The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-05
WESTMORELAND'S
MURDERER HUNG.
Robert Morton Pays the Penalty OF an
UuprovOked Crime.
SAID He THREW HIS LIFE AWAY.
Asked the People To Forgive, ana 'oid
Them To Take Warning of HIS Emu
Trap Sprung While He was
Singing Hymn.
SAID He THREW HIS LIFE AWAY

PETERSRUEG. VA. Nov. 4.-SpeciaL-
paheyt Nor,on a negro was hanged In
the iail yard here this morning ioi "o
onprovoked murder OF George H. west
morcland a young white man oil TINS S''y,
The execution was witnessed Dy a 'un,'e"
number of people who we're admitted in'o
the Jail yard. There was DIE o''"u ."
the outside OF the Jail
A short time before the march to the
soaffold religious services were held in
one Of the cells on the upper floor OF the
tail. which were conducted by ReVs. r..
Watts. r. NJ. Bowman. +. X. Berry. T.. j.
Archer J. y. Farrell. Thompson and b
Il. Powell. Morton joined heartily in the
services.
on THE GALLONS.
He offered prayer ana led in the singing
of the hymn my Hope Is Built ON Moth
ing Less Than Jesus Christ and His
Righteousness During the services Nor
ton testified that he was prepared 70
meet his death on the galiows. THESE
services over. the march 10 me scai0n
was begun Morton assembled the scafoid
with the greatest nerve ana showed out
little fear or nervousness. All or the COL
ored ministers named above were on the
scasfold with him. also city sergeant
Charles Watson and Deputy Sheriff Par
ham. The exercises on the scafiold con-
sisted OF the reading Of the 9Th chapter
OF Second Corinthians by Rev. Berry and
prayer By Rev Bowman.
GAVE WARNING.
These services over. Morton was allow
ed an opportunity to make a statement.
de asked the people TO forgive MN for
his sins. as God had forgiven him. ana
TO meet him in heaven.
He told those present to take warning
nv his end. as he mad thrown his life
away. While the hymn shall We Meet
Beyond the River .as being sung, in
which Morton Joined, the trap was
sprung.
The trap was sprung at 1887 and Nor
ton YVES pronounced dead in thirteen min
utes. Death resulted from stranguiaton.
SKETCH OF THE CRIME.
The crime for which Robert Morton
forfeited his life on the gallows was
most unprovoked an inexcusable one
and occurred at West End Park on Sat
urdav afternoon, June 18th, of the pres
ent wear. George H. Westmoreland. the
murdered man. in company with his
brother. r. T. Westmoreland. Edward
Burton and G. +. Price. were at the
park. whittier they had gone TO ride their
bicycles They were sitting down on the
grass when Morton came by and kicked
George Westmorelsnd $ wheel, the back
wheel Of which was standing in the road
way and the front wheel on the grass.
George Westmoreland told Morton not
to kick his wheel like that. when Morton
walked about ten feet and turned and
said 30 Westmoreland; "You ------,
and commenced feeling in his pockets
and drew a pistol and shot at West
moreland. Morton continued to shoot
until he had empiied his pistol
At the third shot Westmoreand was
hit in the forehead and fell to the
ground.
HELD THE MURDERER.
r p westmoreland caught hold of
Morton and with the assistance of Mr..
Burton. held him until High Constable
Harvin came up and took charge OF the
prisoner. Westmoreland. the man who
was shot fingered until the next morning,
when he died.
All Monday night. June 9Th large
squads OF men were assembled In diff
ferent parts Of the city. and their pur-
pose was said to be to attempt to lynch
Morton The excitement was subsc-
quently allayei and no attempt at mob
violence was ever made.
Morton was afterwards brought before
the Mayor. by whom he was sent on for
trial al the July term of the Hastings
Court. when ne was indicted for the
murder of which he was accused. After
the Indictment against Morton had been
returned by the grand jury, Judge ID. A.
Hinton. then counsel for Morton, asked
that the case be continued 10 the Sep
TENDER term of the court on the ground
Of the absence Of a material witness The
Court overruled the motion. ana Judge
Hinton subsequently retired from the
case
CONVICTED.
At the August term Morton was CON
vir'ed Of murder I'm the first degree. The
prisoner was ably defended by Mr.. James
IT Rahily. while the interest Of the Com
monwealth was looked after by Major
rrancis Rives Lassiter. who at that time
syas the attorney for the Commonwealth.
Mr.. Rahily who defended Morton at
the request OF the Court. moved the
Court 10 set aside the verdict on the
ground that n was contrary to the law
and to the evidence.
THE SENTENCE.
The Court overruled the motion and
Morton was sentenced by Judga.Mullen
To be hanged by the neck by the Ser
geant Of this city on Friday, october
9TH between the hours of 10 and noon
Mr. Rahily afterwards secured from
the Governor a respite Of sentence un-
I'll yesterday, when the final scene OF this
unfortunate affair occurred
Rev. DR.. Battle OF this city, vii
preach the dedicatory sermon of tn
Baptist church at Dcndron. Va.
COIORED CHURCH IMPROVED.
The Gilield Baptist church, a colOre'
denomination here. have just had tn
interior of their church very much i'm
proved and II Is now most attractv
place OF worship.
It is understood that the Richmond
Petersburg and Carolina Railroad Com
spany have dispensed. temporarily. witt
some fifteen or more Of their surveying
corps.
AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE.
". 7. Grafton. hoiler-msker on tn
United States warship Saturn, has re
ceived his honorable discharge from th'
service Of the United States government
Miss WInie r. Phillips. of Richmond
who had for some time been visiting he
sixter. Mrs J. W. Holt. on High street
cied yesterday morning at o'clock. Sh
was a. years old. and had long been in Il
health She was a member OF Leign-Stree
Bapts, church. Richmond.
While riding his bicycle several day
ago. Mr.. Samuel A. Mann. Commissions
OF the Revenue for the Second District il
Chesterfield county fell and broke hi
leg He has been great sufferer.
STRUCK BY A TRAIN.
Mr.. Perdue. a prominent farmer o
Reams. Dinwiddie county. this state. wa
fn the city yesterday with his two-hors
scam and wagon and on his returnin
home lsst i.ga' wac struck by the AT
iantic Coast Line ma, .a'l 80. g. q
s:s5 y. NJ, killing one OF tbs A..f ON
badly inturing tho other. so IL had TO %
killed. The wagon was completely demol
81