Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-04-22

THE HANGING.
NEW CASTLE, April 16.-Charles Robinson,
colored, convicted of rape, was hung In the
county jail yard at New Castle at l .03 O'Clock
this afternoon. He pluckily marched un-
aided to the gallows, gave some instruc-
tions about fixing the moose about his neck,
and made an address protesting his inno-
cence. Death was produced by strangula-
tion, and heart pulsation ceased in 13
minutes.
SCENES IN THE JAIL.
A death-like quietness peryaded the jail,
which was unbroken save by the warden as
he paced to and fro along the corridors. At
10 o'clock all the cell doors We're tightly
closed and locked TO preclude the prisoners
from obtaining view Of the sad march of
the doomed man on his way TO the moose.
The solemnity of the occasion thoroughly
impressed all the inmates of the jail, and
the hushed silence was painfully forboding
of the sad scene to be enacted.
The scaffold In the east yard stood In
readiness for Its victim. The trap was deli
cately balanced, and the rope colled snake
like around girder ready for the sheriffs
axe. Dangling from the beam overhead,
about seven feet from the platform, the
hangman's moose awaited its duty. Be-
meath the platform, neat walnut
coffin wrapped In u covering of
duck stood yawning for an occu-
pant. Altogether the scene In the
Jail yard was impressively sad, and few OF
those present could long contemplate 1t.
The clouded sky and the damp, heavy at
mosphere lent their gloom and seemed
strongly In harmony with the terrible occa-
sion.
THE LAST NIGHT AND MORNING.
| Robinson rested poorly last night and sat
by his dim light studying over his Bible
until O'Clock this morning. He then sunk
| into sleep from sheer exhaustion, but his
slumbers were broken by tltful starts and
nervousness, consequently his sleep afforded
but little rest. About 8. O'Clock he
arose and arrayed himself In n suit OF
| black clothes which were provided by the
sheriff. His linen shone brightly, and
| brought out into still bolder relief his dark
skin. Mrs. Ford provided the doomed man
| with tempting breakfast, and he ate
heartily, his appetite which left him yester-
| day returning with increased vigor this
morning. He finished. pipe full OF
tobacco after breakfast, and then
was In readiness to receive all callers. The
doomed man stood erect before his Iron
| grating, a magnificent specimen of his
race. His head at times was bowed as il
the prisoner was engaged In silent medita-
tion but when approached he was cheerful
and smiled brightly. The same resignation
that he expressed yesterday was manifest
| III Ills lulS uIiu ut
seemed to have no dread or fear
of the terrible event. His face, how
ever, betrayed an ashen hue, and indi-
Gated that the negro was undergoing
severe mental suffering. Walter Bacon,
ESQ, his counsel, called early this morning,
bade his client farewell, and told him there
was no hope of respite, and that he must
be hanged. He parted from his counsel
without any emotion, after thanking hin
for hig affOrta tn Sny6 his life.
A representative of the GAZETTE who
had previously interviewed the prisoner
called at his barred door. The negro ex
pressed his pleasure at seeing him again
and reiterated his willingness and readiness
to go. He again stated he could not thinl
but said he had forgiven her and hat
prayed the Lord that he woult
take her into the kingdom, as h,
felt sure God the Father was Willing
to accept him. He said he forgavl
his accusers as the Lord had forgiven al
sinners; forgave the jury and those wht
had prosecuted the case against him
Robinson expressed much regret that th'
, sheriff had such a disagreealle duty topper
form, but hoped he would be able to bea
up, as he would. For the warden an,
Mrs. Ford he also expressed the kindes
! feeing, and spoke gratefully of thei
goodness and attentions to him during hi
term OF imprisonment. In response TO Tn
, | inquiry as 10 whether he had anything +
, say, the doomed man replied that he woul
! not speak until he was upon the scaffold
( He further stated in reply to the intenoga
} tory, 'Well, Charlie, you still say you ar
/ innocent?" ''Why, certainly. 1 am not guilt
} of rape. Continuing further, he said: g
will say nothing now, because my min
may change on the scaffold. "This gave th
Idea that he might make confession o
: the gaIlows. In conclusion he said, "I'I
: going to Jesus to-day, and hope all m
friends may find as much consolation
q the saving power Of Jesus as l have"
The sheriff visited the doomed mans ce
4 about 10 O'Clock and asked him If he ha
4 any requests to make. He replied that
\ wanted his friends to take his body an
. bury 1t near his mothers home at Millini
q ton, Md. He sent another loving messal
a to his old mother and said he would me
= her In Heaven. The prisoner expressed
desire to be alone and no visitors were a,
Il mitted to mis- cell after II o'clock.
i At that hour his spiritual advisers, Il
i Revs. ]. X. Adams, pastor of the Nj.
!. church, New Castle, James II. Hopkin
4 pastor Of the A. U. M. p. Church, l.. Ra
ii pastor of the Nj. e. Church, Wilmin
d ton, called and engaged In administeril
a consolation TO the doomed ma
l. They offered a prayer for
n safe deliyerance In which the doom
"a man Joined with much feryor Al
zeal. The quartet then united In hymns