The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-07
Boy Ravisher Dies on the
GallOws.
Continued from Page One.)

a moment, but only for moment the
STRAIN of that Strangling rope was par
TALLY relieved. County Physician Rose
tore the gripping feet from their an
chorage. Again the CONFUSION, again
the blind feet reaching for their des-
perate hold upon the ledge again the
restraining hands against that futile
hope. Slowly the body swung to and
fro. The deputy sheriff his race
drawn and fingers clenched, swung his
body through the trap, placed his feet,
one on either edge of the Knot that
had slipped from behind the ear 10
beneath the chin and rested his weight
upon the rope. Still the body shook
and sWayed from side to side and the
cropping feet reached blindly for the
friendly comfort of the sustaining
pipes.
All this lasted possibly two minutes,
The curosity-loving visitors shudder-
ed. Some of them deserted their
posts. Some puffed violently on cigars.
their faces White and scanned with the
strain. There was silence in the lall
that spoke eloquently of the power Of
death on a human imagination.
Presently the commissions ceased.
The doctors commenced their eXami-
nations. The body swayed like dead
weight at the end of the rope, grim
Renaissance. Somebody threw open
the window at the left of the galloWs.
The light of the brilliant day came
flaring onto the dangling lump of
flesh. The murmur of voices came
from without. The rope was loosened
from the top. Deputy Monaghan
called for a cigarette, lighting it with
shaking hands. The body was lowered
and taken down past gaping prisoners
to the waiting coffin. The company III
the jail followed slowly out of the
doors into the bracing freshness OF the
morning Outside the palisades their
faces livid with interest. stood con-
glemarata crowd of white and black,
eager with questions. insaticable for
detail.
But the white-faced crowd--those
enVed among the ones who were eager
to see-went silently away with some
thing more and a great deal less than
satisfaction in their breasts.
Partridge committed criminal as
sault on Mrs. Lille Hales. a factory
operative on Feb. 21st. He was at
once captured and identified. bill
was passed by the Legislature giving
him a quick trial. No appeal was
taken from the verdict of the jury.
His counsel, eX-RepresentatiVe Bolton,
saw that he had a fair trial and was
at the death today.
1nere seems TO nave Deen a SeHIl-
ment here that the hanging should
have been public as an object lesson
to the negroes. From the way in
which the execution has been made
the common topic however. it would
seem that the end desired has been
obtained.
Partridge's victim was a woman of
125 pounds wei"ht. Partridge was
very small weighing possibly not more
than 10 pounds. His arms and
shoulders, however. showed remark
able physical development In addi-
ton he used as a weapon pair Of
scissors with which he lacerated Mrs.
Hales' breast before he accomplished
his crime.
Rev. Mr. Hall in speaking to me Of
Partridge. said today that he had no
idea that the boy had any conception
of the enormity of the crime for which
he was hung.
Partridge was nineteen years old
and would have 8had his twentieth
birthday i'm August.