The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-07

direction of the photographer he
Curned his head first this way and then
that, the whites OF his rolling eyes
visible as he looked for approval of his
pose. Evidently the clothes that he
wore were not of his sort. | believe
It is customary to say that the con-
demned was dressed in meat suit
Of black" Partridge's suit was blue
and it was clear from the restraint
with which he moved i'm it, that it was
the best he had ever worn AS he sat
for his picture he planted fiat feet in
new shoes squarely on the stone flags
under widespread knees. His hands
held stiffiy TO the sides of the chair.
His mouth repressed the giggle of no
tice for the sake of the picture. AS
he sat in the chair, stoop- shouldered.
slight and diffident in his new clothes.
his new shirt of blue checks, his turn
ed-down collar without a cravat the
condemned boy was the picture of
young field hand come to the fair in
best array and making the acquaint-
dnce of the tin type man for the first
time in his life. 1t was only that he
was suspiciously clean, that his kinky
hair was well cropped away from his
high forehead, and that his air of inn
pOrtance exceeded even the pose be-
fore the camera that one might have
gathered even a hint of tragedy from
the gala display of his attire and his
bearing.
The picture taking over. the con-
demned prisoner was led back to his
solitary cell and the bolts drawn in be-
aind him. At once he proceeded to
1ivest himself of his clothes of State.
The blue checked negligee he did not
understand, trying to pull it over his
shoulders without previously loosening
the buttons. He Shucked out of the
new coat and the new pants with the
relief which the laborer always shows
at the Investment of strange garments
whatever his pride in them may be.
AS he removed the garments he folded
them carefully one by one against to-
morrow.
| tried ineffectuallv to talk to him.
rhe round, black eyes, with their wide
circles of white ball blinked through
the gratings of the cell in silence. 1t
was only by the most pointed sugges-
tons that he could be made to an
swer and then only in monosyllables.
'You told the preacher all about it?
You told him you did what they said ?"
Partridge grinned:
"Yassir," he replied softly. II done
cole hit all"
At further questioning he turned
away, busted with the new clothes and
suddenly, with an effort as it seemed
to turn the drift of the conversation.
ne spoke generally to the sheriff and
his deputies with the strong. hoarse
voice of a man from the slender throat
md contracted chest of a boy.
Use got to wash fore l gifts out Of
here"
You'll have time i'm the morning"
replied the sheriff. and somebody i'm
the crowd added: "You'll get out Of
there plenty quick"
At this sally the prisoner smiled
from ear to ear in genuine apprecia-
ton, tugging the while at the recalci-
trant blue shirt and grnning at the
crowd without his bars as one who
feels he has the centre of the .tage.
And with this we left him there
alone in his cell the boy-beast. still
struggling With the checked shirt and
arranging his gallows clothes. AS we
passed down the steps other prisoners
peered out one question one curious
gleam I'm the eyes of all. One of these
had been so fortunate as to have
cell from which he could view the
photogra phic scene. During the whole
time he held to the bars rega ~ding
Partridge with fascinated yellow eyes.
He was still watching, his face pressed
against the grating as our company
passed down the steps, under the iron
crap Of the galloWS. arranged for a
seven foot drop to the staircase.
1t has been published that Partridge
would be hung secretly in the country
This is a mistake. The execution is
scheduled for ten in the morning in
the Jail on the gallows described
ADD HANGING-TWO eudoamour
above. 1t was from this same galloWs
that the negro Council. charged with
rape, was hung. In that instance the
rope broke with the fall and the body
struck the iron steps beneath the trap.
rhe sheriff pointed out yesterday the
bent step on which the body fell. There
viii be no mishap tomorrow Par
fridge, from present indications. will
doubtless go to his end with the same
comforting sense of notoriety as that
he seems to feel today.
Despite his slender build and his
mild eyes. Partridge is said by those
who know him to be a type of
dangerous NEGRO. Up to a day or so
lgo his Jail behavior has not been
good. He protested his innocence and
was noisy and unruly AS to the let
ters to the Governor purporting to
come, one from his victim and one.
pleading mercy, from the prisoner
himself. it is thought that both were
either written for or dictated to him
oy friends.
The least concerned man about the
hanging of tomorrow is the central
figure Of the piece