The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-03
MOCCA'S MURDERER HANGED.
Henry Brabham Pays the Death Penalty In
Charlotte, N c.
He MAKES 4 FULL CONFESSION
And Warns All Young Men to Abstain from
Sporting Life-A Large Crowd witness
the Execution.

-CHln1or1E. n. c.. July 2.-Ispecial.l-
Henry Brabham (colored) was hanged IN
iail in this city this morning at 1914 O'CLOCK
The ofIense for which be paid the death penalty
WAS the murder Of John Mecca, the ltalian
fruit vender. on Saturday night, Aprl li'h'
in this city. Mecca was in the act OF draw
ing glass of cider for the negro when the
latter struck him on the back OF his head WIN
car coupling pin. crushing the pase sas =,
the skull The negro then ropOeu 1ne e'; -
drower of 423 and escaped. lie was seen III
a." sto,a few minutes before com lttlng
.bo decd and was arrested the next morning
abo,,t tho time Mecca died On his person
ms handkerchief showing rust from the car
nin lie was q professional gambler from
6barleston and murdered Mecca tor MS
money.
CAUSED onEAT EXCITEMENT.
The murder was the occasion OF tho greatest
excitement ever known in the city. Threats
Of lvncbinp were made. which aroused the
NEGROES in Brabham's defense, and serious
trouble between the whites and blacks was
threatened. The Jail and city were under
STRONG guard for q week. On being tired
BrabGam was convicted and sentenced. lie
took the sentence coolly, ana until a
recent attack on the life OF the sherih.
was foiled. his nerve and reckless
indifference were astonishing. After being
chained in a cell he realized the fate to which
he was doomed and changed completely: he
begged forgiveness Of the sheriff for the at
tack on him, and Of Caldwell the negro whom
he attacked in jail. His idea in attacking the
the sheriff was to escape or be killed. as he
stated last night 10 TEE TINES correspondent.
His death. ne said, was but the end OF shorten
ing his life.
he COMPRISES.
He confessed this morning 10 having burg
larized the room at the BufOrd Hotel and OBJ
tanning 1900: also confessed TO the killing OF
Mecca and said he was persuaded by nm &C
complete whom he wOuldn't cnmlnate. Nheh
told by an accomplish that Mecca was dead
he said There. now, you have stepped into
hell and taken me with you"
THE EXECUTION.
Although tho execution was private, an
hour before the time crowds commenced
surging into the jail yard. and the street TOR
a square was filed with people and wagons.
No previous execution in this county was
ever attended with such excitement. IL was
lust 1890 o'clock when the condemned man,
accompanied by Rev. Austin (coloredl, the
sheriff and deputy. left the cell on the north
side Of the Jail The sheriff asked Brabham
if he had ANYTHING 10 say. Nothing he
replied. only pray for me: When on
the scaffold Rev Austin stated that Brab-
ham had this morning confessed to the killing
of Mecca and desired him 10 implore all the
young men TO abstain from sporting life, as 1t
had brought him to the gallows. Brabham
then asked almost in a whisper that all would
pray for him. He stood erect, but was almost
inhuman-looking from fright His eyes look
ed as if they would pop out Of their sockets.
TIE DROP FALLS.
AS the last words of prayer by the minis
ter were uttered, Deputy Sheriff Besinger
cut the rope and the trap sprung at 10 ~.
Brabham dropped five feet, and WAS dead IN
III minutes. He died from stfsnguiation.
The neck was not broken. The body was cut
down seven minutes after II o'clock.
In accordance with his request, II was en-
balmed and sent to hamburg, S. c., to his
parents He wore plain black suit and
patent leather shoes the latter he bequeathed
to fellOw-prisoners.