Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-25
A PAINLESS DEATH.
Moose BEATS sLecrRocuT,oN
IT. as SHOWN AT LEXINGTON.
liable Hanging Of James Craney--
Signs Of Suffering--He Confessed
ocd Passed Quickly Away.
.,,..I,l ,olorram 70 Tho Dispatcb.l

.,,,o,v. Va, April A.--For the third
.be history and for the first time
,..tr.fve years criminal has been
" a, Rorkhridee county. James Craney
t''t ..-.i hero to-day for the murder Of
W n,.,cy. It win 10 remembered by tho
C' An. nrsrarcu that ON the goth Of last
T'A' .rla negro Craney killed another no
S''.4 oliver NJ negro gathering in
8 r, Crauoy had two trials for this of
Wv ,,s g-st tho jury disagrceing, but nc the
ffn. ,rr,ie' was rendered Of murder IN the
- ..,p AMI he was sentenced to be hanged
t-..f.H ~ April
NAuANpONTD CHARACTER
,.f14r Of HIS conviction every possible
'a r.a1 tried % bring Crancy 20 n sonse
r.rau aud to produce In him a change
Vt Ind, however, all his life boon
rg utterly abandoned and desperate
J .. and dis spiritual adviser found it very
.rI8r, him 90 repent Of his sins and
. and peace by accepting tho pro
... Gospel Sergeant Perry not only
-.l talked daily with Craney, but also
~ . many Of she good and pioua people Of
CO. .. holm tlu Ia his cndeavors. In this
- b.. u.. sergeant was most ably assisted
II. n Moss pastor 81 tho First tcolnredD
r.-E Eut forwccks all such ondcavors
.-.. .t|I.
.urTp At THIS GALLONS.
. exhibited such stolid Indifference a.
..-f.I 90 see. lie ate heartily, slept
y" no rfrnf and much Of the day, and
.t IL. The least disturbed by his Rp-
.r... fcW days since no was taken
... g.Irws and shown how tho trap
g.. ...ftr merely smiled and looked on a.
...r -s n the instrument was erected
.. rI-r some timc ago he underworld
...s hia con, and since then he has
..- .r IRONS f0riy-eight hours before the
l-. ..-t.. .rUlglt from his cell upstairs
Ia fs=.tr md ~ V.rsF, -
... was sct over him. Until a late hour
.. ~. cllorod friends sang and prayed
MS LAST DAY.
...-,,.s morning At q, ate very light
.... was dressed 10 now suit Of
Esd after that passed the time prepa-
.y..lf.un. ia order 10 comply with
.....-.rs executions 10 he private Sheriff
... CRESTED! iu the bUck yard 81 the Jail q
..... structure about twenty-five feet
..-..r covered with boards ON all sides
THE GNIows
....,... ,... structure the gallOws was erected.
,.t... .f such % height as % give the Crimi-
.s four feet and half There were
...r witness the hanging jury OF eight
....Ht..r Hu'0roi men, the Sheriff and his
.... r-. doctors, several reporters, and one
... --. .r aH tweuty-Ouc persons. Al 10
v.. ~..r.9, one Of his deputies, and Ser
...--s repaired 20 the prisoners cell and
..... .....HT.f.F MN TOT lNt ~|tuoius
QUIT And COOL
.....-. .r account Of Craney's previous fero-
....- -.mo thought be would give trou-
.... r.rfur came for his execution, yet no
... ..e. HH.u moro uCaCCablc or traCta-
Inf.f. quietly and cOolly 10 having
.......I ana the cap adjusted. Thcn
... ... hesitation or trcpidGtion he walk ted
p. rrr .raG1ll aud up its steps. Ar
... .-. DID. stepped quietly down upon tho
... ... tleu wu- told 20 make his state
CEANFY's STATEMENT.
.ra Substance Of what he said: q am
t.... ..f.., iHr murder, / went 20 that festi-
....... IHg- fuUUus with one Of the girls,
.....I .tr., u8r' the light ] put my hat over
b.. ....r .rI blow 10 out This brought on q
.... CHARLES Oliver and / got in Tight.
.... r.. r.i... and ! tried 20 shoot him,
........ snapped. Then while I was trying
cd. .. would shoot he tried 10 take h away
.. .II DO went on and shot him. did
... .t. -v knife. This T. the truth Of tho
... .- taT ,s my Judge, before whose
... ..afl am about 10 CO.
DO, TrNTENrIkL PRAYER.
.. Pill. minister, Rev. W. NJ. Moss, made
f.... bios prayer After that the moose
..... lr. black cap drawn down over
...... .. ANA then he himself made one Of
r... earnest and touching pcnitential and
.... ..a..r- 'nlt rgu igll from the lips Of
. Among other words be used those Of the
t.... .I. rr.-z lu fact, hc seemed % pour
,.... #H.'. sHuL nHgEiu. for mercy and for
.... .-I surely, poor, erring' guilty, yet
..r sinner tlu-" pleading words cannot
g.. .... utterly without avail.
THE BOLT PULLED.
....m.rttnst bis lips pronounced the word
t..... T.. u.Ir was T.ngl. There was sharp
r..- ..I. Boy The falling drop, and precisely
.rH rI. badly 0t Cnney shot downward
r.. -Ha trap. For % few moments he was
'.y -til. then 'aero was slight twitchnc
.. .HIr. due q. muscular contraction, but
.-.l iu B few minutes and after that there
...... visible signs 90. life. His pulse was boat
..... minutes atr.rLr fol- but in eight min
..." |.F ..i-si. Ms body, however, was left
t.r forty minutes.
a PAINLESS DEATH.
I.. .g.s-u.r Go convey more painless
r..,t.H. .lt traney underwent. His spinal
w.-. Ee snapped the moment the drop
........t.. Doe betrayed no signs OF any suffer-
.- whatever his body after being cut down
-. ... .. FOL- neat coffin and turned over To his
.... r..f..6 30 70 BrOwIsburg 10 be buried
.r...- Great credit Is due 20 Sheriff
...... deputies for tho faultless manner in
r ''. execution took place. Although they
.. .r."".- experience In matters Of this
.......FfN.ug Was 20 admirably provided
a. M a. Hm