The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-03
HENRY DOWDEN HANGED
FOR THE MURDER OF
ENGINEER DODD.
He Was Perfectly Cool to the Last and
Confessed His Crime on
the Scaffold.

the Scaffold.
Weldon, n. c., July Especial. ,
| Henry Dowden, the murderer of En-
| gineer Dodd, was hanged in the Jail
| ward at Halifax this morning at 7:45
and was pronounced dead at S o'clock.
He was perfectly cool and assembled
the ten steps of the scaffold with a
| firm tread and without assistance. He
called for breakfast about Gas o'clock
and was served with eggs, ham coffee,
| buckwheat cakes and mullins, but he
ate very sparingly. His old father
visited the jail soon after to bid fare
well. He said: ''Well, Henry, | have
called to say good bye how do you
feel this morning." The prisoner re-
piled: Il am feeling tirst-rate." The
old man then shook hands with the
condemned son and turned away
weeping. Henry broke down and
sobbed aloud.
At o'clock Sheriff Clarke entered
the cell and read the death warrant
and then the death march 20 the scat
fold began. The prisoner walk
Jailer Reid. When he reached
the instrument OF death he looked up
at the rope dangling above and then
walked brlskly up the steps and stood
facing the few who were admitted
within the enclosure. His spiritual
adviser, Madison Daniel, then lined
out the hymn: Il Know that My Re
deemer Lives" and a few of the col
hn I'M
ing. The minister then offered a fer
vent prayer, commencing the soul OF
the condemned man to God. He next
read a portion of the 14th chapter of
st. Johns gospel and then followed
another hymn, after which he shook
hands with the prisoner, and said: Il
have done all | can for you. Do you
feel ready to go?"
Yes, sir" answered Dowden, in
firm voice; Il am ready to go, l am
resigned" Madison then said Good
bye"
Dowden was told he could make a
statement if he so desired.
He stepped little forward and said:
Gentlemen | killed the man; | shot
him from the left side of the engine;
L am sorry / did it, but they made me
mad; | hope to meet you all in
heaven; / am standing on Jordan's
stormy banks and hope to meet all
to part no more; | have nothing
against no one on earth; all my hope
is above"
He then knelt down and offered up
feeling prayer, calling on Christ to
receive his spirit. He then said he was
ready.
At TAO his arms and legs were Sc
curely pinioned. He was then asked
by Sheriff Clark if he had anything
further to say. and he said: Nothing"
The moose was adjusted and the black
cap was pulled over his face, shutting
out forever the light of day. Not
muscle in his body was seen to culver
during this terrible ordeal.
The drop fell at precisely 7:45 and
the body shot through the opening
like ball from rifle. The fall was
five feet. The knot slipped slightly
to the back of the head and the neck
was not broken. Drs. Green and Fur
gerson pronounced him dead at 8
o'clock, and in twenty more minutes
the body was cut down and given to
his friends for burial.
HISTORY OF THE CRIME.
On the morning of February 22nd,
1896, Matthew NJ. Dodd, one of the
best known and most popular en-
gineers on the Seaboard Airline, was
shot and killed here while getting his
engine ready to pull out for Ports
mouth. Henry Dowden was arrested,
charged with the crime. He denied it,
and had a preliminary hearing in the
magistrates court The evidence was
strong against him, and he was sent
on and had a speedy trial at the March
term of the Criminal court He was
found guilty of murder in the first de-
gree and was sentenced by Judge
Meares to be hanged March 18th. His
case was appealed to the Supreme
court That tribunal found that there
was no error and Dowden was SEN
fenced by the Governor to be hanged
July End.
The execution was private and only
a small crowd of people assembled
at the court house and around the Jail
enclosure.
The rope was a new one and was
purchased in Raleigh. Sheriff Page
assisted Sheriff Clark in the selection.
There was no hitch in the proceed
ings and Sheriff Clark is to be con-
manner in which the execution took
place.
Just before the execution took place
Sheriff Clark received telegram for
Dowden from Raleigh from the score
tary OF the colored society to which
he belonged, saying that he was ex-
PEELED from the society on account of
having committed murder.