The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-25
A NEGRO MURDERER HANGED.
Jim Craney Pays The Penalty Of His Crime
at Lexington.
HISTORYOF THE BROWNSBURG KILLING
judge Trcdwny IIi-Memorial Services TO be
Held in Honor of General johnston
From All Over Virginia.

LEXINGTON, Va, April 2i.-TSpecial.l j
James Crancy.,the negro convicted OF the
murder of Charles Oliver at Brownsburg last
September, was to-day hanged in the rear OF
the jail in ON enclosure made for the purpose
The execution went off without blunder,
che prisoner showing few signs Of life after
hanging three minutes except a slight with
ins of his entire body, caused partially by the
waving Of the rope.
He made confession on the scaffold, which
was about the same as his statement on the
witncss-stand. 10 the effect that he did not
shoot Oliver, but that Oliver got the pistol
away from him and shot himself.
PUT HIS TRUST IN THE LORD.
He was amongst the few criminals executed
who did not go straight 10 Heaven"
He stated that he had made no public pro-
fossion, but put his trust in the Lord. lie
was perfectly cool and collected throughout
and spoke III n clear, distinct tone. He was
pronounced dead within eight minutes after
the trap fell. He was cut down after hanging
forty minutes His breakfast was ordered OF
which he ate slightly, and then smoked "a
cigar with much relish. The rest OF tho
morning was spent In prayer.
HISTORY or THE CRIME.
In September. 1890 at Brownsburg. Rock
bridge county. small village twelve miles
from this place, and q community which
stnnds high in the social scale as we'll as being
noted for it educational advantages, muir
der was committed which. while 1t was
amongst negroes, created big stir and put
the whole community on the lookout on ac-
count Of the notOrie,y Of the murderer, James
CTanoy. He had killed Charles Oliver at
negro cake walk. and none of the negroes
oh tha ti.no sscgul1N toll ANYTHING Of IL
BETRAYED DIR. WALKER.
Cnnoy's reputation was exceedingly I'M
savUIy He had played traitor to the late Dr.
Il. J. Walker while acting rs his driver and
body-servant. and accepted Il bride to take
his life. flow near no came doing IT IL we'll
known to The TINES readers. as he was
sentenced TO several years IN the penltentinfy
for seriously stabhing Or. Walker, whose life
for some time was despaired of, but who
finally recovered only TO be u sufferer from
nervous trouble the rest OF his life. and 1t has
been suggested by some able people that the
fatal and noted Brownsburg murder Of the
Millers and Walkers was precipitated by this
nervous trouble of DR.. Walker.
Cr0rey had hardly returned from the penl-
Tertiary when it was announced that he had
another victim-this time negro.
sUBsIsTED on HERBS.
Excitement therefore ran high amongst all
for HIM. rs he had succeeded in making his
escape, but of no avail, for ten months. He,
however, remained right IN the neighbOrhood
surrounded by his enemies, subsisting en-
tirely on fruits, green corn, &c, which he
stole in the night, sneaking back TO his hid
ing place before it was light. The winter now
began to come on, and he was forced TO
shelter, which he found in an old barn filled
with hay, where the terrible and bitter cold
did its work, deprfving him almost entirely of
the use of his feet and hands. and so disabling
his body that he WAS scarcely able TO move.
1t was thus he was captured after being acct
dentally found by Constable }. +. BOsworth,
who brought him to Jail in Lexington.
PROGRESSED RELIGION.
The rest of his case is familiar. After hav-
ing two fair trials, the first jury failing to
ngree, he WAS sentenced to behung to-day.
Since his incarceration, while under SEN
tenoe Of death, he has been in a cell with two
other negroes under charge of murder. until
yesterday, when they were removed and a
death watch placed over him. The constant
pruvine and singing for Craney's benefit has
30 worked on these negroes that they have
professed religion while the only change
noticeable in Craney was he requested last
evening that no one else be allowed to see
him except his spiritual advisers. Up to this
time large crowds Of curious people had been
constantly calling in To sec him, 10 all of
whom he was very courteous