Smyrna times., 1886-04-21
Charles Robinson Hanged.

Charles Robinson was hanged at
New Castle at LOB Friday afternoon for
rape. He made a speech on the scat
fold protesting his innocence. While
the deputy was adjusting the moose he
said: "Draw it tighter-farewell to the
world"
Robinson was full-blooded negro,
stout and with rather pleasing features.
He was 33 years old this month. He
was born a slave on the farm of Mr..
Cubbage, on the road from Sudlersville
to Church Hill, Queen Anne's county,
Maryland. He steadily asserted his
innocence, and adduced in cOrrobOra-
ton thereof his failure to get away
during the time that interviewed be-
tween his crime and his arrest. II
Just staid around until they came and
took me-" he said. 1t don't stand to
reason that if had been guilty would
have done that"
Mrs. Ella f. Gardner, the white vic
tim of his lust, is the wife of OrsOn
Gardner living near Clayton. The
crime was committed on October Sd last.
Robinson would have Jared badly had
he been caught by the inturiated
neighbors of his victim, who turned
out after him, carrying a rope with
which to lynch him. Some three weeks
afterwards he was arrested near
Crumpton, Md, by George Hilyard,
cOlOred, of Church Hill. His trial
came off December 5th, and resulted in
conviction, but sentence was deferred
on motion for new trial, which was
refused.
In regard to the Justice of the hang
ing there is wide difference of opin-
! ion. 1t is stated that the party who
went out from Clayton when the an
nOuncement was made, with rope to
hang him, were glad, when they came
in full possession of the facts, that they
did not come up with him. When the
life of a person hangs on the statement
of one person, every one admits that
the character of that person should be
beyond question. The DelaWaredn
! fully justifes the hanging as was to be
expected and says:
Robinson deserves no pity and is
entitled to none. His fate should be an
example and become terror to others
likewise disposed. The Governor has
refused all appeals and the law has
been vindicated. In the future it is ia
be hoped that those guilty will be pun
ished without any ado over the mat
ter"
The WjImingtOnidn, of the same pO-
litical faith however, differs widely and
says:
''If ever in the history of the world
there was a murder perpetrated in the
name of the law, it had its double, al
New Castle, yesterday. Charles Rob
insOn was dragged to the gallow.
through the Indifference of Charles G..
StOckley, the governor of Delaware
The inference is presumably strong
that if the governor paid any atten
ton whatsoever to the issue of thi:
case that it was solely of an erpart,
nature. 1t will never be forgotten tha
his son-in-law, John H. Paynter, Esq.
was the prosecuting attorney in thi!
case, and the weakness of the prOsecu
ton has been supplemented by an un
parallelled and an objectionable stub
bOrnness on the part of the father-in
law, Governor Stockley. We bu
reflect the opinion of the intelligen
public, Democrat and Republican alike
when we declare that if Robinson wa
guilty of the crime of which he stoO,
adjudged, it was not so shown at tn
trial. His death was nothing more no
nothing less than murder thinl,
guised by the law"