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

member what had taken place. He wa
committed to the county jail at New Castl'
to await trial, and his case was called earl!
In December, the court assigning Waite
Bacon, ESQ.,, to daiend him. Mrs. Gardne
fully identified the negro as the author o
her cruel outrage, and related the Incl
dents of the affair. Corroborativ'
testimony was also addueed In subetantiatiof
Of the charge. and the defence was aimee
In the endeavor TO prove that Mrs. Gardner
was a woman of lax morals. There was NJ
discrepancies In the testimony for rthe prose
eutlon except concerning the color Of the
hat worn by tho prisoner on tho day OF the
assault. The case was submitted to the
Jury and after a deliberation OF 40 minutes
II returned verdict of guilty as TO manner
and form Of indictment. Application was
made by the prisoners counsel for new
trial on the principal grounds that one oi
the jurors john T. Allfrey had formed and
previous to the trial. The court denied the
motion on the grounds that the defence had
expressly waived its right of challenge after
knowing the juryman had given express
sion to an opinion, which In fact was no
opinion at all, but merely state.
ment given for the purpose OF
having himself excused from duty.
Furthermore, the court decided that there
was no statutory provisions warranting or
authorizing the retrial Of u capital case.
After the refusal OF a new tripl the prisoner
WIS sentenced to be hanged on Friday,
April 10th, 1885, but before his doom was
pronounced, Chief Justice oomegys In
qnired II he had anything to say, and Rob-
inson replied: 81 say one thing; can
say this; The man who committed q rape,
say, ought to be hung; but an innocent
man don't think ought to he hung. can
say that l am m Innocent man. never
committed rape In my life. didn't know
what they arrested me for. | know had
been drinking. But never took advantage
OF woman In my life. That's all have to
say to you.''
The prisoners counsel vajnly endeavored
to induce the governor to grant IL respite
for his cltent or commute his death sem
tence to Imprisonment for life. Petitions
and letters were placed In the hands of
Governor Stockley asking for q respite, but
his excellency did not see fit to interpose
his humane prerogatives between the pris.
oner and the scaifold.
BORN IN BONDAGE.
A GAzETTE representative paid visit
to Robinson in his cell a few days ago
and after he had finished hearty dinner
he engaged unreservedly in conversation
about himself and the crime. He stated
that he was born on st. Patrick's Day
but did rot rememberin what yearalthough
he know he had finished his SD year on
March 18th. He was born in bondage on
the property of Mr.. Cubbage on the road
from Sudlersville to Church Hill, Qneen
Anne's county, Md, and remained In
slavery up to the issuance of the emancipa-
hon proclamation. Since then he had
worked "all over Delaware" having been
at one time in the employ Of "Mr. Lobdell,"
this city. He had never committed any
crime, though he had been arrested once
before and put In jail for two weeks "but
II I'd had $40 needn't have gone to jail
that time," he said. He thought everybody
he had worked for could give him pretty
good character.
81 hain't got no dependence on the gov
ernor doing nothin' for me- he said, when
the subject Of the petition referred to yes
terday came up. "He mout reprieve me,
but hain't looking for 1t. They tried me
and sentenced me and 'spect I've got to
die, but I'm ready to go when it's the
Lords will, and b'lieve he knows best,
and what's His will is all for the best"
"You look for 1t all to be made right then
when you reach the other side2"
"rhat's 1t, boss; l do" he replied with
unction.
''Now, boss, If I'd been the man what
done that deed, do you suppose I'd staid
around and let them catch me? 1t was
three weeks arter I'd heard of this thing
before they arrested me. had all that
time to get away, but 1 said no, 1 hain't
run away; so l just staid around there till
they come and took me. 1t don't stand to
reason that II I'd been guilty I'd have done
that"
"You say they've got the wrong man; do
you know who is the right MANI"
mo, boss, don't know nothin' bout
that"
EXECUTIONS AT NEW CASTLE.
The following is list of executions at
New Castle since 1889:
1839-Thomas Morgan, colored, for the
murder of his brother-in-law, by Sheriff
Elihu Jefferson; execution public.
1849-Perry Bailey, colored, for rape on
white woman, by Sheriff Isaac Grubb; ex-
ecution public.
1s50-Emson Bayard and James Ander-
son, both colored, for the murder of Joseph
Williams, white, rs years old. The crime
was committed for plunder, the assassins
procuring q small sum of money; executed
by Sheriff Samuel Chandler.
= 1S52-Samuel Ward, colored, for the MUIR
der of Constable Davidson, who was taking
him to jail; executed by Sheriff Samuel
Chandler.
1s60-John j. Brown, white, for murder
at Delaware City; executed by Sheriff Cam
non.
1s66-william Manluff colored, for burg
larry at night with intent to commit rape.
The crime was committed In Wilmington;
executed by Sheriff Hagany.
1S67-Andrew P. Armstrong, white, for
the murder of his wife; executed by Sheriff
Herbert.
1S70-Joshua Jones and Lewis Carpenter,
both colored, for rape on Il white woman;
executed by Sheriff Richardson.
1872-Andrew @. Clark, colored, for rape
on q colored woman; executed by Sheriff
James Armstrong.
1873-Willlam Dennis, eolored, for rape
on a white woman; executed by Sheriff
r. Lewis Armstrong.
1877-John Rhoads, eolored, for the muir
der Of James Temple, colored executed by
Sheriff Grubb.
1S7S-Samuel Chambers and George Col
Inns, both colored, for rape on white
woman; executed by Sheriff Grubb.
1SS2-James Redden, colored, for rape on
Sallie Purse, white and 10 years old. The
crime was committed In tenant house on
the farm of the late Bishop Scott, about a
mile and a-half below Odessa; executed by
Sheriff Clark.