Democratic messenger., 1893-12-23
HUNG AT PRINCESS ANNE.
Courtney and Taylor the Negro
Murderers Pay the Penalty
of their Crime.
Somerset Herald

| VIVA SASJ e~@A~> 49, ~--O
Murderers Pay the Penalty
Of their Crime.
Somerset Herald
The execution of Arthur Courtney
and Henry Taylor, both colored, for
the murder of Capt Frank Cooper on
a boat anchored of Deals Island on
the lth of June 1898. took place in
the Jail yard. Princess Anne, on Friday
the 18th instant, about Is minutes to
twelve o'clock. \ high hoard fence or
enclosure had been erected around the
scatlold in order that the execution
should he private, a. the law directed.
Early in the morning strangers COM
menced To arrive in town, and il was
remarked by many that they would he
disappointed if they expected to witness
the execution. Then there was rumor
that there would be an attempt to tear
down the fence, and Sheriff Sterling
seeing that the crowd was increasing
every half hour bcgan to think that
there was something in the rumor, and
instructed the guards to he on the
alert. About II o'clock there was he
tween a thousand and fifteen hundred
people congregated around and about
the Jail. Presently there was wild
yell that went up from the threats OF
several hundred people. The fence hal
been assaulted and one board had been
hauled of. The guards did their hest
to prevent further destruction Of the
fence, but they were powerless against
such numbers and board after board
went in rapid succession, until the
whole structure was flat on the ground
in about a-half hour after the first
assault. The crowd then became order
" and said they would obey the com
mands of the sheriff. The sheriff was
then in a quandary what to do, as the
law directed that the execution should
he private, and those that tore down
the fence would not allow it to be re-
placed. Sheriff Sterling very wisely
concluded that the execution should
take place without further delay. The
convicts were brought out and they
assembled the steps Of the scatfold with
firm tread. their spiritual advisor, DIR.
Henry b. Martin. accompanying them.
Both of the convicts made Il statement
on the scaHold coniessing the crime.
Courtney said: "Young Men and
Ladies II am warning to-day, not
for one of you, but for the whole
United States" He told where he was
born and said my mother brought
me up right. To-day | have got to
leave you with a rope around my neck.
| was not persuaded by any one hut
the devil to do what | did. hope no
man here will do what have done
What you have all heard was the fact
and have lied about it. To-day | face
God. ! am getting paid for what did.
with a rope around my neck, but my
hope is in Jesus, who died to save the
whole world ! am going home 10 Him.
Good-bye" Several voices in the crowd
cried out That is right. He has
owned the truth" Taylor then stepped
10 the front of the platform, aud in a
clear. strong voice introduced himself
as Henry Taylor, and said Ladies
and gentlemen: Before | got in trouble
| was member of the church TOR three
years. took the devil for friend. A
little later found he would get me
into trouble, hut would not get me out
i'hp devil made me do this did what
you read in the newspapers. II was the
truth excepting one thing. ] did not
plan the murder | AMI trusting In Gd,
and can't go to Him it | tell one lie.
Goodbye"
At the conclusion Of these statements
both men were placed over the trap
door, feet and arms tied. ropes placed
around their necks. black caps pulled
down over their faces, and when every
thing was in readiness Sheriff Sterling
sprang the trap and the two culprits
shot through the opening and into
eternity. Just before the trap was
sprung Taylor said: MAY the Lord
have mercy On my poor soul" Court
ney hearing Taylor's petition said:
lord have mercy on me"
After the fall, both bodies were
motionless Tor moment. Then Tay-
lor began to draw up his legs and open
his hands; hut was soon quiet. Court
ney's body began to 60 through CON
tortipns. lie drew his legs and at
tempted to raise his arms. Then both
bodies began To sway and twist. When
it was thought their struggling had
ceased. both bodies were seen TO shake
and quiver. This was eight minutes
after the drop had fallen. DIR. G. W.
Wainwright, physician To the Jail,
examined the men after they had been
hanging nine minutes and both men
were vet alive. II was found that
blood was running down Taylor's leg
and dropping on his shoe. The blood
was found to he issuing from his neck
where the skin had been punctured by
knot of the rope At ll.54 Taylor
was pronounced dead and Courtney's
pulse had ceased To beat at ll.j5
Both men died of strangulation.
The bodies were taken down and
carried TO the aims house where they
were buried. Courtney's brother from
Virginia. arrived in town just before
the execution, hut was afraid to make
himself known owing to the excitement
around the gallows.
Below We give list Of other execu-
tons that have taken place in this
county during the last 96 years, to
wit: Abram and Draper for murder,
in 1877: Jennie. a negress for murder,