The Jersey City news., 1903-09-30


Dr. David Ksnnsdy,s Marie Eye salvt for all
biseasss or lnaanmaticns OF the Eye, ssc.
round the spot There was long wait
before the culprit arrived in the custody
of the sheriff, but when he did appear the
hum of conversation on all sides instantly
ceased, and there was an interval of in
tense silence,
Superstition was rampant in those.
days, particularly among the negroes, the
latter holding fast to all the teachings
of the Guinea tribes, many Of whom
were then scattered over the county.
Each negro had his fetch, and the I'M
fortunate Little Jim had Rugged his to
his breast, until be lost all hope and then
he threw it away. On the gallows he
had no word to say, appearing unrepen-
tant, even defiant, as the rope was ad-
justed and the black cap drawn over
his face. That his mind had been busy
from the moment he stepped on the.
scaffold was clearly proven when the
sheriff pulled the pin from the trap that
was to launch him into eternity
At that instant in some inexplicable
the little negro managed to raise the cap
from his face, catch his toes in the edge
of the platform and with bullying eyes
and wicked grin on his face stare about
at the multitude gathered around. Hun
dreds turned away in horror, women
tainted and sense Of awful dread per-
vaded the assemblage. The sheriff was
compelled to return to the scaffold and
push the culprit's feet from the edge Of
the trap.
Immediately after the execution the
Guinea negroes were overcome by their
superstitious terror, and many white peo-
pie were afraid of meeting the ghost of
Little jim" 50 uncanny had been his
life and actions since his crime.
Adam Furman. a Guinea negro, was
then about fifteen years old. He lived
with Mr.. Case in Kingwood. He had
ridden colt to Pennington to see the
hanging, and on his return stopped at
Sergeantsville tavern and put up his colt
for an hour. AS he started, home Abra-
ham Erb called Furman and told him to
put his hand under a blanket he had in
his wagon. Furman did so and felt 4
body. That's Little Jim said Erb.
Furman's colt went home in hurry. and
on reaching1the stable door Furman re-
moved the bride and sent the colt in
without removing the saddle, while he
fed to the house in terror
A hearse stood in the barn over this
Furnan had to come one light to throw
down some hay. Suddenly in the middle
of the hawmow, he saw, or thought he
saw, Little Jim in blacg cap and shourd
with protruding tonge and wild eyes
glaring at him like balls Of fire. Furman
fell from the NOW to the hearse pursued.
by Little Jim" He was in the kitchen
when he came to his senses, but the
horses and cattle went without hay that
night.
All negroes become terror stricken as
the shades Of night began to fall, claim
ing that they saw spectres in the most
unexpected places. One passing through
a wood at night heard a voice repeatedly
crying in plaintive tones. aIse Little Jim.
Little Jim, Little Jim' Others would
ruch madly into houses decaring that
they had seen spooks Of men without
heads, eyes in their breasts and IN casees
Of violent death with blood oozing from
numerous wounds on the body. One
negro, Lolo Ganges saw them III every
hollow, particularly in low drak places
along the water, He claimed that their
appearance was sure sign that be would
some day be murdered. He was murders
ed years later.
The body Of Little Jim" was taken
about daybreak the morning after the
hanging to the old mill Of John Runk,
at Runk's Mills, and DR.. Cofyell, who
was boarding at Runk's, was ordered to
make an autopsy. The body remained
il the mill for some weeks, ana during
this time the men Of the neighborhood
would gather around the mill d night
to see the little Niger cut upY Dr.
coryell having been injured III an acci.
dent couldn't attend to the case, and the
body was finally taken 10 QuSkertown,
where the autopsy vas performed and