Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-11
PAYS THE EXTREME PENALTY.
A DastardIv and Brutal Crime In January
1SS9-srrests, Escapes. and Sentence.

Especial telegram 10 tho Dis paich.I
RALEIGH. n. c., October 10.-At l
o'clock this afternoon, at Lumberton,
Robson county, Steve Jacobs, the Croatah
outlaw, was privately executed. He was
very cool and'plucky, and az be ascendeu
the gallows waved his hand at the specta-
tors. A negro preacher prayed with him,
and then Jacobs addressed the people IN
side the enclosure. He said but few
words. these being a warning against
whIskey and bad company as the two
things which had brought him to such
death.
DEAD IN SEWN MINUTES.
The drop fell and Jacobs was dead IN
seven minutes. hisneck having been broken
His wife, who had been telegraphed
for, did not attend the execution. There
was not a large crowd outside the encIo-
sure. and there were no demonstrations;
A strong guard had been placed around
the enclosure.
HISTORY oP THE CRIME.
On the night of the 18th of January,
1889, a party of desperadoes went to the
house of William carp. near Pate's. Robe
son county, with the purpose OF Killing
him and his entire family. carp was an
sent that night. The murderers seized ms
mother, Mrs. Candace carp, sixty-hye
wears Of age. and dashed out her brains;
They wounded ana thought they had
killed two younger members OF the FANNY.
The latter were found early the following
morning bv neighbors, and by prompt at,
tention their lives were saved. 1t was found
that Steve Jacobs, Croatan Indian living
in that neighborhood, had grudge against
carp, and the murder was to settle this.
ARRESTED.
Jacobs was arrested. as was also his I'M
Gle. Purdie Jacobs. Alexander Oxendlne,
and Macon Mitchell. These were oil des-
perate men, descendants of the once Ia
nous Henry Berry Lowery gang OF out
laws. who IN 1S6Sp70 completely terrorized
that section of the State, as old readers OF
the Uispdfch well remember. The four
men were all lodged in Jail. Their trial
came on in the Superior Court OF Robson
i'm Nav. 1889. before Judge Gilmer. The
evidence was direct and conviction prompt;
The men were sentenced to be hanged
June 2Sth.
GROUNDS or APPEAL.
They appealed 20 the Supreme Court
Jacobs on the ground that evidence had
been admitted showing that he, had
begged the Sheriff to kill him, and also
that he had solemnly sworn that lac would
escape from Jail. The Supreme Court met
in September, but IN August. by the AID OF
some outside friends, Jacobs escaped. Inc
Supreme Court affirmed the judgment Oh
the court below in Jacobs's case, the mat
ter of Oxendine's appeal being still pend
ing.
OUT AND FAR AWAY.
Then came curious complication
When Governor Fowle, under the new law
sent out his warrant for the execution OF
Jacobs the Sheriff replied that Jacobs was
out of Jail and far away. He soon turned
up but in South Carolina, where, heavily
armed, he was often seen on the highway.
Sometimes he came over the border into
North Carolina. A reward OF $500 was
offered for him, but it was not until August
of the present year that he was captured, an(
then in Georgia. On the 26th of August
another death-warrant was issued, which
named September 26th as the day of eXeeu
ton. Then Jacobs's lawyers brought
new point before the Supreme Court.
SETTLED AT LAST.
This was that the decision of the Su.
preme Court. delivered while Jacobs was
ont of custody, was VOID and of no effect.
Governor Fowle to give the Court an. OPP
portunity of passing up this motion for
new trial respited Jacobs until to-day
The Court heard the motion, but refused
to grant II.