Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1897-10-06
For the Herald and Tribune.
HANGING OF DAVID DEAKINS.
The Last Execution in Washington County
Tennessee.

on Monday October 23, 1S48. Joseph
Crouch was Sheriff of Washington
County THAT time; Seth ]. w. Lucky
was the Judge and A. A. Kyle Attor-
ney General, Absalom Scott and Jo.
seph X. Armentrout were the Con-
stables to wait on the court. The
Grand Jurors were Joshua Boring.
foreman, Jonathan G. Haynes, Ellis
Higgins, George w. Nelson. Dayid
Onks, Henry Hoss. Jacob G. Sans,
John McCracken, John Humphreys.
John Davault, John Leach, Joseph
Bowman, Jr., and William R. Seahorn.
Joseph X. Armentrout was the Con.
stable appointed to attend the Grand
Jury. Worley Embree was Circuit
Court Clerk and John H. Crawford was
Deputy Clerk.
On the first day of the court the
records, show that "The Grand Jury
return into court and present bill of
indictment against David, slave of
color for the murder of William
Deakins, endorsed true BILL"
Estate "Iudictment
vs.. for the murder
David, cold slave." of VILLA m
Deakins. In this case comes the At
torney General to prosecute in behalf
of the State. And the said David is
brought to the bar of the court. and
being arraigned and charged pleads
not guilty. Ordered that the said
David be remanded to Jail to await his
trial tomorrow morning"
On October "a, 1S4s, it is recorded in
the minutes of the court that the
Clerk having omitted to spread the
bill of indictment ON the minutes of
yesterday tits ordered by the court that
it be entered in this days proceedings.
Then follows the indictment in full
covering two whole pages OF the record
and goes on to recite with numerous
"aforesaids," that David, otherwise
called Dave, slave and at the time of
the grievances hereafter mentioned.
and at the time the property of one
William Deakins, not having the fear
of God before his eyes, but being
moved by the instigation of the Devil,
heretofore to wit: on the 30th day of
August, in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and forty
eight, with force and arms In and upon
one William Deakins then being the
master and owner of him the said
David did make an assault with Ger.
tain axe of the value of one dollar
which he, the said Dave in both his
hands then and there had and held,
in and upon the right side of the head
of said William Deakins, did strike
and wound. giving to the said William
Deakins one mortal wound of the
breadth of two inches, of which said
mortal wound the said William Dea-
kins from the Both of August until the
9th day September did languish and
on which said 9th day of September
l848 he died.
The above is the sum and substance
of the true bill presented by the Grand
Jury. Then the record of October 25,
1913, says: This day the Attorney
General for the First Solicitorial Dis.
trict comes to prosecute on behalf of
the State, and the said Dave,a slave, is
brought to the bar of the court in the
custody of the Sheriff and the Jury
heretofore sworn, having returned
into the court. to wit, Solomon Stone,
Jacob Lemmons. John Graham, Joseph
Booth, Jr., Samuel Crookshanks, VIM.
A. Cloyd, VIM. May, Isaac Boring,
VIM. Parker, Thos. Norris, John Bot
ties and Allen Kiker, this jury was in
charge Of Constable Absalom Scott
and resumed the consideration of this
cause on their oath, the Attorney
General for defendant requiring said
jury to be polled) do severally and
jointly say that the defendant David,
a slave, is guilty in manner and form
as charged in bill of indictment and
thereupon the said jury was discharged
and the prisoner remanded to Jail by
order Of the court.
On Thusday the Goth of October the
record shows: indictment for the
murder Of VIM. Deakins. The Attor.
ney General comes to prosecute on be.
half of the State and the said David is
brought to the bar OF the court in
charge of the Sheriff of Washington
County and it Is thereupon forthwith
demanded of the said David, If he has
or knows of anything why the court
shall not proceed to judgment and
execution thereof against him accord
ing to law, who nothing further saith
than as before he hath said. 1t is
therefore considered by the court that
the said David be taken hence to the
Jail of Washington County, from
whence he came, and be there securely
kept until the cath day Of November
next and that on that day he be taken
thence to the common gallows Of said
county and there between the hours
of 10 o'clock In the forenoon and2
O'Clock in the afternoon of the same
day be hanged by the neck until he is
dead, dead, dead, and that the Shriff
of Washington County do execution Of
this sentence.
E.idax Nnuanahnr "a 1910 .