The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-07
BEFORE THE HANGING.
Member of the News and Observer
staff Visited Partridge i'm Jail on
Wednesday,

(The following account of the visit
to the Jail by Mr. Robert l.. Gray, of
the editorial staff of the News and OBJ
server staff. was delayed in transit and
should have reached us in time for
publication Yesterday Editor)
Especial to News and Observer,)
Fayetteville, N C., April 5.--Walter
Partridge, the young negro who is to
be hung in the Jail here tomorrow
for criminal assault on a Mrs. Halas,
an operative at one of the mills near
the city shows in his person a most
startling lack of the physical signs
which are supposed to indicate desper-
ate criminal tendencies.
He is apparently such a type of
young darkey as one would naturally
snap ones fingers at to run an errand.
or call to hold q horse, or put upon
the simpering duty of taking cards at
the door of a reception. His round,
smooth African face is still habitually
smiling even in the very shadow of
death, with curious crowds of people
edging about his solitary cell and
speaking with the subdued voices that
are the unconscious human tribute to
that which typifies the last great mys-
terry. AS the centre of this regard.
Partridge maintains a Wide-eyed nom
chalance that is Incompatible. He
talks little and yet it is evident that
he is acutely aware of the hurrying
steps of his fate: but, at the same time.
one feels that those placid, dumb eyes
do not look out from brain that un-
derstands One feels like shouting at
that passive figure which sees facts
that 1t does not recognize. 1t is as
though it is desired to wake man
who is stupid with sleep in the midst
of a blazing house.
'Yes-what?" seem to say those
black-grape staring eyes: Fire, death.
Yes-is that ALP,
For Partridge has confessed fully
to his crime The clean breast was
made yesterday to Rev. j. j. Hall, the
local Baptist preacher who has been
visiting him in Jail. He confirms the
testimony of his victim In every par
ticuiar. Doing this he has fallen back
with the complacency of those fated for
the gallows on a lively hope. While.
he is a silent waiter for the end. there
is still suggestion in his stupid face
Of the triumphant placidity of that
belief. Partridge is as putty in the
hands OF circumstance. He yields to
pressure, but he does not volun-
teer. He speaks ordinarily in reply to
questions with a youthful whisper of
consent. His occasional unlimited re-
marks, always of incidentals, are made
in strong and throaty voice which
is out of proportion to the frail body
the only external evidence of the beast
that turks in that shrinking heart!
When Sheriff Marsh let me into the
jail this afternoon and we went up
the two steep flights of iron stairs to
the third story in which Partridge
has his cell, a striking scene was being
enacted in the narrow corridor with
out the iron gratings At one end.
placed in a chair in front of a sheet
which spanned the aisle. sat the boy
Partridge in all the glory Of his gall
lows clothes. few feet in front OF
him blazed the glass bulls eye of
small camera under the black cloth
of which quivered the shoulders of the
photographer. Deputy sheriffs and
half dozen or more curious ones who
had been admitted, stood in staring
group behind the instrument The hoy
Partridge was evidently abashed and
quite Us evidently prond. AT the