Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-10
NEGRO CONFESS SO. HIS IGuI 1T.
Made . Pathetic Statement On TIE
Ga1lous ana rsfd Ar g et Ms
End pc s warning to The n-Death
B Il
Resa1ted from stranEulatisa.s

Il
Contrasting his crime ana entreating
those who witnessed hisexecution to let
lit be aswarning to all, Ernest Davis. the
murderer Of John Henry Stokes. was
hanged IN the Manchester jail yard az
7:55 O'Clock yesterday morning. MS. n
The prisoner was dead Hithin fifteen
minutes after he assembled the scafold.s
Davis made confession to a Dispatch
reporter several weeks ago. IN which he
ADM tilted stabbing Stokes to the heart.
He said that he was urged to take part
| in the fight which resulted Ia the death
Of Stokes.
| After the condemned man had sascends
ed the scaffcld, city-sergeant J. @. Saun-
ders asked Davis is he had anything to
say. Iii q voice that was hardly audible,
Davis said Eyes = AS soon as the moose
was placed around his neck, Davis held
his head up and said:
| II am glad that God is with me. and
hope that this may be a lesson for all. Let
1t be warning, I trust in God and have
| been forgiven. God has promised to
nc around Gods Throne. That Is all
Ishave TO say. Good-by.''
EXECUTION SUCCESSFUL
Then the drop fell. Fifteen minutes
later Drs: Lawrence, Ingram, e. G. Hill.
William p. Mathews. and J. w. Brod-
max pronounced the prisoner dead.
The execution was successful ia every
Particular and 1t Is thought that Davis
suffered only for a short time He died
from strangulation.
Davis sank through the trap Of the
n *vo do Of or
tie bolt was drawn. His legs moved
backward and forward his muscles re-
laxed, and his body was soon apparently
! limp and life1ess.
The dead man was removed from the
ga1lows within twenty minutes after the
trap was sprung. HIS body was lowered
into a coffin. IN which 1t was brought to
o'lna of the medical colleges III Richmond
by Undertaken BliIey.
SANG FAREWELL HYMN.
Davis was allowed to spend his re.
mining hours on earth with those Of his
friends who called to see him Among
those who entered the 1ail at an early
hour yesterday to See him were Rev.
Anthoney Binga, pastor OF the First Bap.
fist church. co1ored: the Rev. Fergus
Son. OF Richmond: John Baker, John
Monroe. James Cunningham, Major john
son. Rev. F. W. Williams, Rev. II. E.
LJeIfress. and others.
Davis made 8 full confession OF how
he struck John, Henry Stokes. II the
presence Of the ministers.
The condemned man Joined IN the sing
ing Of the hymn entitled 'Farewell' .
which was sung by all the colored per-
sons who were present IN the Jail. The
curtain was drawn and the spectat tors
on the outside were hidden from the view
OF the murderer. Several hymns were
sung. and each minister prayed for Davis
before he was taken 20 the ga1lows.
THE DEATH WARRANT.
Sergeant j. G. Saunders read the death
warrant to Davis about 6:45 o'clock. The
negro held hts head erect and looked the
officer in the face while he read the paper.
i Sergeant Saunders. the Rev. Binga and
/ the Rev. FERGUSON led the condemned
man to the gallows: AS soon as the off,
Ger had placed the moose around the
negroes neck they told him goodbye.
Davis made his last statement. and
Deputy Sergeant Herbert FERGUSON
pulled the rope which launched the
prisoner into eternity.
Negro women and children, Including
many men and boys were on the
scution took place The condemned mans
father was not present. SO far as could
be ascertained mono Of his relatives saw
the execution.
BRAVE TO THE LAST.
With quiet denneanor, firm step. and
without tremor or grimace, the con-
demned man followed the guards out OF
the Jail into the bleak morning air to
the sea fold, where he shivered from cold
and his lips quivered for the last time. as
he. uttered his parting words. Shackles
and ropes were then placed about his
hands and feet. The trap was sprung.
and few moments later all was still
While Davis was uttering his last words
he seemed happy. over the welfare OF his
soul IN the great beyond into which he
was about to pass. The time had come
for his earthly departure. and he seemed
ready to go. He assembled the sca9old
with an Indifferent air, and allowed the
black cap to be placed over his head with
out murmur Although his quivering
lips were about to be silenced forever, he.
seemed thoroughly tlnbued with the right
eousness that makes death less terrible.
WAS PREPARED TO MEET DEATH.
Davis was in every way prepared to
meet death All the spiritual consolation
that was required was offered him af.e-.
va s visited Thursday by the Rev. r. M.
Chandler and the Rev. Asa Driscoll, who
prayed and sang with him..
The prisoner displayed remarkable will
power In his last moments on earth. He
possessed absolute control of himself. and
walked out of the cell IN which he has.
been confined since the death sentences
was passed on him by Judge ingram. as
indifferently as If he were soon to be