Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-17
CRIMES CROP OF CORPSES
MANY FELT THE SQUEEZE OF
THE HENIPEN MOOSE.

Richard TOwusend's Black Carcass
Swung TO the Breeze at VaId0stA for
His Double Murder--A Negro H@ngsd
at Shreveport Who is Sure OF Going to
Heaven.
NALDosTA, GA, July 16. - Richard
Townsend, the murderer of Sheriff q. W.
Epperson, of Bradford county, Fla, was
hung in Naldosta to-day. The drop fell
at II o'clock and the body was cut down
in thirty minutes after. Before he was
conducted into the enclosure around the
gallows, the Sheriff allowed him to speak
to the assembled crowd over the Jail yard
fence. He consumed about Ave minutes,
In senseless harangue-part an effort at
exhortation and part chant and song. He
said he had been a gambler and a wicked
man, and that he had been engaged in
several shooting scrapes.
A man in the crowd called to know IL
whisky had not started him in his career
OF crime, but he answered "no." He
said that he had been wicked but never
drank.
SURE OF GOING TO HEAVEN.
He INDUCED In the usual stuff about
his conversion and the conviction that he
had been pardoned OF all bis sins and was
going straight to better world. Last
fall he brutally murdered a man by the
name OF Cohen in Bradford county, Fla.
lie escaped to Lowndes county, but was
followed by Sheriff q. w. Epper-
son. That official was in and
about Valdosta for a week or more in
! search OF Townsend and finally located
him. On Christmas night, with a posse,
! he went TO the cabin where he was domi-
clled. 1t was four miles north OF Valdos-
ia. The Sheriff surrounded IL aud negro
assistant went In and tried 10 dec0y
Townsend out, but he could not be In
! duced to leave the house.
THE SHERIFF SLAIN.
Sheriff Epperson then boldly forced in
at the front door, calling upon the iugi-
tive from justice to surrender. His an
swer was a bullet through the brain.
When Sheriff EppersOn fell the others 81
the posse started in, and Mr.. Cooper was
shot in the arm. The premises were then
deserted by the posse and Townsend made
his escape. About a week after he was
captured IN Mitchell county by
Josh Dees, of LOwndes county, who was
in pursuit Of him with a detachment of
Sheriff Harrel's posse. He was brought
to Valdosta. and was tried at the May
term Of the Superior Court. He was con
victed Of murder and sentenced to be
hung.
HE KILLED AN ALDERMAN.
WOODSTOCK, ILL, July l6.-James
Dacny, the murderer OF Alderman Michael
| GavnOr, of Chicago, was hanged here at
12:35 O'Clock to-day. He made no speech
and was moderately composed, though
| during the morning he screamed almost
continuously and had his limbs tied 10
prevent his making an assault on any Of
! his attendants.
Dacey made desperate attempt at sui
eide yesterday afternoon. He had a pair
OF large shears hidden in the mattress Of
| his bed, and, getting them out. attempted
to stab himself. He was 80 violent that
hose had to be turned on him before he
! could be Overpowered. After this Dscey
! broke one OF the bed Stats and tried TO
brain Deputy Harper, Of Chicago. The
! prisoner was exceedingly violent during
the night. lie drove a priest from his
| cell with his club, aud spent his time in
| giving vent to the vlest imprecatIons
| An extra guard was placed over him, but
! it was afterward found necessary to bind
| hIm with leather straps.
SURE OF GOING TO HEAVEN.
| SHREVEPORT, LA, July l6.-George
Harrison, coored, aged % years, was
hanged TO-DAY for the murder of George
hlltU. dk6u w. L bt pllsOupI was CODl
and self-possessed to the last, and ac-
knowledged the murder. He said he was
ready to be hanged for the murder, and
| announced his Willingness to 90. He said
he believed be would at once enter heaven
/ The drop fell at 2:25 O'Clock, and in nine
minutes the Coroner pronounced Harri-
son dead. His neck was broken by the
fall.
TWO ON ONE TRAP
! DONALDsoNvILLE La, July 1G--samp-
son Roland and George solomon, both col
/ Ored, we're hanged here to-day for murder.
| The condemned men were baptized yes
] terday by Rev. Thomas Brown, of Mount
| Olive Baptist church. They seemed re-
cOnciled to their doom, ana while ascend
| ing the gailows walked steadily. They
! listened calmly TO the reading Of the
death warrant. Rev. Mr. Butler then said
| the LORDS prayer and the prisoners fol-
| lowed him with calm and firm voices
! Tney asked their friends 10 meet them in
| heaven. The trap was sprung at 1890
! o'clock and half an hour later the bodies
we're cut down. The Coroner expressed
the opinion that death had resulted from
! strangu alton In both cases.
Pythian Grand Lodge Officers.
Int rt.o II. To-