The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-04-14
BOY MURDERER HANGED.
John Hill Dies Brave1Y at
Camden-Last Hours.
spccial 10 The JERSEY city Menus.

SpectQs 10 lHe Jersey Ctt3 4setVs'
CAMDEN, April Il. 1898. john Hill, the
sixteen year old colored boy murderer.
was hanged this morning in the Camden
Couasy Jail here.
The drop fell at 1898. Hill died brave
ly. and the last words he uttered were.-
II am going to heaven"
Death by srrangulation followed SIX
minutes after the drop fell. There was
no scene OF brutality. aud the execution
was considered the best and most rapid
that has ever occurred in the county, !,
Hill walked to the scaffold with half
smile on his face, and appeared to be
happy over the thought that he was on
the way to his death.
When Hill was awakened for his break
fast at fifteen minutes to seven O'CLOCK
this morning, he quickly dressed In
brand new black cuJaway and slippers,
which Sheriff West had purchased for
him.
The new clothes tickled the lad exceed
ingly, and his satisfaction was intensified
by the adornment of his coat with frag-
rant white Catharine Mermot rose. the
gift of the jaiier.
Hill partook very heartily Of the break
fast, aud when he finished he proceeded
20 read the Bible, which his spiritual ad-
wiser gave him.
dlS AA01 N1Oh4s
The calm demeanor of Hill during his
last hours astonished the jail officials as
well as Rev. Mr.. Scott. the condemned
boys spiritual adviser
When Under Sheriff ]. Wesley Sell
went to Hill last night TO see whether he
wanted anything before the SheriH re-
tired for the night, Hill greeted the Under
Sheriff pleasantly and said that he didn't
want anything. as he was perfectly happy.
In r6Dtv f0 asQUaS lion Hill Sa1Q.-
~ am all right You needn't look SO
worried; you won't have no trouble with
me. I'll be all right and / know the
Sheriff will do it right. amt got no i'll
feelings against nobody. and hope no.
body has again me. Pm all right now
and I'll be all right tomorrow"
he WAS VERY HAPPY.
The condemned bov. observing that the
Under Sheriff was affected, continued:
81 wish you were as happy as l am.
Who wouldn't be happy with the Lord
Jesus in their hearts? I am going to
heaven, to be with Jesus, and am just
waiting for the Time. Pastor Scott has
told me this, aud Tll be in heavon this
time tomorrow"
The condemned boy was visited by the
Rev. Mr.. Scott last night, and the minis
ter prayed with him until a late hour.
Hill seemed to be anxious for the hour to
arrive for his execution. This may have
accounted for his being restless after he
retired to sleep. He got up early this
morning. and his demeanor was un-
changed.
John Hill. q colored lad of nineteen
years, five feet in height, and Weighing 10S
pounds, shot and killed Joseph Dodson,
aged twenty-one years, and also coloreu.
on October 10th last. Hill and Dodson
had quarrelled over politics. The negroes
were frequenters of a saloon run by
Albert Beed and Marwood Derrickson,
both colored. They were in the place on
the night before che mur der, and at one
O'Clock Sunday morning Hill secretly
took revolver from che till and went out.
He hid behind tree, aud when Dodson
passed shot him down. The murderer
then returned his revolver and told what
he had done. He was captured the same
afternoon and made confession iu which
he declared that Reed and Derrickson
had hired him TO commit the deed for a
compensation of $3.50 and promised to
get him off should he be arrested. Reed
and Derrickson were arrested as ac-
completes. Hill was convicted and
sentenced to be hanged and re-
Gently, when all hoDe Of a re-,
prieve had vanished, told his spiritual
adviser, Rev. James Scott, that he alone
was responsible for Dodson's death and
that his story duplicating the saloon
keepers was a lie out of whole cloth.
Reed and Derrickson had previously
been acquitted of the charge and the
murderer's original story was then dis
cre1ited