The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-01-23

Georgia..
DANvILIE, Va, Jan. 22.-lSpecial l.
Jim Lyles and Margaret Lashley, col
ored, were hanged here today for the
murder of George Lashley, the woman's
husband, in October, 1890. Both slept
peacefully last night and did not awake
until daylight They ate a hearty
breakfast and Lyles smoked cigar,
which he seemed to enjoy.
AT IL o'clock they were led to the
scaffold and after prayer by colored
preachers, and songs in which the con-
demned joined, the drop fell promptly
at 11:32.
Lyles confessed and declared that he
alone was responsible for the crime.
The woman has always protested her
innocence and died declaring that she
had no hand in the murder OF her hus-
band. The execution was private and
was witnessed by about twenty-five
persons.
STORY OF THE CRIME.
Tho crime for which Jim Lyles and
Margaret Lashley paid the death
penalty was the murder of George
Lashley, the woman's husband. in North
been attentive to the woman and took
her to a party on the Saturday night
the crime was committed. 1t was
alleged by the State that plot was
made while the two were returning to
Lashley's homo. When they reached
there in company with another man and
women, Margar went into the house
while Lyles waited outside. In few
minutes Lashley was allured to the yard
by his wife, when he was shot down by
Lyles.
LYLEs CONFESSION.
Lyles made the following confession
Wednesday:
"Realizing that ] have but a few
hours to spend on earth, hereby desire
to record full confession of the crime
committed by me in November, 1890.
Margaret and myself had attended
party the night killed George Lashley
and we returned home together. We
separ 4ted at the front gate and Marga-
ret went into the house. Myself and
one Charlie Watson then started away,
but Watson said to me, Lets GO back
and hear what Mag and George have to
say. refused at first, but finally con-
scented, and he went up to the window
and soon ran back to where was and
said, Some one is coming OUT In
and towards me.
"He had previously threatened to kill
me If he caught me near his house, and,
thinking he would do as he said he
would, | fired at him. The first shot
missed, and fired the second time. The
bullet struck him in the side and he
died in few minutes. During my trial
it was proved that plot bad been made
between Mag and myself and that she
led him out of the house by the hand
for that purpose. All of this l abso-
lutely deny, as God heacs me and as |
realize that there is no help on earth for
me and that l must now prepare to meet
my God.
II absolutely exonerate Margaret
Lashley from all blame. She and had
lived in sin, but she did not know that
j was going to kill her husband, nor did
she know that | was near her house
that night. We made no plot together.
AS hope for mercy and forgiveness
j now speak the truth, sc help me God"
The two were tried separately at the
March, 1891, term of the corpora ton
court and convicted of murder in the
firstdegree. Every means for saving
their necks were resorted to without
fere in the woman's behalf after the
confession of Lyles.
A HANGING In GEORGIA.
SAVANNAH, Ga, Jan. 22.-[Speeial l.
Lucius Dotson was hanged in Chatham
county Jail this morning for the murder
of jeff Coates in Savannah in Septem.
Der, 1890. The murderer and his victim
were both colored.
WOMAN HANGED IN NORTH CAROLINA.
RMEIGH. N. c., Jan. 22.-lSpeciall-
special from Dallas, CASTOR county,
says: Caroline Ship, condemned to be
executed for infanticide, was taken from
the Jail at o'clock this afternoon and
led to the gallows. She displayed great
GOODNESS and stood quietly while the
rope was being fixed about her neck.
She talked eight minutes, reafirming
her Innocence, and declared that man
named Mack Farra committed the
crime. The drop fell at :55 and death
resulted in twenty minutes by strangu-
lation.
go The Orange Tea.