The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-05-06
THREE HANClNGS.
Watics Martin at Columbia for the Muir
der of Woman

oSA VA 81 w oAiietH.
COLUMBIA, S. c., April 24.-The exc
cntion of Waties Martin for the MUIR
der of Alice Mcleod took place in the
jail yard. The most interesting part of
the ceremony was decidedly on the out
side. Inside all things were done with
mechanical precision, which was due to
the perfection of the arrangements
made by Sheriff Rowan.
There was nothing at all sensational
in the gTuesome ordeal through which
Martin leaped into eternity. There were
about fifteen hundred colored people
outside the jail walls, most of whom
were women, and from them the gener-
al expression was that it was righteous
sentence and a just execution. Martin
was led out to execution by Sheriff Row
an, with him being Deputies Joe Joy
and Samuel Green. Spiritual consola-
ton was administered by the Rev. Mr.
Johnson.
On the scaffold, when Martin was ask
ed if he had anything to say he spoke as
follows:
"Gentlemen, feel this morning trust
ing in the Lord. went to Him and
got relief OF my sins. l hope that none
Of you will feel in your hearts that it
was my intention when l left the house
to hurt woman. l hope you all will not
feel that when put my cruel hands on
her it was my intention to damage her
in the way l committed the crime. l
did wrong in stalling the body as did.
! did wrong in trying to dodge l did
wrong in trying to deny it. hope you
al Will not think that it was my inten-
ton. This sentence was not finished. |
feel welcome to go this morning. feel
that l lie at Jesus feet. l feel this
morning satisfied. / hope you all feel
the same sympathy for me. l hope
every young man and all of you will not
take the path / have taken-will never
lay yourself liable to get in the condi-
tion am in. l hope you will not be
governed by passion. l am so glad to
feel that Mr.. McMaster did all he could
in behalf of my life. l was not looking
to be cleared at all, for felt had done
wrong, and l felt that my punishment
would come against me. am SO glad
that the sistern and brethren have SYM
pahiZed with me; that my brethren have
preached and prayed with me- l am so
glad that they had sympathy in their
hearts for me and persuaded me to come
to Jesus. They asked me if there was
anything | wanted, anything | lacked
l told them no; nothing l lacked, but
they encouraged me anyhow, and l feel
hope: | feel relief in Jesus. The Sheriff
took good attention of me so far as the
law allowed him, and L thank him. He
had a sympathy for me and gave me
anything l wanted; anything he could
do for me he did. Mr.. Coleman, the jail
er, has been mighty kind to NE so far as
the law would let him 60"
In about ten minutes afterwards Wa
ties Martin was dead, and had been
buried.
PIROUETTE AT PICKENS.
PICKENs, S. c., April 24-Bill Miles,
| colored, was hanged here to-day for the
L,urder of Jake Griffin, also colored.
Sheriff Richey did the Job decently and
in order. Crowds Of people gathered
around the Jail yard and waited till it
was all over.
Miles was perfectly calm and noun
ted the gallows without a sign of weak
ness. He made a brief talk from the
gallows and said whiskey had brought
him to his awful fate and warned every
body to let Whiskey alone. He said he
was going to Heaven. The drop fell at
IL o'clock. and in seventeen minutes
DR.. G. W. Earle pronounced him dead
form strangulatlon. The body was
cut downed and turned over to the
family for burial.
The crime for which Miles was exc
cuted was an awful one. He shot down
Jake Griffin last November on Sunday
over a dispute about game of dice
He paid the penalty for his act to-day
News and Courier.
A MURDERER HANGED AT MANNING.
MANNING, S. c., April 24-Edmund
Holiday, collored, was hanged in the
County Jail yard to-day for the MUIR
der of John w. Dubose, at about half
past 1G o'clock. The Sheriff, the deputies,
the doctors, two colored preachers and
the representatives of the press went to
the prisoners cell. He was asked if he
had anything to say, to which he repli-
ed: Nothing, except that I did not
rest well last night, and in consequence
have eaten no breakfast this morning"
He complained that his wife had for
saken him and had not come about him
since he was sentenced to be hanged. He
said he was ready to die, and was strong
in the spirit of the Lord. Religious ser
vices were held, in which he participa-
ted.
The march to the galloWs was then
taken up. When he reached the place
he mounted to the platform with a firm
step and without the slightest percep.
tible emotion. Other religious services
were held, conducted by the colored |
preachers. He joined heartily in sing
ing the hymn Jesus my all to heaven
is gone" He then stated that he had
made his peace with God and was 60
ing straight to heaven. After a touch
ing prayer by one OF the preachers he
bade ali good by.
The rope, which was'the same used in
Sumter two weeks ago, to hang one
of the MaXcy murdeTerS, was then ad- /
iusted, the black cap drawn OVER his
face and the death warrant read AS |
the last word of the death warrant was
pronounced the trap was sprung by
Acting Sheriff J. II. Lesesne. His neck
was broken and he died without a
struggle. The trap was sprung at five
minutes past II. In nine and q half
minutes he was pronounced dead and
in thirty minutes more his body was
cut down. None of his friends would !
receive his body Il was buried in the
Potter's field. About thirty persons in
all witnessed the execution. After he
was pronounced dead the gates of the
Jail yard were opened and a crowd of
200 persons rushed in to satisfy their
morbid curiosity of seeing dead man
hanging by his neck. This is the first
hanging in Clarendon during the past
twenty-five years.
\ Mysterious Death.
n1,>-,-t,p r,,1 will o. 40