The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-26

FACED HIS DEATH 4. sT0LLDLY
>special 10 The Tlmes-plspaicl.)

Especial TO The Times. Dlspa CID
WIrITEyILLE, N. CT, Feb. 25.--NVith--
out the slightest sign OF fear, label
Register. forsthe murder Oft Jesse Solos
{and Jim Stnlly, was hanged here to-day
at 12:3O O'Clock. Tho strong nerve and
absolute composure Of the condemned
man were the most pronounced features
OF the execution. There WAS no trcnior
OF voice, twitchlng Of nerves or = rernhAng
OF lImb to show hat he stood In the
very jaws or death.
Sfpef6lc the blaca cap was placed over
his head tNearer. My God. TO Thee
was sung at Ills request Before going
on tho scaffold he said Cross Edmond
son and A. G. Smith had n hand IN the
killing. lie made no other statement
with regard to the crime.
The execution WAS public, and was VII +
messed by Mt least three {, tho1usand peo,
ple-men, women and 1childrec-.who were
attracted to town as i { TO Attend circus
This Is the fourth hanging I'm the county
within the past. fifteen yea rss,
THE CRIME.
The crime for which 4Jabel Registers
5lifo paid the penalty to-day was one Of
the blacklist and bloodlest crimes ever
known In the criminal records Of North
Carolina. In one night and within few
minutes he committed three crimes
murder burglary and arson-either Q
which would have been sufficient FOR
capital punishment.
1t was generally believed that jesse.
Sales (whitc) and Jim Staily (coiorcd),
Illicit whiskey dealers, living ten miles
from Whiteyllc, Columbus county. had a
considerable sum of money concealed IN
their house H. B. Register planned me
crime, for which his son paid ms ne.
on the night Of March %. 1868. label Reg
lister and Cross Edmondsen, friend.
IN, nln ~, INA mr.
crime went to the home and found sales
aud stally sitting before the fire. Reg
lister and ISdmondson crept Zip to9a WIN
dow, pointed their guns and Tired az .tle
same time Both men we're Killed IN
their sea is. Tho home was searched; also
the dead men, but only n small amount
of money WAS found. To cover UP inSli
tracks Register burned the house down
on tho bodies. The glare OF the ire was
seen BY Sales's brother, Who lived Two
miles away. 1t was he Who discoFereu
the foul deed the next day
Register and I1dmondson spent t nv
night at n nego house, ana tlte 1oiioNlHs
day they separated Suspicion pointed
ia il. ID. Register, and he WAS arrested
His son could mot be caught until i've
weeks after the crime was committed.
When captured he was hiding IN q 1alse
ceiling at his fathers home. Cross Ee-
mondson gave himself up. The trial was
Held IL Juno ana lasted five days. Ed
mondsonf turned States evidence. He
was sent to the nenltcntiary for I'VE .N
years lI. d. REGISTER was found gull1S
or accessory before the facts. ana WAS
sentenced to life Imprisonment Janei
Register WAS sentenced TO deati N an
peal was taken to the supreme LouFt,
int it was in vain. Tho father and son
u. . xyor
tertiary for safekeeping, us there WAS
much feeling against tho men IN ColniIl-.
bus county. IA
Governor Aycock vas petitloned for q
rcspite. which he refused tdl grant. 'Ilis'l
Tic Younger Register. after being cur.
.icd back to Whiteyillc, attempted % i'le
OUT Of Jail with u file wiiich his ia!ner
concealed in tho solo of the sons snoe.
rhe taller discovered the attempt just
IN time to prevent tho murderers en-.
cane AS Il last resort the condemlleh
nan d few days ago made q, confession,
impllcnting Il white man named a. y
smith as a n nccompllce to tho cume, IFS
counsel asked that the execute De. STAY
ed until April In order than "A; Kesls.rt
might testify against smltli, y ~, ms I .ast
| alienlpt to ward off Justice was also ioil-
~ nnd governor Ayrock NJ lowed the law
| Ia follow It's course.
label Register was thIity-fiye years
Of age. lie was below the ordinary m
telligence. His father raised him IN
crime. ana cloudy deeds, The elder q Veg
!ster was at one time ~ strnllg H t,l
ItlIcan leader He was q limited States
commissioner in this city, and latet Vas
postmaster atFVIneland, N. ~, AT one
u lime no ran for tho State Senate on tho
Republican ticket. lie is y man OF won
derful shrewdness and cleaT seheml ne
and has had IA checkered career. Ea,
,nondson Is about Twenty-Five years !, ! !,
ace, label Register has q mother an ~
two sisters living in tho toWn Whefe w
was hanged.