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

praise, and their subdued voices murmured
weirdly through the old jail. AS the devo
ttons progressed their voices rang In loud
and exultant tones of feryency.
The singing and praying was conducted
with inerea'ing fervor for half an houI
when Robinson came to his cell door and
loudly to the crowd. He gestieulated wildly
and emphasized his remarks with occa-
sional anens and shouts.
His words, delivered disconnectedly,
we're:
II forgive the governor because he has
not reprieved me. Oh, Jesus Christi oh,
thank God know some Of you out there
have hung me. am going away. forgive
you all. Good bye and shake hands with
me. Good bye, Mr.. Reed" Ito gentleman
from Townsend whom he recognized among
those present, "come up and shake hands
with me. Farewell fareWelll / will see
you no more till the day of Judgment.
FAREWELL farewell r. He ceased to speak
and turned back into his cell.
PREPARING FOR THE soAFFoLp.
Sheriff Ford delayed the execution as late
as possible in order that any gubernatorial
Interference might not be too late. He
flxed the hour at 1910 o'clock. At 1890,
with deputy, the sheriff went to Robin
sons cell, and after the clergymen had
vacated, he read to the doomed man his
death warrant setting forth .he decree OF
the court. The negro listened attentively
and expressed readiness to go to the
seaffold at any time.
At 1910 the cell door was once more
opened and the negro was bound and hand
cuffed. Sheriff Ford 10 minutes later
emerged from the cell followed by Robin
son, a deputy aud the three ministers, and
thn l,I1 hntr 40 ~ he
seaffold. Robinson walked between two of
his clerical advisers with his arms
pinioned at his hack and iron
bands clasping his hands together.
He walked upright, with head up and chest
thrown forward. His gait gave his body an
easy, swinging motion and thore was moth
ing in his actions or demeanor which
bespoke fear. When the scafrold met his
eyes he looked at it but an instant,
turning his ewes upward. He walked
up the stairs to the platform without falter-
Ing, and stood between his advisers.
ON DEATHS PLATFORM.
Robinson concealed his emotions, and
stood with head erect and eyes cast hoaven-
ward, with the same wonderful fortitude
that he has exhibited ever since his arrest.
He stood on the platform of death seemingly
fearless, displaying wonderful courage.
The sheriff and three deputies were also
on the platform close by his side. The Rev.
j. X. Adams of New Castle read Psalm
XIII, the doomed man repeating parts OF 1t
after the divine. Mr.. Adams then offered
prayer, Robinson kneeling with his spiritual
advisers.
During the prayer on the scaffold Robin
son calculated fervently such expressions
as: '"Thank God that didn't commit the
crime;" 1 ask God to bless Mr.. Allfree, the
man who said on the jury" Swhat followed
was not clearly audible); "thank God" he
they can't hang me Hereafter. am
going to see Jesus. am loosened.
Farewell, farewell. Remember from
the day. Remember then what / have
said, that didn't commit the crime. Thank
God that though you kill the body you can
not kill the soul. l don't want to SEQ Allfree;
hear his name called" this evidently re-
ferring to foreman Herbert calling the roll
Of the sheriffs jury summoned to witness
the execution), "but his name was called In
the COURT
Then. standing on the fatal trap, after the
prayer had ceased, Robinson said:
"oh, Lord, am going to see Jesus, way
we'll, farewell to the world. 1t is farewell
to this sinful world. I am going home
No doubt what to-day on your death or
damnation," he continued, somewhat
incoherently, "but let me tell you to-day
that my building is sure, on solid rock. I
am going to see Jesus. Look out, II you
ever hang another man; If you ever get
another man in that courthouse to hang, be
sure you are hanging the right man.
You take man up there and you give him
no show. Look at 1t Look atitl To-day
you hang an innocent man. hadn't no
more to do with that crime than any Of you
gentlemen standing down there; not a bit
more.
"But, oh, my God; thanks be to God, 1
am going homo. Now, sheriff, am through.
am going home to glory"
Turning to Sheriff Ford, he said: "Good
bye, will meet you in heaven. Speaking
In whisper in the sheriff's ear little
later, he said: "AIake the rope a little
tighter about my neck, SO 1t won't slip. |
like you sheriff, better than any man /
know; you have been very kind to me. Say
goodbye to Mrs. Ford, and thank her for
her Kindness"
Then to those on the scaffold: II am
about to leave you. l have got to co."
Turning to Sheriff Ford, again he said:
Goodbye sheriff; you have treated me
like gentleman; l have got nothing
against you;" then, turning to the spec
tators, II have got nothing against nobody
nobody! nobodyl nobody nothing against
them." To the deputy who was preparing
to fasten the rope around his ankles:
Goodbye"
Then the doomed man stepped on the
trap and held his head up with an air of
fixed determination, a bearing almost of
proud defiance, while the deputy adjusted
the cord about his ankles. While this was
being done the clock In Emmanuel Church
struck the hour of /; the stroke
sounding to the gathered as
semblage like the knel of fate
to the Victim of the law. The moose was
than ndi1ctnd nrnIInd hfc naaI- anil tho
black cap drawn over his face. After
the cap had been thus placed upon
his head, Robinson said to the
deputy, who was still fixing the
moose; ''Tight, please. Draw it tighter;
draw it tighter. That amt tight enough,
him, he ejaculated Lord have mercy.
Farewell TO the world. The Lord have
mercy. Farewell to the world"
These were his last words. The sheriff
raised his hatchet; one quick, sure blow
and the trap fell and the body OF Charles
Robinson dropped at 1.034 p, m.
The There t,, We're a, ts few slight Sontortions;;
the feet and lower legs and then all was
over. Drs. Black and 0gle stood by the side
of the dying man, with hands on his wrists
and their eyes on their watches. At 1.07l
his pulse wa 80; at 1.08 1t was barely per-
ceptible; at 1.0St the pulse at the wrist was
gone: at 1.113 the pulsations of the heart
| were barely perceptible; at lib the pulsa-
tions of the heart could no longer be de-
| tected. The body was cut down about 1.30.
| None of the relatives came forward to
make a claim for his body and 1t was quietly
| buried Friday night.
The doomed man made a request, shortly
before going to the halter, that his relatives
| give his body u Christian burial in the
church yard at Millington, Md.
On the scaffold he also requested the Rev.
J. X. Adams of New Castle to attend the re-
mains aud preach the funeral sermon.
Inasmuch as no one came forward to
claim the body 1t was the duty of thecounty
| officials to have 1t inferred which they did
| Robinson was practically deserted by bis
| them came to see him. He requested his
mother not to come or it is probable she
| would have come to see him.
| THE JURY.
The sheriff jury was composed of William
| Herbert, George W. Humphry, Charles
Kyle, William Holschumaker, Thomas Rus.
sell, George q. Kothwell, William Fl. Miller
Thomas Toy, John Guthrie, james d
Toman, Lewis E. Eliason Joseph H
Dougherty, Samuel H. Baynard. A yer
dict OF death from hanging in pursuance
with the sentence OF the court was pro
nouneed by the jury.
A large crowd gathered outside the jail
yard and oil the positions where view o
the execution might be obtained were occu
pied.
THE CRIME AND CONVICTION.
The crime for which Robinson paid tn,
penalty with his life was committed oil
October Sd, 1885. On that morning he wa
at Clayton, and for drunkenness and dis
orderly conduct he was expelled from th
hotel at that place. About 8 o'clock he wa
seen in the vicinity Of the home of Mrs