Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-04-27
HANGING OF WHITE And ROBINSON.

and Jim Robinson, the two negroes
who outraged Mrs. Hefin and Mrs.
Elliott on the 18th of January last,
were hanged here at 1882 a. NJ, in the
presence of about fifty people. The con-
demntd men slept but little last night,
and spent most of the time on the floor
of their cells under their cots. This
morning they ate no breakfast, and at
about six O'Clock they were ordered
10 prepare themselves for the parts
they were to play in the scenes which
were shortly to be enacted. About six
O'Clock fifteen deputy sheritfs and con-
stables appeared at the jail and pre-
parations for the hanging we're begun.
Both men, though bearing an anxious
look, were calm, and when all prepare
tions had been made, they quietly fol-
lowed those having them in charge to
the scaflold. Upon ascending the
structure, White asked that be be al
lowed five or six minutes in which to
offer up prayer, and his request being
granted, he stood and offered up his
supplications mentally, during which he
showed signs of weaks ing. Both men
were then placed over the fatal trap
and at given signal string was
pulled and the condemned men were
launched into eternity, while White
was engaged in prayer. Robinson fell
like log, and when the rope frightened
his body hung without motion saving
the whirling-around process always
following suspension by the neck. Not
so with White, however. Upon the
fall of the trap and after the fatal jerk
produced by the takingup of the rope,
he attempted to draw up his foot, but
he, too, soon Strengthened out, and like
that of his companion in the journey
to the other world, his body began to
face first one quarter of the compass
and then the other. When they had
been hanging S minutes, DR.. OBrien,
of this city, pronounced both men TO be
dead. After hanging the usual time,
Drs. Meredith, of Prince William; Iden,
of Manassas; Carter, of Warrenton, and
O'Brien, OF this city, made further ex-
aminations, when the lifeless and limp
bodies were lowered into their collins.
Altogether it was a peaceablc eXecu-
ton.
The history of the crime for which
the two men paid the extreme penalty
of the law is still fresh in the minds OF
all newspaper readers. Mrs. Elliott, a
Young married woman, and Mrs. Hef-
lin. a Young widow, lived in the same
house in Prince William county, near
Manassas. On the night of the 18th OF
January last White, who was light
mulatto, and Robinson, who was full
blooded negro, went to the house occu-
pied by the women, presumably know
ING Itheir their intended victims were
unprotected, and knocked for admis-
sion, giving reasons other than the
object of their visit. After opposition
on the part of the inmates the door was
opened and the men entered. Upon
gaining admission to the house the
true purpose of their call was soon made
apparent, and Selling the women they
accomplished their object without
much difficulty, their victims being I'M
able to defend themselves and probably
covered by fear. The women, as soon as
the men left the house, proceeded to
the residence of Mr.. Mayhugh, living
near by, and related the circumstances
of the outrage. The affair was kept
quiet for several days in order that the
offenders could be located and arrested,
which was finally done and the negroes
were placed in jail at Manassas. Upon
the news of the outrage becoming
known the people of Prince William
were exasperated to such an extent
that it was deemed unsafe to keep
the prisoners at Manassas, it being be-
lieved that they would be lynched, and
the sheriff of Prince William county
quietly removed them to thejail in this
city for safe keeping. The trial came
off in February, and 30 excited were
the people of Prince William that as q
precautionary measure the Alexandria
Light Infantry was ordered to proceed
to Manassas as a guard to the prisoners
and to remain at that place while the
trial was in progress. The infantry
during the trial escorted the prisoners
to and from Manassas and conflict
with the Infatuated people was deemed
imminent. The jury brought in YER
dict of rape and fixed the punishment
at death, and White and Robinson were
sentenced to be hanged on the 3Oth of
March. White secured new trial,
however, and the hanging was post
poned. The new trial resulted as did
the first, and the accused were SEN
fenced to be hanged on the Goth instant,
but Governor O'Ferrall respited them
until to-day, when, as has been stated /,
the sentence of the court was carried
out.
Governor O'Ferrall had declined to
interfere and yesterday sent the follow
ing telegram
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
RICHMOND, Va, April 26.
G. c. Round, Manassas, "a:
Have given careful consideration to
petitions for Communication of death
sentence of White and Robinson, but [
can find no statement of facts to justify
Executive clemency. The crime is a
horrible one. Their trial was fair, so
far as l am informed, and the law must
take its course.
CHAs. T. O'FERRALL,
Governor.
Nr IL Graana of this CITY cnnnSel