The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-07-30
sALISEURY'S DOUBLE HANGING.
The Story Of the Crimes for Which
They Forfeited Their Lives.

The two negroes, Whit Ferrand and Andet-
ed at the last term of the superio- Court fol
the murder last February OF Deputy Sheriff
e. c. Owen near Cleveland. \. c., were
publicly executed shortly before noon on
Thursday at Salisbury An immense crowd,
estimated between 5000 and 10000 people,
witnessed the hanging.
At Has Sheriff Monroe bade the prisoners
good bye. and with two blows Of the axe
severed the rope which held the scatfold.
Their neckS were broken by the fall, and
death ensued with scarcely q struggle.
The bodies OF the men were turned over
to their relatives. That of Ferrand will be
taken to the upper part Of the county, near
his home. fog burial; that OF Brown will be
buried near Salisbury in a small plot pur-
chased by his relatives for that purpose.
THE CRIMES.
The crimes for which the nien paid the
death penalty to-day, were as follows: On
February the 2otb, Whit Ferrand shot end
instantly killed Deputy Sheriff 4. c. Owen,
near Cleveland, this county. The crime was
one Of the most ccll-blooded murders ever
coMmitted in Rowan county. On the pre-
character, and 4 party Of negro a,conpiiceS:
had been disturbing the neishberhood near
Cleveland, and {: still belonging to Mr..
Hutchison had been broken into during the
night. of which offence Ferrand and his party
eSIere charged E. A. Barber, Esq, issued
zSSN warrant for their arrest. Deputy owen de-
putized Messrs. Mae Eellard and j. ?. Martin
to assist in the arrest. and accompanied by
NJ. Barber. they started to find the negroes.
Three of the negroes were arrested with
out trouble and were taken back to Cleve~
land by Mr. Barber. Some time during the
day Mr. Pink Webb. who had joined IN the
pursuit. ran on Ferrand II 4 broom-sedge.
Ee az ranced towards fir. Webb as though
he Intended giving himself up, but when
near enough Jumped on him and wrenched
bis gun from him. and shot him in the wr1st
with q pistol. He then allowed Mr. Webb to
setve. Keeping his gun and pistol. Later Mr..
Hellard and another officer ran upon FER
rand hiding behind tree. He snapped his
gun at them. when they fired upon nlm, one
load taking effect in his face. Mr.. owen
some time afterwards came up and stopped
the firms He called to Ferrand to surren-
der but he refused with an oath.
Finally he agreed to give up if they would
not shoot at him any more. Mr.. Owen then
advanced on him and when i'll a few feet OF
the negro the latter raised his gun and fired,
the bail entering Mr. Owens breast at the top
vest button. He clasped his Eeld on the
wound and advanced on Ferrand but fell In
the act and expired Immediately. Ferrand
struck ut Mr.. Owen with his gun as he fell
and then jumped on him. At this juncture
he was caught and held by the other officers.
The news OF the murder Of Mr.. Owen soon
spread over the country and Fer-and was in
danger of lynching. He was finally slipped
through the country to Lexington where he
was kept several weeks until public anger
had subsidized he was tried and convicted
:. last court and to-day paid the lust penalty
of his crime.
On Saturday morning. March End, between
the hours. OF 12 and l O'Clock, Anderson
Brown visited the house of Mollie Roberts,
his mistress. and walking into her room with
a few words shot her while she was in bed.
The woman was fatally shot but fingered
several days before expiring. He was arrest
ed for the crime and on learning the next
day that she still lived he said if they would
let him out long encagh to complete the JOB
he would be willing to be hung. For the
-mRsder of this woman he was tried and
sentenced to be hanged to-day, forfeltlnS his
lie on the Sallows.
The double execution was the first one at
Salisbury in sixty years.