The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-25
Showed Not Only Emotion, bu.
Expressed Contrition.
HE HAD DONE AN AWFUL DEED
sen Might Not Forgive Him, But He Knew
God Nould-Tss Removal From Rosu.
okc Accomplished at Night, aud TIE
Execution Took Place Early Ia
the Morning-tis Body to
Be Disseetsd.
Special Dispatch te The Times }

| LYNCHBURG, VA, Feb. 2t-The diss
rity of the law was upheld and the ass
sault and attempt upon the life of MRS.
| Ralph Webber was avenged to-day in tia
legal execution here to-day of Joe Ilis-
sinbotham, the coiored janitor OF ths
floyd-Street School. whose crime of jan
uary 1lth threw this city into a frenzy
Of horror and Excitement.
City Sergeant Johnson and Police Ser
Seant Seay went to Roanoke Sunday and
brought the prisoner to this city, arriv-
! ing about o'clock, and without demon
stratlonr he was quietly lodged in jail
here to AWAIT the morning and his fate.
Heginbothan slept about twenty
minutes. and after awakening read
his Bible for some time. About
4 o'clock Rev. Downing, his spirit
ual adviser, visited him and talked
and prayed with him. and with Preacher
Tyrrell remained with him through tbs
final scene at O'Clock HSSinbothan
ate {; hearty breakfast.
FAREWELL TO FRIENDS.
At about o'clock IIissinbothanis step
mother visited him She was accom-
panied by Preacher Tyrrells wife.
| The meeting and parting was very pa
thetic. The step-mother and son talked
to each other in subtltted tones. saying
that though this would be their last
meeting on Garth. through the mercy OF
God they hoped to meet III heaven. Tlrs
two preachers tlleIt sang My Faith
Looks Up to Thee, Fade. Fade, each
Earthly Joy1 Jesus is Mine and Shall
We Meet with Christ. the Saviour
During the singing aud prayers which
followed, IIigginbotham remained unmoy-
ed. only bowling his head during the cerc-
money. At the conclusion of tlrisTssrv!ce
the preachers left 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 wert bitterly. telling him good
bye. It was the only time during the
| meeting or afterwards That he evinced
! any emotion.
WITH HIS BOOTS ON
He wore Il neat overcoat an,l was dress
! et. in the suit lie wore on the, trip from
! Isoanoke no change of attire being made.
! Usually the criminal wears only his
F.! trousers, sh;r. and socks. but TisgiI-z
| aothar: died with lis boots on
The cell in whicl, aisginbotham was
confined is the last one OFT the lower
| floor of the Jail. about forty feet from
| the scatfod. At eighteen minutes past
| S o'clock Sergeant JolInSonw ert to the
| cell ard told Higginbotfam that time WAS
| up. With officer Adams on one side.
| the Sergeant on the other. and the two
| colnrcd preachers following close at hls
| heels. the march to the death trap was
| begun.
The ne-rc's face never changed. and on
| ascending the steps he stood upon the
| trap-door and Sergeant Johnson then pro-
| duced the order of the court and asked
| the negro if he wished it read. fie said
No The Sergeant mentioned the fact.
| however that the order was that ha
/ should be hung by the Ecck until hs
| was dead.
His feet were then pinned and his hands
| securely fastened behind him Rev. Down
! ing read a few verses from the Bible.
i Asked if he had anything to sag. thu
/ prisoner replied: II have committed an
awful crime, for which l 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
BODY 10 BE DISECFED-
| The moose was then placed around shs
neck, and the black cap over his face
/ IIigginbotham bade All goodbye, anet
said that he hoped to meet them in heav-
| en- Sergeant Johnson then stepped down
| from the scaffold ard pulled the trigger:
/ a dull thud was heard The regro swung.
| out into space. and in II minutes
| the attending physician pronounced him
| dead The body was cut down and plac-
| cd in a plain pine coffin, and this; after
! noon was shipped 20 the Medical College
at Richmond.
Joe Hieginbotlam's last statement to Al
| newspaper reporter was az did not so
! near the Presbyterian Cemetery and this
blood hounds did not follow my tracks =
Mr. Ralph Webber was among thoss
who witnessed the hanging.
! HISTORY OF, THE GENIE.
/ The crime was against o1rs. Ralph
| Tebner. d young married woman in her
own home. tue morning o. Js.nuar. fith.
| They lived in Il small frame house oppo-
site the Floyd-Street Schoolhousc. where
] Joe Hisginbothanl was janitor- .
Mr.. We, Der, who was foreman OF one OF
| the departments of the LynciIburg Cot
/ ton .Iill, Ieft for his work at 6:30 o'clock.
| 1t was yet dark. Shortly after lie left
| Mrs. Weber heard a noise in the house
| that frightened her and she fed to q
| aeishbor's. where she stayed until day
| light. When she returned and entered
| her room. Joe HigSinbothau spr;tas
/ from behind a door and grabbed her bs
the throat. The details OF the struSste.
as told at the trial. were rcvoitins. f1rss
/, choked into insensibility aud Afterwards
her throat cut to prevent the crime from
becoming known. it was a wonder to al
that Mrs. Weber lived to face Eer brutal
assailant.
Something she said while yet ;incon-
\ scious directed DR.. Samuel Lyie's suspf-
cion to Joe Higginbothan;- The negro
| bore the very highest character. and tt1n
police were doubtful of taking him Z,
i charge, and number OF prominent cit
1 izens expressed Indignation at his arrest
INGRIAIlNATTNG EyIDE.N6-E.
i Bus the search of the basement OF this
] G,loyd-Street School. 1lere tho iari.o-
/ Continued on Eeeona Fasel