The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1890-03-29

laws, aiidS SHAcAiSiOfu. 2saGSfG at
Pittsboro--Sis History and His
CTime--His Confession aud His Last
Words.
Especial Dispatch to STATE CHRoN1cLEl
PITTsBoRo, n O., March 2e. 1890 =
To-day James p Davis was pnbl civ cxc.
cuted here for the murder e John d
Horton. the closing event as well as the
crime being famous in the criminal an
nals of Chatham county.
Davis Last Hours.
The gallows was IN an oil, tieii about
hf.if nile from Ike couri E<.use
Sheriff Brewer was prepared a. al
points to do the dreadful work ''Gecently
and III order" Eager crowds from an
early hour came in from al direc;io
The criminal himself in the early
morning said that he was ready for tie
ordeal and that be desei we'd death at
the bands Of the law. He was in the
full vigor of health. was ahou. fye
feet ten inches high, weighed about 80
pounds; was strong, si1ewy, and active
He had red hair, keen eyes, anl prom
lnent mouth: and but for the cast that
crime has thrown over him his coun-
tenance would not have been repulsive.
He bad good, clear voice, and ex-
pressed himself wease, clearness
and force. He had wonderful nerve
| power and self-control, as he plainly
| showed from the first. No hum.n be-
ing, without possessing tho nerve power
OF a devil, could have done the deeds OF
which he was by bis own confession
guilty.
Davis said when interviewed this
morning that he slept profoundly aud
was feeling III first rate health physi
cally His appetite was good and he
breakfasted heartily on oysters. eggs,
butter, crackers, biscuiSs, coffee and (:
little wine. He wcs dressed neatly, il
a black suit, with clean !inen. low stand
| ing collar, and plug hat.
At high noon to-day he :: door
we're opened, and Jala2s P l. ,t:s 2lkeo
with n firm step, and Catered carriage.
II charge Of tie sheriff, ana attended
by two ministers. AS the caring
| moved off, the crowd broke and kept
even pace with it TO the place o. .xecu
tlnn The cTlm. nal s5cande3 the scs.f
fold without q tremor. Rev Mr. Gel;
! rane read Psalm 81, and r Y Mr.. Ceci
offered fervcnt prayer, and then tht
reverned gentlemen retired from tht
stand. Davis :, rose from hj@ kuoes, ant
IN cool, calm, deliberate manner, reat
the following paper:
His Letter to His Family.
PITTsBoRo, N. c., Mach 23.-M,
; Dear Father, Mother and Sister: A
this is the last Sabbath that | shal
spend IN his world. may net spend a
least part OF it in writing to those i
whom owe my existence, though rem
6teret miserable by my own mlsdeeds
; and TO whom | am Indebted for th
, happy childhood have enjoysd2 Not
my d ar par.0ts, that wish TO irfic
pain upon yon by the sad ia nelligenc
that this letter must bring, but that
feel tlat Il Is 3 duty | owe 70 you wit
ny latest breAfb TO accrcdil yuu ii
having DISCHARGED your duty towar
me-: for we'll do | know that the fat
wnich | must soon meet is rot the resu1
o. q failure OF your part to have iu
parted to me that scriptural instruction
and TO have set before me that Cbri;
tian example, which if followed by ms
t would not only have exempted me fror
the untimely death that awaits m, bu
t would have corrected my actious, el,
waited my morals, and enabled me t
enjoy q placein the higher circ IS Of life
teel, my dear parents, thai AIN NJ
:, Only my own destroyer, but thai throug
Il the unprecedented sin and fo,iy of n
y past life I will bring shame anG grief
{ all with whom | an connected by II
ties of nature; and that the disgrace th;
g must inevitably lead to public exec,
J ton of your poor misguided boy wi
l. tend to shorten your days, and bril-
e your gray hairs to the grave in sorroy
l. His Address on the GaIlows.
% Davis said; M dear Friends: I hs
. intended to speak at length OH this 0
cason. Not that would prolong n
, stay in this unfrieLdly world, but that
= might by this means Pfford scmo graft
;, - cation to those who have assembled
see aud to hear. But as have e
~ deavored to write a brief, yet CORE
70 ,y and truthful history of my life, wi
20 which | hope the public will be sstisfie
g and, owing to the solemnity Of the c
y casion, and to the very unpleasant, We
- painful, circumstances with which a
- now surrounded, | will endeavor to
brief, and deal only with the present
20 affords me pleasure, even in this sad al
~ trying hour, to be able to say that
- attach DO oIame to any who may ha
I'd been either dire city or indirectly instr
ID mental in bringing about this righteo
M administration Of justice to c..a VII
of through his own free yolition, has
er come a yiolator of tbe laws of
country. Now, to ny dear counsellC
would | extend the gratitude OF I
hear, for the manner 10 which tn
haze yincic.tod my cause and labor
10 exonerate ne from the acoustic
,ss with which | was charged / am [
he worthy Of such manly and her
We effort. To these who have labcred
up alleviate the p:ins Of mental d Pre- sit
7r, or have III auy "ay contributed; t.
XII temporal or spiritual ioteresF. | ex'e
II the earnest and sirccle gratitude OF
at hear; ard this my la'eot hcuC wou,
nd invoke the blessings of Almighty God
le- descend in rich .rofuSloiI upon th
rm and theirs AID now / WoJld spe
he PRO BONO PUBLICO or for The good Of q
nm rha NAV he tpmrta5 tn ,ta1