The semi-weekly messenger., 1905-12-22

Correspondence CT The Messenger,
Williamson. y C.. December it.---
| The execution Of the negro Preston
Daniels for the murder of William
Eborn took place today In the jaiiya-
at the stroke OF twelve According
TO lag. the execution was private. only
thir.s-six citizens. beside the doctors
guards and ministers being present A
high wall had been erected in front
OF the Jail. completely hiding the gaf
lows from the hundreds Of morbid
curiosity seekers outside The con-
demn"d man through all his months OF
confinement nsd SHOWN almost stDIit
Indifference - i.s fate. and had never
ask"i for a spiritual adviser How.
ever. he strain proved TOO great for
him II the Hst and he FULLY realized
his tondiiicr. te refused breakfast
and with the assistance 90 Sner!T ]
c. Crawford dressed himself neatly
decl Ting that y was certainly Ea~d
Ia die. He haG expressed regret Of
ten for his desd and claimed thai
was an accident vet owned that wais
key Was the Cause of the deed. Ravs.
Sol Rlidick anu Joshua Griffin,
dhe coioIed churches went into mis-
room before he went 10 execution 1ud
prayed with nim and tried by ,pm
forting words II prepare his mind .Gnd
soul sor the tnai4 struggle. Daniel
entered heartily into the services, ana
wept, tears streaming down his face
remained audibly praying after he
others had arisen. He professed faith
in the mercy OF God and expressed
hope of forgiveness. At ll:45. af'er
reading of the death warrant. he walk
81 Ixs1l. - hn fofI ana. fnI
by Sheriff Crawford. Before ascending
the scaffold, a short prayer was offered
by Rev Joshua Griffin. Daniels as
cended the scafoid at II 40, striving
with difficulty = crush the tumul; %
agony within his breast. Being asICd
if he wished 10 speak he said: NO
sir; [ believe I5t.
Sheriff Crawford adjusted the moose
piniored his limbs and placed tn
black cap on, ti,an descended. Just a
the rope was cut which held the traB
Daniels was heacd TO say: Good by
to you all Lord have mercy on IN
poor soul" The trap opened and tn
body fell eight feet His neck was bro<
en- and in exactly eight minutes he WI
pronounced dead by Drs. Wooden AN
Wright and the body was lowered ana
placed in q nea- casket. The remain
were shipped to Raleigh, as his fam!l
failed 10 claim it or express any Ce
sire as to its disposition.
The crime for v aich Daniels paid .hc
death penalty WIS committed on a
excursion train e, Parmele, Friday
June %, 1905. rhe train was carry
ing crowd of negroes from Washiae
ton 20 Goldsbor". Daniels who va
from Pactolus, Pitt county, was IS
corting one Gertrude Little and ma
warned William Eborn to keep ana
from her. Upon the arrival Of IN
train at Parmee Daniels left the car
and on returning found Eborn occu
pying his seat beside the Little woman
He told Eborn to move and Eborn
did g, remark.ng that this is a din
bose crowd" A proper Interpretation
of his remark could never be arrived
at, as the adjective "diabose" seen.sd
to have been a word of his own coin
aye.
Daniels seated himself and qui :tly
taking his piston out with his Icf
hand passed !: behind him to the
right hand raised it quickly and crI-d:
Look OUT" Etorn who was seated
in front, turned and received the oil
let in his forehead, dying in a 2nCr
while. The murderer coolly walker
out of the car singing: Il am gong
somewhere, I've never been before.
He passed oui CT town into the yood
without molestatiDn. About fouc in
the afternoon he was seen coming
down the street and was pointed NJ
TO Chief of Ponce Page, of Williams
ton, who happened to come in on a
afternoon train He arrested Daniel
and lodged him in the county :ail
At the June term Of court he was tr ed
convicted and sentenced TO be hantse
by Judge George Wood. on Angus
9Th. His counsel appealed TO the su
preme court d: the September term
and ..Se decision of the lower cour
was ..r.rmed. Governor Glenn issEs
a warrant for mis- execution on tn
End day of December. but owing :
a technicaIity, .'ithdrew that and is
sued another for December 10Th. tn
execution was .hc first In Martin corn
~ in 30 years. That OF Ragland. tn
Edgeccmbe rapisJ, being the last