The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-02
EARLY MORN EXECUTION
DEATH RESULTED FROM STRAN.
GULATION.
PROTESTED HIS INNOCENCE 70 THE LAST
Only Limited Number Of Witnesses BeheId
the Execution, but a Large Crowd
of People Surrounded the Jail :
Story nf the Crime
Story of the Crime.

Rockingham, y. C.. April 1.-(Special.)
The negro rapist, John Evans, was
executed this morning at 7;30 o'clock in
rear of the jail. The execution was pri-
waite. only about forty persons being
within the enclosure Over two hun
dred persons surrounded the enclosure,
endeavoring to get "a glimpse of the
spectacle.
Evans arrived at Rockingham at $50
O'Clock in the custody of Sheriff j. NJ.
Smith and his deputy, Mr.. McI4aurin
He was Immediately taken to the Jail.
breakfasted and taken to the galows
and executed at 7:30 a. m.
The criminal was interviewed by sew
eral persons, among them Rev Mr.. Cop
pege, pastor of the Presbyterian church
He firmly maintained his profession of
innocence. His good will to all men
gratitude to his attorneys, tone of whom
Mr.. Claudius Dockery was at his side
and his readiness to meet his doom. This
he did to the end.
Upon the whole Evans seemed to have
no fear Of death, but whether he real
lied the magnitude of the situation. we
are unable to say.
We heard him make another state
ment ON the gallows, and both these
statements were substantially the same
as he made ut Raleigh before leaving
for this place.
The story of the negro's crime is too
well known to require any detailed re-
view here
On the morning of October 22nd, near
Rockingham, he waylaid and raped Miss
Lilly Cole, respectable young white
woman the daughter Of Mr. Frank L.
Cole
Evans victim was, in the early morn
ing, on her way, with her two younger
to the Pee Dee cotton factory.
where they were employed us operatives
The two younger girls. were in front. As
was their custom, they went by way of
il short cut, through Il small wood back
of the residence of Capt. Everett
At the edge of the wood there is wire
fence, and in a panel Of this fence the
wires have been broken from the posts.
having an opening through which people
could step by slightly STOPPING.
The younger girls had passed through
the fence, and as one of them. Miss
Matte got on the other side she saw
a man crouching down by the side of
the fence. She attempted to notify her
sister, Miss Lilly, but failed to attract
her attention. As Miss Lilly stopped to
PASS through the opening in the fence,
the man sprang at her, caught her by
the throat, choked her to the ground
and accomplished his deyilish purpose.
he sriplu TO
TO the house of a neighbour, some seventy
five yards from the scene of the out
rage, and he and some neighbOrs hast
ened to where Miss Lilly was. They
found her almost exhausted, and in
dazcd condition. Her clothing was torn
and the ground bore evidences
of a severe struggle. The girls neck
was swollen and showed the marks of
fingers and was scratched and bloody. |
Her head and face were badly bruised
and beaten. But her aSsailant had es-
capped.
The Whole community was ut once
aroused with Indignation and filed with
a desire for vengeance. The people
were greatly excited. Searching parties
were Immediately organized, AMI tho
work Of securing the face OF The earth
in the hunt for the guilty. man was b.
gun, and kept mp Inremiftingly until
Evans was arrested, taken before Miss
Matte Cole and positively ideatitied as
her sisters assa;dnt.
Evans was Immediately October 30tb)
brought to Raleigh to prevent his being
lynched Here he remained until No
yenber, when he was II ken back 10
Rockingham, tried. convicted and sen
fenced to die on November Goth He was
then brought back to Raleigh. On
November oath. the Governor respited
him for a month to give HIS lawyers a
chance to discover new evidence, which
they claimed they could do.
When the month expired no new evil
dence had been produced, and two
months more time was given And Il 4
third time he was respited. This respite
expired Il week ago. Then for the
fourth time another respite-for one
week-was granted.
During this week certain new evidence
against Evans was discovered. This
sealed his fate, and yesterday the sen ,
tenee OF the court was carried out.
DIR. BYRD CALLED HOME.