The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-30
We, Who ARE ABOUT TO DIE.
SLOAN HEARST AND WALKER DIRRoUGH
APPOINTED UNTO DEATH.
The Talk of Men Who were Recently
Convictel and Sentenced


Last week The Court of General Sessions at
Abbeville convicted three men OF murder,
but on the recommendation OF the jury for
mercy, one of them, Paden Evans. was sen.
fenced to lite Imprisonment, but Sloan Hearst
and Walker Dlrrough were sentenced TO be
hanged on Friday, March the sth.
The Press and Banner called yesterday
at the Jail to see the two men who are under
on the second floor on the corner TO the north
" The Jaiior. Mr.. Samuel Nance, was very
corteous and kindly un lock ed the great prison
doors, which opened to the stairway Mhen zen
we arrived opposite the cell in which Inc
prisoners are held, the Jailor called To the
men saying that the Editor Of the Press and
Banner had come to hear them talk. WITH
out further ceremony both men appeared al
the window across which were many iron
bars:
Sloan Hearst said: I'VE. are getting ready
to die. ri rest IN Jesus arms as soon as
am gone. Anybody that knows me will not
doubt that. l am not converted now, but
At This he stopped and some questions were
asked him and he said:
have, for the last fourteen years. been employ.
ed on the farm Of Mr.. Dave Dowtin. 1 have
lived AN honest life, but have been In some
little fuses. Sometimes when have had Il
but never hurt anybody, until The death
of Lemmie Rapley. | don't recoliect
ANYTHING about the matter, as to whether
shot her or not. want To be honest, anu l
don't like to say anything positively about
the killing. l recollect the shooting-l left
then. ~
I am expecting my wife to come to see me
today. l wrote TO her, telling her about the
sentence of the Court, telling her not TO be
uneasy about me. sent word To mother and
father not to come. My fathers name Is Ar
The sentence don't disturb my sleep nor my
ftytr " m n m
ready You will see me walk out as brave AZ
a lion that morning. l can't read or write.
come along in slavery times-l was born IN
II married Caroline Wideman. In Slani
church, sixteen years ago. My vile and are
members there. We have three children.
She is a good woman.
"When they are done with me here, want
the funeral preached at Siani church on Sat
urday morning at eleven O'Clock. ! want
Rev. Washington Marshall to preach my fu.
neral. He married me-"
At this point Walker Dirrough was asked If
ii am getting ready for that day; They, say
must be hung. I'm getting ready. l don't
mean TO leave this world unprepared.
II was born at Rukersville. In El6ert coun'
two years old. I came TO South Carolina last
Christmas was year ago. l worked LOT Mr.
z. o. Clinkscales several months, but al
the time l was arrested 10 Augusta. was
II don't want to say anything OF the crime
OF which have been convicted.
"I am not married. l am troubled great
deal. was properly raised, and happened
TO get into this fracus. l have not drank
whIskey since was nine years old. l have
have never played cards. do not know one
card from another.
Both my brothers have been TO see me.
ny Yon can search Ebert county over, and
nobody can say anything about my character,
EXCEPT tha b s9Sa has to see u.s.
had prayers with US. He has just left. Lots
of white people have been to see Us, and ad
vised ns to pray. but nobody has prayed with
US, except Mr.. Johnson"
These doomed men are full blooded negroes.
Their ignorance; their manner; their lack oil
appreciation OF the fearful doom that awaits
them, excited pity. Sloan Hearst two or
three times laughed at something he said.
Walker Dirrough seemed more serious, ana
appeared TO have a fuller or more conscious
realization of the late that awaited them.
Neither prisoner would admit one word or ex-
preston in reference to the crimes for which
they are. to suffer the extreme penalty ol the
law.
AS we understand the facts to he: Sloan
Hearst u short time ago went one day TO the
house Of his sweetheart, Lemmie Rapley, 10
this village. He was jealous OF her, and ask
ed her to go into the back yard with him.
She replied that she would follow him In a
few minutes. Becoming Impatient he re-
turned to the house. placed his pistol to her
breast and fired. Other shots followed. The
woman died instantly: He now claims to
know nothing Of all this.
Walker Dirrough, we believe, went to the
house Of his victim, near Lowndesyille. last
August, called him 10 the door In the night
time, and shot him to death.
For these crimes the turles found each OF
them guilty Of murder, and that accounts Tor
the present lamentable condition In which
the prisoners find themselves today.
The juries at this term of the court seem TO
have done their duty In q conscientious man
uer, and have convicted where conviction was
right, and have acquitted when the testimony
was insufficient.
According to our way of thinking 1t is pos
sible that the blood Of these prisoners, and
the blood of their victims, Is upon former Ju-
rles who may have been too lenient, and who
may have turned loose men who should have
been punished. 49,
IF Sloan Hearst and Walker DIrrough had
known that their own lives would have paid
the penalty for the blood which they intend
ed TO shed, their own fear OF the law would
have staid their hands.
And thus 1t is. that two persons have been
sent to their graves, and two more will follow
because OF the lax way in which our laws
have heretofore been enforced.
OF course 1t has never been expected that
white man would be convicted Tor shooting
and especially not for shooting Il
consistent 1t may be that some juries have
thought IL wrong TO convict negroes for
crimes for which white men stood In no dam
ger.
Our Solicitor and our grand Jury ought to
zee that the law is enforced against carrying
weapons, even II while men may
shoot down whomsoever they please, without
fear OF the law.