Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-02-28
HlqgInboiham HANGED Monday.

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The last chapter In. the history of
Joe Higginbotham and the awful crime
which he committed on Mrs. Raph
Weber was brought to close Monday
morning at half-past eight o'clock,
when he was hanged in the city jail in
the presence of large crowd of wit
messed.
Sergeant johnson and Sergeant Seay
left the city Sunday afternoon for
Roanoke, where they took possession
OF Higginbotham. A hack was pro-
cured IN that city and the officers, with
their prisoner, drove to Bonsack, where
they boarded Norfolk and Western
train, arriving in Lynchburg about 2
o'clock.
The culprit was placed in bis cell,
where Officer Adams kept vigil on one
| side and Officer Smith on the other.
Higginbotham slept about twenty
minutes, and after awakening read
his Bible for some time. About four
o'clock Rev. Downing, bis spiritual ad-
wiser visited him and talked and pray
ed with him, and with Preacher Tyrrell
remained with him through the final
scene At 6 O'Clock Higginbotham ate
hearty breakfast.
PARTING SCENE.
At about o'clock Higginbotham 3
step mother visited him. She was &C
companied by Preacher Tyrrell's wife.
The meeting and parting was very
pathetic. The step mot her and son
talked to each other In subdued tones,
saying that though this would be their
last meeting on earth, through the
mercy of God they hoped to meet in
heaven. The two preachers then sang
"My Faith Looks Up to Thee, y Fade,
Fade, each Earthly Joy; Jesus is Mine, )"
and ''Shall We Meet with Christ, the
Saviour"
During the singing and prayers which
followed, Higginborham remained I'M
moved. only bowling his head during
the ceremony. At the conclusion of
this service the preachers teft the cell
and.stood around in the corridor. Then
came the farewell scene with his step
mother. The old woman threw her
arms about his neck and wept bitterly,
telling him good bye. 1t was the only
time during the meeting or afterwards
that he evinced any emotion.
He wore a neat overcoat and was
dressed in the suit he wore on the trip
from Roanoke, no change of attire be-
ing made. Usually the criminal wears
only his trousers, shirt aud socks, but
Higginbotham died with his boots
on"
TO THE SCAFFOLD.
The cell in which Higginbotham was
confined is the last one on the lower
| floor of the Jail, about forty feet from
the scaffold. At eighteen minutes past
o'clock Sergeant johnson went to the
cell and told Higginbotham that time
was up. With Officer Adams on one
side, the Sergeant on the other, and
the two colored preachers following
close at his heels, the march to the
death trap was begun.
The negro's face never changed, and
on ascending the steps be stood upon
the trap-d and Sergeant johnson
then produced the order of the court
and asked the negro If he wished it
read. He said mo" The Sergeant
mentioned the fact, however, that the
order was that be should be hung by
the neck until he was dead.
His feet were then pinned and his
hands secured fastened behind him.
Rev. Downing read a few verses from
the Bible. Asked if he had anything
to say, the prisoner replied: II have
committed an awful crime, for which
1 am sorry. But" he added, Christ
came into the world to save sinners; in
Him l trust. Men may not forgive
me, but God will.'
The moose was then placed around
his neck, and the black cap over his
face. Higginbotham babe all goodbye,
and said that be hoped to meet them in
heaven. Sergeant johnson then step
ped down from the scaffold and pulled
the trigger; dull thud was heard.
The negro swung out into space, and
in Fl minutes the attending physician
pronounced him dead. The body was
cut down and placed in plain pine
coffin, and that afternoon was shipped
to the Medical College at Richmond.
Joe Higginbotham g last statement
to newspaper reporter was II did
not go near the Presbyterian Gene
terry, and the blood hounds did not fol-
low my tracks"