The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-17
A CHASTITY FIND.
The Unearthing of Human Bones Recalls
a Military Execution.

The Unearthing of Human Bones Recalls
Military Execution.
WOrkmen exc waiting for an addition to
building on North NUN street, in this city,
made CHASTITY fad to-day. While digging
few feet below the surface they found a
skull and pieces of wood rotten and with
nails in it, presumably part of coffin.
Later in the day another skull and the bones
Of two persons were dug up. Partially pre-
served shoes and some blue substance,
recognized as part of the Uuion uniform,
were mingled with the bones. The skeIe-
tons were Immediately reburied. and no
amount of questioning could make the work
men disclose the whereabouts of the new
grave, says an Ashevile On. c. dispatch to
the ST. Louis Giobe-Democrat. This incl
dent recalls an interesting historical event
which occurred in Asheville just after the
war. In May. 1865, just six weeks after
Lees surrender, General TIlsou of Maine
came 10 Asheville, then town of perhaps
1900 inhabitants He had with him and
under his command about 1000 soldiers.
That afternoon the One Hundred and
Fifth Ohio Regiment, composed of negroes,
entered the town from Tennessee. After
marching through the place they pitched
camp in The western suburbs On the fol
lowing morning farmer living few miles
north of here hucredly entered Ashev lie
anu went " tue hdyUE- IcpOItIi5 " lutL
official That young white girl OF highly
respectable family bad been assaulted by
some OF the negro soldiers the night before.
Tue report was confirmed when, a few
hours later, the father Of the unfortunate
young lady came to the town and gave the
facts. The soldiers of the colored regi-
ment had camped near his house the night
before and five of the negroes had gone
back to his house and after beating him and
his wife into insensibilty had accomplished
their purpose.
When the facts were made known to
General Tilson he caused the c0lOred regi-
ment to be drawn up ID line. The girls
father then passed down the column. On
close scrutiny he soon recognized one OF the
villains and soon picked out the other four
OF them. When the trial of court-martial
came off in the afternoon one of the pris-
Oner, hoping by that means to escape pun
ishnent, turned States evidence. The four
remaining prisoners were convicted on the
evidence OF the parents, the neighOors and
their partner in crime. The four wretches
we're sentenced to be shot the next day.
They were taken to the County jail for
safe-keepng, IN company with the one who
had testified against them. The next morn
ing the doomed men were taken from their
cells and placed in wagon. Accompanied
BY their regiment, they were driven to the
northern outskirts Of the town, where an
immense crowd had assembled to witness
tuo CAcCutlOu' L ITO lcSlultut lUlultu
a hollow square, facing tho empty
graves. prepared for the men, and a
file of eighteen soldiers selected for
the purpose WAS drawn up Immediately in
front of and facing the condemned men.
The hands of the prisoners were tied to-
gether in front of them aud their eyes were
bandaged. They were then forced to take
their seats on their collins, rude boxes, each
one large enough for two men, and the
burial service was then read by the Meth
odist circuit-rider, Rev. A. w. Cummings
The death-warrant was then read and the
command to fire was given by an officer.
The four men fell dead in their collins, each
ono having four or five bullets in his body.
They were buried Immediately, two in a
box, and it was one of these graves that was
disturbed by tho laborers.
The prompt action Of General Tilson in
the matter was source of great satisfac-
ton. The prisoner who. had turned States
evidence, it was thought, had expected to be
released, but the body of negro, supposed
to be his, was found near the scene of the
execution on the morning following. 1t was
conjectured that he had been taken from
the Jail by the Union soldiers and lynched.