The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-29
DIED PLEADING INNOCENCE.
henrietta Kurrell Hanged for Burning Her
House and Children.
SHE HAD NO FAITH IN PRAYERS FOR HER
Wanted 20 Die with Her Hands Untied-Re-
prieved for Thirty Davs by the Governor
on the Plea OF Insanity.

KEysvnLK, Va. Sept. 2s.-ISpecial Hen.
ris,ta Murrell. colored. was hung to-day al
Smithvilie for burning a house and two chill
dren. 1 visited the cell an hour before the
execution with Deputy Sheriff Dickinson and
asked If she wished to make any statement OF
confession. She said no. She was innocent
and had made no preparation for death nor
did she intend making any. That she did not
know where she was going and did not care.
Several ministers. white and colored. at hand
repeatedly desired 20 talk on the subject of
religion but she refused. She seemed in a
bad hum0r and altogether hardened. She is
amulstto and formerly belonged 10 Colonel
Raine. She once lived in Richmond and sep
arated from her husband there
A few minutes before the execution l. with
Rev. Leonard Cox and Revs. Whitfield Clark
and Frank Hall lcoiored). again visited the
condemned woman. They talked with her on
religion and tried 90 persuade her 20 make
her peace with God and throw herself upon
bis mercy and confess her crime. but she still
asserted her innocence and said she did not
care for their prayers unless they could save
her. Rev Clark offered a fervent PRAYER and
a. sang two hymns but they seemed 20 make
no impression on her.
DID NOT WANT THEIR PRAYERS.
She said she did not believe their prayers
could save her.
At 3l5 Deputy Sheriff Dickinson. with
twenty-fOur guards. entered tho cell and
said Come along, Henrietta She said.
where" lie said TO be hung She said: II
am not going. you shan { hang me. and refused
% move" Three of the guards were called
and carried her ont by force They insisted
on tying two handkerchieis on her neck TO
keep the rope from cutting IT, She
was then carried on the trap-d0Or. and
Sheriff Price read the death warrant aud
asked If she wished 10 say anything she re-
piled. No they have no business hanging
me-" When asked if she wanted any one to
pray for her she replied. Yes but they won't
DO me any good Rev. Hall cOlOred offered
an elegant appeal 20 the Father of al mer-
oies IN her behalf. but she appeared perfectly
uncOncerned
AT twenty five minutes past three Deputy
Sheriff Dickinson touched the spring to the
trap-dOOr and She was ushered into eternity.
The drop was five feet. After hanging TWEEN
ty-tye minutes Doctors Gregory and Niche
pronounced her dead from strangulation.
The rope was procured from Rocky Mount,
and had hanged twenty-seyen criminals be-
fore.
This is the only hanging in Charlotte since
tie war
RETRIEVED BY THE GOVERNOR.
DRAKE's Branch, Va. Sept 2s.-lSpecial.
The prisoner was convicted Of murder IN the
first degree at the July term of the court and
was condemned O. be hanged on the 2sth of
August but on plea Of insanity the Cover
nor reprieyed her for thirty days.
40 the same time Henrietta was convicted,
Catherine jackson lcO.Ored WAS also con-
domned 70 die. accused with the crime OF
drowning her three-year-0ld child, a little
girl, IN Horse Fin creek near Randolph, Va
These two condemned ones were put in the
same cage IL seems that they had no love
f..r aask al Inr. fvre lr f1fraa irb tnav
got into big row. and Catherine was scratch
ed up right much. The cause of disagree
ment between them was two five cent hand
kerchieis which both of them claimed
PROTESTED HER INNOCENCE.
Before the execution convened Mr. Cox
editor of the Charlotte Gazette aud also a
minister O. the Gospel. IN company with three
c0l0red preachers. went up 20 her cell TO con-
verse with Henrietta concerning the sub
ject of religion When they went into her
room the deputy sheriff said. Henri
eta. come out and talk 20 the gen.
tlemen. She replied that she felt |
very weak and sick aud did not feel like
conversing. but on further consideration she
consented 20 answer some questions which |
were put 20 her by Mr. Cox and others. Upon |
beng lnterrOgated as o. her innocence, she |
SAID that she bad not burned the house AMI |
two children, for such was the crime size was |
condemned % die for, and that they ought |
not o. XII her, for She had never done any |
thing 70 them. Some one urged her 70 make |
confession. but she replied why should |
ray / did 1t when / did nOt,"
CALM AND COMPOSED.
When the condemned woman was put on |
the scahOld she did not betray but very little |
emotion. and under the circumstances was |
very calm and composed. She made no re-
tistance when they tied her and said ! can
die without my hands being tied, but still
maintained her statement that she was inno-
cent of the crime for which she was con-
demned % die.
After she had remained in her perpendicu-
Tar state about thirty minutes she was taken
down and borne away to her grave. There
were present at the execution twelve guards.
"elye citizens all the officers of the county
with few exceptions. two physicians and