The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1888-07-19
FROMTHE STATE OF vILK :"
a breezy Letter From One of Oar n eli IN
buring Counties.

bUring Counties
EDITOR SENTINEL. = 9on remember
that Friday, the 18th "l July, was the day
appointed to hang james Byers at Wilkes
boro. Byers was tried at March term of
Wilkes Superior Court for the murder of
one Edwards on the 25th of August, 1856.
James Stone had been convicted as an ac-
cessory before the fact, and sent to the peni-
Tertiary for 20 years On trial Byers ac-
knowledged the killing, but alleged that it
was done in self-defense There was direct
testimony of several witnesses tending to
show the fact that Byers was guilty of muir
der. The testimony of Byers himself, cor
roborating Stones year and half pre-
vious. and few circumstances tended to
show his innocence, but the court charged
the jury that the burden of proof was upon
the defendant, and if they had any doubt it
was their duty to convict. The jury found
him guilty of murder. An appeal was taken
by his counsel to the Supreme Court. The
Judgment of the lower court was confirmed,
and under tie late statute the Governor
appointed the 18th of July for Byers' execn-
ton. In the meantime Byers was confined
i'm the Statesville Jail for safe keeping.
Will. there he was visited by good many
of the citizens of Statesville, and they be-
came >, much impressed with his innocence
that Rev. MIR. Wood, Col. Armheld and
| others wrote urgent letters to the Governor
| for Communication OF his sentence Also
large petitions were sent from Wilkes to the
same effect. But all was useless Byers
was brought from Statesville by Sheriff
McEwers, of this county on the 10th, and
by special request of the prisoner he was
| baptized near town on the 18th and received
| into the Baptist faith, and declared himself
ready to die.
On the morning of the 18th large crowds
poured into town from Wilkes and adJoIn-
| ing counties until by II o'clock the streets
we're living mass of humanity. The crowd
was yariousiy estimated TO be from 5000 to
II, 900 people. All congregated to witness
| the death of fellow being. AT few min
| utes past II m. the crowd was parte and
Byers was escorted by the sheriff ami =
strong guard to the gallows. The prisoners
steps were steady and firm. He mounted the
| platform in a solemn and composed manner.
| Aud while his statement was being read ny
| III. L. Greene, one Of his lawyers, he seemed
nerfectiy uuieU The statement was the
same in substance that he had made on
trial. The only evidence of the prisoners
| emotion wa, his shedding few tears while
| the preachers were telling of his CONVEX
sion. But after this was concluded and
| while the sheriff was quietly binding him
hand and foot, tying the last knot and put
ting the black cap over his face, he stood
solemn but composed and thus appeared as
the trap fell. While his body thus swung
between heaven and earth, life and DEATH
and his soul was preparing Iur its flight &c
| that unknown bourne, the calm multitude
wondered, could a man die with lie on his
| lips in this composed manner? Is he guilty
of the otferse charged? Who knows !? Why
can't some way he provided to keep crimI
| nails in close confinement in the penltentla-
ry for a few years and thus allow further
chance for new evidence to be brought &c
light? ----
The wife Of the prisoner seems to be 8
notorious character This is the fourth
man that has been killed on her account
One of her former husbands is To be out o
the penltentiary this fall WILKES
July 18th, 1888.