The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1897-05-12

Huntefdon Republican, Apr 2M.
Unless Executive cemeney inlcrvcnes,
either in the form of n respite or cnmmu-
tation of death sentence, Jacob $. john
son, the cruel murderer of Annie Rogers,
will expiate his crime upon the gallows in
the Somerset county jail on Wednesday
of next week. Elmer Clawson, the muir
dcrer OF Harry lIodgetts, wcll-known
farmer OF Puckamin, will meet similar
fate on the samc seslTold the following
Wednesday, May l2th, providing Cover
nor Grggs also refuses TO intervene in
his behalf There seems to be no likeli-
hood that Executive clemency will bc ex-
tended to either men, as both have been
accorded an impartial trial aud eminent
counsel have exhausted every means at
their command to havc new truls granted.
SO confident is Sheriff Wyckoil that his
already making the preliminary arrange
mcnls for the executions. Invitations to
witness the execution OF Johnson, which
cannot lawfully exceed forty in number,
will doubt less be sent out this week.
Among those who will receive one Of them
undoubtedly will be Sheriff Ramsey, but
we will venture to say that genial official
will accept il with much hestancy
The preparations for the execution Of
these two men recalls to mind stories that
10. Ian tall al, .
macfactors in this county. The Court
records show that only three persons have
cxpnted their crime upon the gallows in
old IIuntcsdon, although many have been
arraigned before the bar Of Justice charg-
ed with the awful crime of murder All
three executions took place in Fleming
ton, and the people Of the surrounding
country swarmcd here in great numbers
to view the CHASTITY scenes.
The first person executed was James
Van Alta, white man, aged about thirty
years. lie was led to the gallows in July,
1894 -l03 years ago. Van Alta resided in
Alexandria township, where he killed
man and buried his body in n forest. The
second murderer executed WAS slave,
who killed n fellow. slave in Pennington
The crime was committed in the basement
OF the house now occupied by O. Is. Davis,
near the old copper mines. The execution
took place Nov. !, 1903. The scaifolds
on which the two meu forfeited their lives
were erected on a plot OF ground near
where now stands the residence OF the late
John N. Voorhees,.
The third and Inst person executed was
James Guise, IA year-old colored boy.
The execution took place in Pennington
on Nov. 20, 1928. The scaffold was erect
ed in field adjoining Academy ST.. near
where now stands the residence OF Samuel
Cooley. The crime for which ho was put
TO death was the murder OF an aged lady
named Beaks, with whom he resided at
Hopewell. Hopewell at the time OF the
murder was within the limits OF Hunter.
don county One day "Lilte JIm," as
he was Familiarity known, asked Mrs
Beaks to loan him gun. The old lady,
undoubtedly thinking he was too young TO
safely handle firearms, refused to comply
with his request, whercupon he seized a
neek-yokc and struck her fatal blow.
The yoke, still blood stained, is now in
the vault at the County Clerks Office.
Little Jim'sh trial began In the old
W. -. CuuiAh, tHls pihGf, on the nrHL
Tuesday in May, 1928, and excited the
greatest interest. The destruction OF tho
Court House by fire early that year neces-
STATED the use OF the Church. The pris
| oners, including Little Jiin," were re-
moved to the Somervile Jail and brought
here for trial whenever the Court so or
dered. After the conviction Of the young
negro the case was carried to the Supreme
Court with the hope Of getting new trial,
That tribunal refused to set the verdict
aside, however, and the death sentence
was pronounced. The following appears
in the Court records
"And at the said Court al Pennington
aforesaid the said James Guise being set
| at The bar and being asked II he had any.
thing to say why the Court should not
pronounce sentence OF death against him,
be answered, No whcreupon, on mo-
ton for judgment for the State, the Court
ordered that the said James Guise be TAX
en- from hence TO the place from whence
he came, and that on Friday, the 28h day
OF November next, between the hours Of
ten In the morning and two in the after
noon, he be taken to the place Of execution
and be hanged by the necE until he be
dead. y
"titl.c Jim," IL the stories told about
him are true, did not manifest any great
degree fear. Perhaps, he was too young
10 realize the awful meaning Of the words
OF the stern Judge. In prison. too. the
same disposition characterized hls life.