The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-04
GRANT REID
IS EXECUTED.
Hung at Madison C.H. for
a Double Murder.
AN ATROCIOUs CRIME.
He Killed His Wife and His Father
in-laW,
THE PRISONER TRIES SUICIDE.
Took Nitric Acid But Only Burned
His Throat--He was StranSled to
Death, His Neck Not Having
Been Broken-A Full His
tory Of the Crime and
Trial.
Especial Dispatch to The I'imes.>

Especial Dispatch to The Times.)
MADISON, c. H, VA. August g. Grant
Reid was hung here at 10 o'clock this
morning for the murder of his wife and
father-in-law.
The prisoner attempted self-destructon
by nitric acid last night, but failed to ac-
complish his purpose. though he succeeded
in burning the back of his throat badly.
The prisoner walked to the scaffold with
out culver and prayed fervently that the
Lord might save him, saying Il am sorry
for what l done, I am sorry for what I at
tempted last night then prayed fervently.
The last words were don't pull the rope
so tight
The trap was pulled promptly at 1910
O'Clock. the body relaxed, then slightly
contracted, then relaxed again with a
| slight quiver of the muscles.
Drs. Banks ana Early then examined
| the pulse and pronounced it good for ten
| minutes, but it fast declined and in fifteen
| minutes Grant Reid was pronounced dead.
| The prisoner died from strangulation, the
neck not being broken. The execution was
well managed by Sheriff Pattie, who pulled
| the trap.
| The black cap and rope were adjusted
| by Deputies Hall and Tucker.
| THE CRIME.
| In $780, Grant Reid, then living in Pitts
! burg Pa, married Minnie Jackson, of
| Madison county, who was on a visit to a
sister. Their matrimonial venture prov
| ing failure, in October 1898, after years
| of marital infelcity, she returned to the
| home of her parents. Reid wrote many
| letters begging her return to him and
| threatening her parents for detalning her.
| She, not complying, about the last OF
- ID Hf hi Cp-
(! hold effects in Pennsylvania and returned to
| Madison on the evening of April 1st of that
| year. His wife refused to live with him,
| and also denied him a home with her
| father, urder whose protection she was.
| THE TRAGEDY.
| On Sunday, the I'd of April after some
! conversation with his wife, he and her
! father repaired to neighboring locality
| in the mountains, returning home late that
| evening drinking freely. Reid had sup
per. and finishing started to leave. His
| wife was just outside the door. Some
| hasty conversation was heard between
| them, when suddenly the report of a. gun
| rung out upon the still and clear air.
Peter Jackson, her aged father, sprans
| from his supper table. and rushing out,
| seized the gun Of the murderer, and in the
| ensuing scuffle for its possession was killed
| by Reid. His wife at this time was en-
| deavoring to make her escape to a neigh
bors house.
Reid, after numbering the father. pur-
| sued his fleeing wife. overlook and threw
her to the ground and sat upon her pros
! trate body, gun in hand.
KILLED HIS WIFE.
Mr.. Weaver. gentleman living near,
ran 10 her assistance. and as he approach
ed. Reid raised his gun. warning him not
to advance another step under penalty Of
death His wife succeeded in extricating
herself or was released by Reid again
endeavored to escape and just as she
reached the front gate, the murderer being
close upon her, raised his gun and fired
Death was instantaneous, the charge
severing the spinal column and almost
1ecapitating the woman. When asked by
Mr. Weaver why he murdered his wife,
he simply replied: "shn is my wife
Seeing a light in nearby house Reid
| reached 1t and engaged the services of two
young men to direct his steps to Madison
| Courthouse. presenting them his gold
| watch in payment for their services. Be-
| tween l. and O'Clock that night he reached
| the county-seat and surrendered himself to
| the authorities.
| THE TRIAL.
| He was tried. convicted and sentenced to
| be huns, but his counsel succeeded in OBJ
! tanning a new trial granted by Judge ID. A.
| Grimsley. Of this circuit.
| The second trial resulted as the first, and
! an appeal was had to the Supreme Court,
: which tribunal a1ilrm!nS the FeIdlct OIL tle
| jury as rendered Reid was again sentenced
| TO be hung on Friday, the Sd day of Au-
! gust, 1909.
! Reds defense was that 'he crazed
! by liquor in consequence OF the disclosures
| made to him by his wife Of her intideitr,
| and was. therefore. not responsible for his
! acrs.''
| ATROCIOUS CRIME
| It is thought by many that Reid came to
| Madison for the sole purpose OF executing
| one of the most atrocious crimes ever COM
! mitted in these parts, and that his fate is
| justly deserved, Is the sentiment of the
| people.
| He was most ably defended by Congress-
| man HAY, State Senator Jeffries and f. II.
| Percy, of the law firm of Hay, Jeffries &
! Percy. and B. F. McMuliin. Prosecution
| was conducted by Commonwealth's Attor-
| ney James 2. Thrift. assisted by Edwin II.
| Gibson, of this county