The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-22
WILLIAM MUSCOE HANGED.
ghe Murderer Of OI1Cer Seal Pays The Pen
atty Of His Crime.
VE MAKES A CONFESSION AND YEEPS.
History OF His Crime--Death from la
GrIppe"-COunty Nominees for 'o"n''
onocs-From All over Virginia


convicted Of the murdered Officer George I.
Seal on the streets of this city on Decelnoef
81. 1898. was hanged at o'clock TINS morn
ing in the yard of the city jail.
Company d. Monticello Guard. and about
fifty other spectators were present. among
them number Of negro men. On yesterday
Muscoo was visited in his cell by several
white and colored ministers. TO all Of whom
he persistently refused to confess that he was
entity of the crime as convicted. Durhg ING
STAY of the ministers telegram was received
nv Roy i Francis Robinson, pastor OF the
Mount Zion church, colorod, from James
HAYES. his counsel of Richmond III when ne
said that he Hayes had seen the Governor
who stil refused TO interfere with the e1ecu-
ton.
THE PRISONER wEEps.
Al this Muscoe for the first time during his
LONG confinement broke down and wept con-
yulsiyely. still he would not make COMES
sion. The telegram was sent, IN order 10 sat
isfy Nuscoe that Hayes had seen the Cover,
nor. which the prisoner doubted. Hayes S"u
the book Of Muscoe's life would be worthless
without a confession. >, -,
The condemned man slept soundly last
night. retiring at II o'clock. and this morning
ate his breakfast with apparent relish. =,
Before be was removed from his cell he
made a full confession to ParsOn Robinson,
i'm which he gave q detailed account OF the
shooting. his escape and capture, and until
the very last minute was perfectly cool and
calm. possessing a remarkable nerve During
his confession lie asked for n chew of tobacco
and smoked pipe with great relish, and was
the most composed Of the party. few min
utes before he was taken TO the scafiOd he DIS
tributed what money he possessed and all MS
little trinkets among the female prisoners
lie requested that his body and wearing APP
pare be sent TO his parents in Lynchburg. the
shackles were then cut off and religious ser,
vices were held by Robinson, the condemned
man joining heartily in singing the hymn,
Fade Fade, Each Earthly JOY" At the re-
quest Of the preacher, Muscoe offered
fervent prayer. and after shaking hands with
the officers and visitors, bidding them all
goodbye that he was trusting IN the Lord
and believed he was saved man, the process,
sion was formed and he assembled the scaiold
with firm step and in an unfiinching
manner.
"GoD BLESS 1~EEYBoDY."
On the scafod Muscoc joined in singing n
verse Of Nearer My God to Thee" Prayer
was offered by Rev. Lee Jones (colorcdl,
under whose influence MuscOe was converted.
After the cap was drawn over his head, lie
said: God bless everybody The trap was
sprung exactly at o'clock, by Policeman
Dove successor TO the murdered man, and III
nine and half minutes the pulse bad ceased
o. beat and IN fourteen minutes the body was
cut down He bied from strangulatiOn.
The body was turned over t. the medical
class Of the University of Virginia. No Dung
ling of any kind occurred.
HISTORY OF THE CRIME.
The crime for which Muscoe to-day paid
the death penalty was the unprovoked muir
der Except in the discharge Of his duty on
tho evening Of December 3lst 1888, OF 70
liceman c. r. Seal on west Main street in
Charlottesville. while he was attempting to
arrest him (Aluscoe) for the larceny of "A pair
Of cuii-buttons. Mr.. Seal was a tine-ookng.
portly man, in the prime of life, and lived
only few minutes after he was shot. At the
trial it was proven that the murderer had
said he would shoot any policeman who at
tempted to arrest him. After the fatal shot
was fired Muscoe ran through some Of the
back streets OF tho city, making good his es-
cape, although several shots were fired at him
10y another policeman who had reached
the scene. The murderer was not captured
until the next day, and was caught IN the
barn (under some hay), Of Hon. b. johnson
Barbour, near Barboursylile. IN Orange
county. lie was taken by Messrs. +. j.
Freiber and Brice Edwards Parties had been
securing the country for him, in the mean
time in all directions One negro man was
arrested in Lynchburg for the ofense. and
brought 10 Charlottesville, but he proved. of
course. to be the wrong party. MuscOe was
brought 10 this city 10y Sergeant :. j. Dudley,
VINO mao bccn tclcEfapheu 10 OF inc capture.
TO AVOID LYNCHISG
An immense crowd had congregated at the
depot the day he was brought 10 the city, but
the sergeant fearing an outbreak OF the indig-
nant populace. had a carriage in waiting just
outside the city limits into which the pris-
oner was thrust and rapidly driven to and
safely lodged IN jail. lie was taken TO Rich
mond that night for safe keeping, where he
remained until his first trial which took place
Of h. 4 ha - rettff
Court, when he was sentenced TO be hanged
on March 10th of that year.
A motion was made 10y his counsel james
Hayes (colOred). of Richmond, for "a new trial.
the defense set up being that the attempt to
arrest the prisoner for an alleged INSIDE
meanor, not witnessed by the policeman and
without a warrant was unlawful. The jury
passed upon this question. which the de-
fondant's counsel claimed was a point Of law,
and should have been decided by the Judge
On this ground the case was appealed and
the supreme Court reversed the lower court,
and the prisoner was granted a new trial.
When the news of the decision of the Su-
preme Court reached this city awaye of strong
disapproval spread over the entire COM
munity, and the military company WAS called
out Tor guard duty oTer the Jail and prisoner.
AGAIN SENTENCED TO DEATH.
1t was finally decided by the authorities 10
secretly take him 90 l4ynchburg for safe keep
ing, where he remained until his second trial,
February, 1890. when he was again sentenced
TO be hanged on the oath of March, A jury
had 20 be summoned from Staunton at this
trial. Again the case was taken before the
Supreme Court, and once more the prisoner
was taken 10 Lynchburg for fear OF lynch
law. Three complaints were contained in the
petition for "a writ OF error. These were:
First, that the defendants request for
change Of venue after hc was arrmgned had
been denied second. that improper instruc-
tons were given 10 the Jury: third. that GER
tam evidence admitted should have been ex-
cluded.
The supreme Court decided against Muscoe
affirming the lower court one Judge dissent
ing. and the case sent back 20 the Corpora.
ton Court Of this city FOR resenience. which
was pronounced al the February torn. Al
together Muscoe has been an expensive pris-
oner. having cost the State about 5000 and
our people are relieved that the long delayed
execution has at last taken place
This ~ the first execution under the new
city government.