The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-15
NOISES HAD BEEN ADJUSTED.
n NAN AND 4 WOMAN REPRLETED ON
THE SCAFFOLD's TRAP.

David Jacobs and Mary JOHNSON Said They
Were Innocont, Bade tho Spectators
Good-By. the Caps were Drawn, and the
Execution Only Lacked the Drop When
tho Governors Secretary Arrived.
COLUMBIA. s. o.. Aug. 14-David Jacobs and
Mrs. Mary johnson. who wore sentenced to DO
hanged at Chesterfield to-day for tho murder
OF William johnson. the woman's husband.
were respited by the Governor. after they had
taken their places on the death-,rap. md tho
nooses had been adjusted. The town was
crowded with people. Tho culprts. while pro-
testing their Innocence. made sll preparations
for death. although they looked for a reprleve
up 10 noon. At o'clock they were led out to the
Rallows They were calm and seemed to have
nerved themselves for the ordeal. Without
any unnecessary delay they were placed upon
the trap. their arms and legs pinioned, and the
ropes adjusted.
They were then asked II they desired to m AXE
any statement. Jacobs replied that he had
made his statement twice in court. that
1t was the only statement he had to
mako. and he didn't care to repeat It.
Mrs. johnson said that she told the
truth all the time. and was not guilty. that
people had sworn lies on her." and brought
her whore she was. The last prayer had been
finished by their spiritual adviser. farewells
had been said. and Sheriff Douglass was about
to step aside to pull the spring when suddenly
strange man made his appearance. He was
Mr. Tompkins. the Governors private secre-
tary. who had been sent as a special mossen-
ger to boar the reprieve. which was handed to
the Sheriff, who read It.
Up to this time almost no emotion had been
shown BY either prisoner. The woman's stol-
idity now gave way and she became bysterical.
Iac0ha aIfh0u oh ofi lot ia, al, n,
feelings.
Tho crowd in the Enclosure loudly murmur:
cd over tho disappointment. but the two figures
on the Rallows uttered not word The black
caps were quickly removed. the nooses slipped
from around their necks. the cords which
bound their legs and arms cut loose, and the
culprits were quietly taken back 10 their cells
David T. johnson was 81 years old. and n
turpentine farmer by occupation. Mary John
son Is between 80 and 40. About twelve
years ago she married Simon Bedsales.
who lived with her for siz months. and
lett her on account Of her intimacy with other
men. She then became intimate with William
H. johnson. and after few months allursd
him from his sick wife and six helpless chill
dren. and eloped with him to Darlington
county.
Her mother went to live with them and died
suddenly. 1t was charged In the neighborhood
that she was the victim Of foul play. but no in
vestiRation was held Tho helpless wife OF
johnson eked out miserable life for two years
after her husband eloped and died broken.
hearted.
After this Johnson and Mary claimed to have
been married. and they moved to Sumter
county. After living there for some time
they concluded to come back to this
county. and In the spring Of 1890
Johnson employed Jacobs TO move bis fami-
ly back. jacobs took Mary Johnson and the
little daughter. about two years old. In tho
wagon with him. and loft old Mrs. johnson to
walk.
They travelled all night. and the blandish-
ments Of Mary were SO successfully piled ON
Jacobs that the intimacy was begun on this
trip which almost resulted in the death OF both
on the Gallows to day.
The murder Of Johnson by poison soon fol-
lowed, but was detected. On the first trial tho
jury disagreed.