The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-11-25
STRANGE BUT TRUE.
Story OF tho First Execution In Glyn
County, Georgia.

County, Georgia.
Glynn County, Georgia, is soon to have
n hanging. The Brunswick Times pub
fishes the following bit of history: 1t
has beon just sevonty-six years since
hanging took place in Glynn County.
Yesterday morning 1 was talking to
Coroner Lewis Harris, whom everybody
knows by the sobriquot of "Unclo
Lewis" and in some way the subject Of
judicial executions came up.
sit has been seventy-six wears since
tho last hanging in this county," said
the coroner, land it happened just four
years before was born"
Although Uncle Lewis is scventy-two
years of ago thero is nothing about him
save his snow-white beard and hair to
Indicate it, for, short in stature, with n
clear blue eye and healthy color, hos as
jovial and jolly as Santa Claus himself
Yes, sevonty-six years." no con-
tinued, in reminiscent mood, as he ran
back over tho long stretch of years,
land can tell you all about it."
Ieagerly begged him to do so.
'Woll, before was born thore used to
be great huntor in these parts named
Findley, a ono-eyed man, who was not
afraid of the devil himself One day he
was out hunting. about whore tho old
Baptist church now stands, on tho cor
ner of G and III streets. As he pushed
his way through the heavy canebrakc,
and almost virginia. forest he came face
to face with stalwart, half-savarc rum
away negro, and, as was the custom in
those days, he arrested him and started
back to tho settlement with his pris-
onor. Unfortunately for Findley, he
wore very hoavy hnntingknifc on his
bilnd side, so to speak, and as no and
his prize found their way toward clear
ings, the negro, grown desperate with
lear, srran% upon the huutor: and soiz-
ing his knife, cut his throat from car to
weapon. Whom, after some days, Find
ley was still missing, a searching party
was organized. and after day or two
the body was found in state Of decom-
position.
"Tho cut told tho story OF tho crimo,
and hunt for his unknown murderer
began. Tho negro was found in tho
canebralle, and suspicion at once fell on
him. lie was brought to the settlement
and was tried, found guilty and finally
executed on a spot between what is
now a and B streets, within two hum
drcd yards of whore he murdered Find
ley:
He acknowledged his guilt on the
scaffold, and so atrocious had been tho
murder that after the execution his
head was cut off and placed upon tall
pole by means of an iron, spike. whore
1T remained for eleven years. Tho exc
cution happened four years previous to
my birth. but 1 distinctly remember
that horrible, grinning head on top of
the pole. The boys in those days would
never go near tho spot at night, for
even in tho dark their imagination
would outline distinctly that horrible
sight May be that execution. with all
its horror. has kept down hanging in
these parts. but we certainly ought to
have one or two now, for fear that los
son has boon forgotten"
Tho scene Of tho long ago murder and
execution is now ono of the pre.ticst
residence portions of Brunswick, and
the spot where the pole stood with its
grinning. CHASTITY head, is covered by
the residence of prominent citizen.
Although the crime and it's punishment
have also been oblitorated by the cease
less wash of the tide of time, there is
ono mind in which it still lives, and
that is the mind of Coroner Lewis. Ills
q strange, but true story.