The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-18

BLUEFIELD, w. Va, July 17.-lSpe-
ciall-Harry Christian, tho negro des-
perado, murderer and robber, was
hanged at Perryville. w. Va, this fore
noon.
The execution was public and was
witnessed by an immense throng of
people. Per,yvillc is SO miles from any
railroad station, being one of the re-
hottest towns in Mcdowell county. All
scene of execution and at day break tho
extemporizcd scafTold was surrounded
by thousands OF wild mountaincers and
moonshincrs. ~ large number of negroes
were present and q strong guard was
placed in and around the Jail, as it was
feared that they would try to rescue
Christian. The negroes were in an ugly
mood, and at several times serious
encounters between them and the whites
seemed inevitable.
The moonshincrs had plenty of
Illicit whiskey with them and as there
were not enough houses for them to put
up at, they camped on. III the open air,
and the scene resemblcd a huge picnic.
Before long the drunken men began to
get numerous and then the fun com
mcnced Free fights were INDUCED in
and for time all interest in the hang
ing was forgotten.
Christian spent his last night on earth
in alternately singing, dancing, pray
ing and cursing. His nerve stuck to
him throughout, and when the officers
came to bind him he made no resist
ance.
The death warrant was read to him in
his cell and he was then placed in cart
closely guarded and driven to the place
Of execution, which was in large open
field
From the jail to the gallows the cart
was compelled to pass between two
ranks OF excited people, who constantly
jeered and shouted at the doomed
wretch
Arriving at the scanold, Christian
was asked if he had anything to say
before his sentence was carried out.
Standing on the gallows, with his hands
pinioned to his sides and the rope
around his neck, Christian made an
address. lie said he knew that he was
about TO he summoned before his Maker,
but he was ready TO go. He made full
confession OF all his crimes and claimed
that whiskcy and gambling had brought
him to his present condition. He
acknowledged that he had been guilty
OF numerous crimes and seemed to
glory in the fact that hc had boon so
successful in Guiding the officers of the
law and escaping the Justice so richly
his due.
All through Christians speech the
immense crowd showed signs of impa-
thence and seemed relieved when he
concluded. The black cap was quickly
drawn over his face and when the light
of day was forever shut out from him,
he showed his first signs of fear. His
knees smote together and his whole
frame trem bled violently, but tho sheriff
did not give the condemned man time
to back down for he quickly sprung
the trap and Christian was launched into
eternity. A few convulsive movements
and the body beng limp although life
was not pronounced extinct for some
time. The fall did not break his neck
anu ne ulcu OF StranSulatlOn.
The immediate crime for which
Christian suffered the death penalty
was the murder OF Detective Grove,
ono of the Norfolk and Western rail
road detectives last January. Grove
was employed by the railroad company
to maintain order on che Ohio extension
of the road and on the day
of his murder had arrested some
moonshiners who were operating near
the road. While escorting the prisoners
to camp lle was fired upon by Christian
and Immediately killed. The murderer
was arrested and for time it was
though nc would be lynched by tho de-
tective's friends. lie was convicted in
April and sentenced to be hanged
July Ii, 1891. No postponcmcnts oc-
CURED and the sentence was duly carried
out.
The killing OF Grove was not the only
crime Christian was guilty Of lie was
one of tho ring leaders in the riot that
occurred in Alabama four or five years
ago, when twenty people were killed
while almost double that number were
injured. He has also been guilty Of a
large number of burglarics and numer-
GUS other crimes. lie resided in Pitts
burg, Pa, for time and his record
there was bad one. In fact from his
very infancy he seemed to take natur-
ally to crime, and his legal taking off
this morning is public benefit
a a25O,OOO storm.