The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-05-03

slackened little. which request was COM
piled with. In the meantime, Davis, in q
very low tone, said: "Lord have mercy |!
Lord have mercy!"
The drop fell at exactly 1854, the fall
being about four feet. The knot slipped
from behind his ear to his chin, and his
neck was not broken. During the first
two or three minutes he uttered several
cultural sounds, and struggled very hard.
.utes the pulse ceased to beat, and at the
end of twenty two minutes slight pulsa-
tion of the heart was noticed. In thirty.
two minutes, DR.. J. o. White, the County
Physician, pronounced the body dead.
In thirty-seven minutes the body was cut
down and placed in the coffin, which was
carried to the gate, and those who desired
were permitted to view the corpse. The
face looked very natural, and wore calm
expression. The body was afterwards
delivered to relatives, who buried it near
Pierce.own.
Davis had told the Sheriff that he would
not give him any trouble, and be did not.
He met his fate bravely, and not for one
moment did he show the least fear or
nervousness. He was rather mystery
to every body, and especially to those who
visited him in his confinement. Some
thought he was insane, but the majority
were of the opinion that, while he was
not far from that line which divides san
ity from insanity, still he was on the side
Of sanity. He never sought to excuse
himself, nor in any way to mitigate the
awful crime he had committed, and
always said that he deserved the sentence
that had been passed on him ; and that he
had brought it on himself. He told one
ofthe ministers who visited him not to
hesitate to use his life, his crime, and his
death whenever occasion might offer to
warn others against such an end.
The crime for which Jasper Davis was
hanged was committed on Saturday
morning. September 25th, 1885, in Brushy
Creek Township, near Pisgah church, aud
fifteen miles from the city, his victim
being his wife.
Three years preceding the crime, Da.
yis's mind became slightly deranged, aud
he was sent to the State Lunatic Asylum,
where he remained a short time and was
returned home, having been pronounced
by the Superintendent sound and we'll.
After his return home he frequently mis-
treated his wife, and several times threat.
ened to kill her. Mrs. Davis wal natur-
months preceding the murder had very
little to do with him. Davis, being lazy,
worthless fellow, would not support his
family, and Mrs. Davis, with her five
children, had to earn her own livelihood
on the farm. Davis would occasionally
come around the premises. About twelve
DAYS. preceding the murder he was seen
there, but suddenly disappeared and was
not seen any more until the night before
the crime was enacted.
3 About one.quarter of mile from where
Mrs. Davis resided lived one of her
brothers, Mr.. Ben. Moore. Fearing that
her husband would inju1e her in some
way during the night, Mrs. Davis, with
her children, would go to her brothers
house aud sleep. On the night before the
murder, she went to her brothers., as
usual, and after she had retired to bed,
Davis came to the house and was admit.
ted. He talked with Mr.. Moore for some
time, and, after calling for his wife and
children, asked Moore to try and induce
Mrs. Davis to forgive him for his. conduct
towards her, 80 that they could live
him to 20 to bed, at the same time telling
him that he could talk with Mrs. Davis
next morning. Davis retired, but got up
before daylight next morning and left the
house.
Early Saturday morning Mrs. Davis
arose from het bed, and, with two of her
children, at once started for her home.
Near Moore's house was thick oak
grove, and through this Mrs. Davis had
to 20, One of her children was walking
in front of her, and the other following in
the rear. When about midway of the
woods, the loud report of q gun was
heard, followed by shrill shrek from the
poor woman, who turned around and was
running back to her brothers. house.
Mrs. Moore also heard the shot and the
scream, and ran out of the house towards
the report. She ran out and met Mrs.
Davis, who was in the act Of falling over.
The fiend had fired the shot from ambush,
without moments warning, the whole
load Of shot entering the left side Of the
face of the victim, several shot penetrat-
ing the eye-ball, causing death in few
word after being shot, The weapon used
was double barrel shot gun, which was
loaded with squirrel shot, nails and slugs.
AS soon as the gun was fired the murderer
wa. heard retreating through the woods.
Z No one saw him.
The good people of the section were
very indignant at the time of the murder,
( and threats oflynching were made. They
searched everywhere for Davis but could
not find him. On Monday morning after
the crime he came to the house of his
nephew, Mr. Dave Owen, near Pierce
town, and asked Mr.. Owen to protect him
from the enraged citizens. Davis was
then brought to Jail.
The trial took place at the October term
of Court, few days after the crime was
committed, the prisoner being represented
BY Messrs. Prince & Vandiver. He was
convicted and sentenced to be hanged on
the 9th of November. His attorneys
appealed, and his case was before the
Supreme Court for more than q year
before decision was rendered, which
decision sustained the judgment Of the
lower Court. He was re.sentenced at the
February term of Court to hang on the
2Srd of February last. The Governor,
however, respited him until the 9th of
April. Messrs. Prince & Vandiver did
everything in their power for the poor
man, and used every effort to have his
sentence commuted to life efmprisonment
in the Penitentiary. Davis was about As
years of age, and q man of about the aver
age size, with very pleasant features of the
face. This is the third execution that has
occurred at Anderson since the war, the
first being that of Henry Cheatham, col
ored, who was executed on the 23rd No.
vember, 1866, for the murder Of Mr.. AL
bert Geer, and the second that of Shadrach
Webster, colored, who was executed on
25th July, 1871, for the murder. of q COL
ored woman.
The Episcopal Convention.
The Diocesan Convention of the Epis-
| <Nfe- a r. ~ ~ g.. 81.