The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-09-02
BRODIE PULLS HEMP.
NEGRO RAPIST PAYS THE PENALTY OF
HIS CRIME.


Sentence Was Just and He Deserved
to be Hung-The Arrangements
Were Perfect and Everything Pass
ed off Without Hitch.
Yesterday Vance county had its first
execution.
George Brodie, the negro rapist, paid
the penalty Of the law for the commits
sion Of one Of the most heinous crimes
known to man.
He marched to the gallows with the
same Indifferent manner aud defiant
air that he had shown all along since
the trial. His gait was staggering, his
demeanor quite unlike the doomed
man that he was. 4 short while be-
fore i'll his cell in the jail as he was
putting on a new suit of clothes which
had been provided for him Brod!e was
laughing and testing, apparently the
most uuconcerned of any present.
After he had finished dressing he said:
"When | get to Heaven with this suit
on they will think am preacher"
Brodie wore his hat on the side of
no AS"o. idIlci ldl Ddtn, hau ioou
pencil stuck over his right ear and
smoked cigarette. But it was appar-
ent to every one that this was a bold
trout put on for effect. He did not
extract any comfort from that cigarette.
He pulled it irregularly and handled it
nervously when he removed it from his
mouth. He was merely acting the
part that he tried to look and when he
broke down he broke down completely.
1t was 10 minutes after | O'Clock
when the solemn procession moved
toward the scatf'old. Sheriff Smith
walked on one side Of the condemned
man. Close at hand were number of
trusted deputies and guards while two
colored ministers accompanied them.
Reaching the foot Of the steps leading
to the platform of the gallows ten feet
above ground Brodie ascended with a
firm tread Some one took hold of
his arm but he did not need assist
ance.
When they had reached the place
where was to be enacted the first trag-
edy of the kind that has ever taken
place in Vance county, the Sheriff
asked Brodie if he wanted to say any
thing. He glanced about him with a
sullen and defiant look at first, hung
his head for a moment before making
any reply and then threw his cigarette
away. Taking his eyes from the rope
which lay upon the platform at his
feet and allowing them to rest for a
few seconds upon the cross beam over
head and the faces of those near him,
he said: II have got to die the death.
Gentlemen. | want you all to know it.
l am bound to tell the truth now.
The time has come when the truth
must be told. 1t is no use TO deny it.
| have said that | was not guilty but
must now tell you all the truth. 1t is
right and Just that l should be hung.
Truth is right. and the time has come
to tell the truth. | must say | done
it,; Here question was put direct tC
make the confession more emphatic
"George. did you ravish that young
woman?" Brode replied: Yes,
certainly done it, [Brode had ad.
mitted the act but denied the force in
his previous talksl Continuing he said
81 ought to knowed better than tC
done it. Mother taught me better"
At this point Brodie broke down
completely and began to pray mos
earnestly. He pleaded for mercy from,
on high and begged for more time. Be.
ing asked if he wanted some one t(
pray for them he said he did. Rev
Haskins, colored preacher of Will
liamsboro, stepped to the edge of the
platform and delivered an earnest an(
fervent petition in his behalf. During
this time Brodie was praying an(
moaning piteously.
His legs were then bound the arm:
being pinioned behind him and the
hands tied together. The condemned
man was then moved forward to the
centre of the trap door, the rope
was placed over his head and the moose
adjusted. At this stage of the pro
ceedings he asked somebody to take
his hat. He had stood with head GOV
cred while talking and during the
prayer.
The rope was an ordinary henlpe,
one, about as large as a mans thumb
1t had been we'll rubbed with soapston'
and worked smoothly. The huge kno
was placed just back of the left ear
While this was being done Brodie con
tinued to pray. He appeared to bt
desperately in earnest. His voice wa:
choked and his eyes filled with tears
He broke down abiectly. His nerve
was all gone, his arrogant spirit bro
ken. his manner changed entirely. Thu
poor trembling wretch who stood there
confessing the crime for which he wa:
| about to forefeit his life, declaring tina
| it was righteous sentence and he de
served to be hung, was quite anothe
sort of person from the bold. defiant
| jeering fellow who not more than tel
minutes before while alone in his Gel
with two spiritual advisors of his OWL
race denied his guilt when asked t.
confess it if he did the deed.
1t cannot be doubted by those wht
saw him that Brodie went to tn
gallows with the firm purpose Of eithe
protesting his innocence or saying moth
ing at all. But his resolution talle
him. He weakened at the last momen,
And when he did break down he wen
all to pieces. He played his part we
up to a certain point, yet it was plat
that he was speaking and acting the lie
Some little time WAS consumed i
allowing Brodie to make a statement
for prayer afterwards and the necessar
preliminary details which followed.
was precisely 90 minutes after | whe
the black cap was drawn. Sherl
Smith stepped to one side and with
firm hand and quick motion pulled tn
lever which sprung the trap doc
With lightning like rapidty that pal
Of the platform where the culprit stoo
dropped from under his feet. the bod
shot downward with the speed OF
cannon ball and George Brodie, tt
ravisher, dangled at the eud Of the roI
8 feet below.
There was no contortion OF the bod