The Jersey City news., 1903-09-30
TITLE JIM'S end
Grim Execution Of a Negro
Murderer Ssventy-five
Years Ago.
RuNTERDoN's THIRD HANGING
Prisoner Was Only Fourteen
But 8 veritable Fiend.

1928, was day of widespread excite
ment in Hunserdop County. Little
Jim. . vicious negro boy Of fourteen
years, was to be hanged for the murder
of Mrs. Beaks, an old woman, living in
Hopewell, and almost sne entire popula-
tion had been making preparations to
witness the execution, says the Fleming
ton correspondent Of ''The Newark Sun
day News There had been but two
executions for murder Since the erection
Of the county, $50 years before
The first murder was committed by
James vanata, who shot and buried his
victim In a piece of woods to satisfy an
old grudge. He was hanged in July,
1874. The second murder was commit
ted by slave named Brown, belonging
to Philip Case. He Quarrelled with
another slave while at work in Cases
lanyard. While they were at supper in
the evening Brown killed his enemy with
trammel taken from the fireplace, and
was hanged November II, 1903.
James Guise, q Little Jim.' had for
some time been employed BY Mrs. Beaks
to do chores and help on her farm. On
several occasions he had shown a
marked tendency to idleness, and on
being reproved gave evidence of an ex-
tremely vicious disposition. One morn
ing he asked her for the loan of gun.
She refused, and as she turned to leave
him he struck her down with piece Of
horse yoke, repeating the blows after
she had fallen, and driving the prong Of
the yoke through her skull. The weapon
Is said to be still preserved in the county
clerks Office here.
The young murderer, it appears, made
no attempt to escape. and on the first
Tuesday of May, 1928, was placed on
trial in the county circuit. Supreme
Court Justice George r. Drake and Lay
Judges George Rea, David Stot, Luther
Opdyke and John Thompson occupied
the bench during that term. William
Halstead appeared as prosecuting at
tornev. Messrs Saxton, Clark, Scott
and Prail were assigned by the court to
defend the prisoner.
The State presented the testimony Of
sixteen witnesses, and three were called
on behalf of the prisoner. The trial had
been the almost exclusive theme Of con-
versation for weeks, and no one was sur
prised when the jury promptly brought
In the verdict: Guilty in manner and
form as he stands indicted, nd 50 say we
all.'
The case was carried to the Supreme
Court without avail, and on the fourth
Tuesday Of October, in the same year,
Little Jim" was sentenced to be
hanged. s
During his six months Imprisonment
Little Jim gave evidence Of d dispose
tion 50 6endish that many feared to meet
his gaze In an old copy Of the Hunter
don County Republican it is recorded
that she would glare upon those who
passed the grating Of his cell with looks
that made their hearts quail. We have
heard men say That his looks made their
blood creep Listening attentively to
all that was said during his trial, he be-
came acquainted with the forms of law
applicable to bis case, and used his
knowledge for his own amusement in his
cell.
# appears that Jail was infested with
mice that scampered fearlessly across the
floors of the cells Little JIM watched
them cufiously for some days, and finally
evolved the idea Of having a mock trial
in his CELL Being quick and catlike in
his movements he had little trouble in
catching thirteen Of the mice and tying
them fast at regular distances with a
piece Of string. except the thirteenth
which he secured separately III front of
the Others Twelve Of the mice he went
through the form Of swearing in as jury
men. and then proceeded to argue the
case against the thirteenth, representing
the murderer. At this conclusion Jim
would say Now You wicked little mig
ger you know yo's guilty OBJ KILN dat
ole woman. How. say 10, gentlemen Of
De jury, guilty Or not guilty r.
"Guiity!'
Then the hardened little wretch would
hang the mouse while he chuckled in gIee
Of glared in wicked malevolence at the
dying rodent. This trial was his favorite
amusement
On the morning Of the execution every
road leading to Pennington was thronged
with vehicles of all sorts. and hundJaas