The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-03-06
APPOINTED UNTO DEATH.
Sloan Hearst Will Pay the Penalty
Of His Crime Next EriINH.

The Press and Banner reporter called al the
jail yesterday morning in search OF an item
in reference TO the hanging which is 10 lake
place next Friday morning in the jail al
eleven O'clock.
Tailor Nance was ready and willing TO show
us up. On arriving at the cell. two coiored
preachers were present at the cell door, one ol
whom was IN the midst OF solemn ana lp,
prcssive prayer in behalf OF the condemned
ruen The preachers had some little CONVEX
Saion with the prisoner as TO hopes IN lhe
life TO come. Sloan Hearst, the man who Is
10 be hanged next Friday, proiessed conVer.
sion and 4 hope in the saving grace OF our
Saviour. He said be had struggled for the
spirit for long time; that he walked his cell
Friday in deep meditation; that ne flnally
lay down to sleep In the night; that after
sleeping he walked up, realizing that he had
been blessed, and that he now ielt quite sure
that the Lord had forgiven him, and would
bless him. Walker Derrick, who is under the
death sentence, the execution OF Wnich Is
postponed on account of an appeal 10 the Sn.
preme Court, had less to say, and gave less
signs OF life.
When the preachers shook the hands Of the
prisoners, which were projected through the
iron bars, they took their leave OF them.
The preachers were the Rev. A.'E. Gregory
and Rev. VIM. Cothran. When asked their
opinion they expressed implicit faith In the
conversion of Sloan Hearst, though they
have visited the condemned men frequent tly,
and talked and prayed with them. Among
other colored preachers who have been az the
Jail were the Rev. 5. A. Mcintosh, Rev. ID; h.:
johnson, Rev. Z. Goodwyne. Nearly all OF
the white preachers in town have paid more
or less attention 10 these men.
Taking leave OF the preachers, we returned
to the cell where the doomed men are impris-
oned. We didn't find Sloan Hearst In quite
the same religious or hopeful condition, as he
was when the preachers were talking 10 him.
He was nervous and jerkery-Walking about
the room as if suffering the greatest mental
vtnfyy q
confessed, and the presumption was that his
mind was greatly relieved. But when we
asked him If he had anything to say OF the
killing, he merely said: II have never de.
MED having shot. and they say was the only
one that did any shooting"
When asked about his conversion he said
that this was the first time he had made q
confession Of faith, although he had been Il
AS We were leaving, Anderson Hearst, broth
er Of Sloan Hearst came in. He walked up TO
the opening in the bars and the brothers
snook hands without uttering word. Fin.
nlly the prisoner said: "You have been Il
long time in getting here. have been look
ing for you The brother on the outside,
who had just come TO see the condemned
brother for the first time since his con viction.
seemed to have much feeling, but which he
controlled, without making any great demon
Stration.
Derrick had little to say. and was more self
possessed than Sloan Hearst
Sloan Hearst has asked the Sheriff to eX-
ecute the sentence of the law 1T ten
o'clock, in time for his body to be carried
away on the l2:i0 Train. He wants the fu
neral to be preached al MI. Sinaia, OF which
church he is u member. The Sheriff says that
the execution will take place at eleven O'Clock.
The instrument of death il placed at the
head of the stairs in the third story. II Is on
q raised platform on level with the ballusters
that protect the opening. The trap doors are
q double contrivance that are he'd In position
by wooden bar, the end OF which rests on Il
trigger, which will let the platform fail upon
touching the lever The drop will be about
the full heighth OF the man, and his body Will
pass down the opening OF the stairway.
The rope is already in position, and is being
stretched by heavy rock. The structure
has been whitewashed and has the appear
ance of being part of the house. When the
carpenters were doing the work Hearst en- Z.
quired what they were doing, and was told
that the preparations were being made for the
execution. Owing TO the small space around
the gallows, not more than about dozen
men can witness the execution.