TO die or leave the place,
This was on Saturday. The following
Monday night he and his sons
;ame to my house and shot at
t several times. | was out, lying
beside the fence which leads to
he house, so they did not see me. The
ollOwing Wednesday night they came
gain and fired on my house many
lines. This scared my sick wife very
much, and had not shut the blinds |
uppOse the balls would have struck me
n her in their passage through the
louse. rose from my bed, and pro-
nised that if they would leave me un-
iarmed till morning | would move
way. Griflins answer was, - am
iot going to give you another chance
you are not away IN three days | will
urn you up in your house or shoot you
ext morning"
While | was moving met him
n the road. He said to me as
passed, ~ will kill you yet"
made no reply The following Fri
ay met him in the road again. and
old him that just so soon as | could |
Tould pay him what | owed him. He
eplied again, :" intend to kill YOU"