Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-01-19
HANGED AN INNOCENT MAN.
a Strange Story Of the Mistaken
Course Of Justice.
The Execution OF Joseph Barton, Cnlorcd,
for "a Crime which His Hair Er0ther,
WHO Greatly ResGmbiCd Him, Now

The Execution OF Joseph Burton, Cnlorcd,
for "a Crime Which His HAT Er0ther,
who Greatly ResGmbicd Him, Now
CnEfcssos.
Sussex Republican.
Some cf oiir readers will remember some
oil the circumstances OF the event Of which
we are about To- write. Nineteen Senr5 ago
last fan cYlured man was charged with
committing a rape on a young white girl
NJ NAs3au, this county. Several euloltd
men werc in tie store at that place when
tins Young girl came ia to purchase some
articles for tile Eung. On her rttutI she
was assaulted While passing through a
grove nearby. Joseph Burton a.las Joseph
Green, Was arrested, taken before the
young girl, md was identified by her as
the OEc who had committed the CRIME.
We have the above facts from John
Morris Of that place, who assisted iii hiB
arrest and was witness in the case, lie
was tried at the spring court. Jacob Moore,
ESQ, who was assigned by the court 70 act
as bis counsel did his utmost to save him
but the chain Of evidence against hin was
so strong and convincing that the jury
could not do otherwise than bring in 4
verdict Of guilty. He was hung on the
2Oth day Of luIe. 1878. Rev. A u. Davis,
who was pastor Of the NJ. u. Church u that
tilue was him spiritual Advisor. Rev.
MIR. Adams of the Presbyterian Church
and ltnv. Mr.. Douglass, rcGtOr Of the p. y.
Church, also visited him iii his cell by
their Intercourse with him all three Ut
these ministers became impressed that il
was case OF mistaken Identification and
that he was an innocent man. They
appealed 10 Governor Ponder for u pardon
or to change the penalty TO imprisonment
for life but failed to convince the governor
that it was his duty to reverse the decision
of the jury.
On tho morning of his execution all
three of his spiritual advisors were with
him in his cell and administered the
sacrament of the Lords supper As the
time of the execution drew very near they
urged him to confess ii guilty and not go
into eternity with a lie OH his lips lie
persisted III declaring his Innocence rs he
had done all along and just a few moments
before the drop fell when asked by the
sheriff if he had anything more to say his
reply was, 81 die an innocent man.
The morning after his arrest his half
brother, who greatly reSemDlcd him, dis
| appeared and did not return again. Last
spring, in conversation with John w.
Rust and J. +. Couhurn, formerly Of
Georgetown and Others at Philadelphia,
concerning Lingo's trial and conviction for
| killing Mrs. Miller, conversation turned
| on the case Of Joseph BurtOnS, alias
Green, execution" this brother said Eyes,
that man was hung for me, and he was
| just as innocent us either Of you" This
brother has been associated with Lingo
and has been living in the neighborhood
Of the Annie I4econey and Mrs. Miller
| tragedies, and is considered Il hard case,
and the writer cannot resist the impress
| sion that Joseph Burton, alias Joseph
| Green, died an innocent man, and that il
was a case of mistaken identification, for
| which no one is to blame.