The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-19
George A. Peters Hanged in Car
roll County for the Murder OF
Rev. Joseph Easter.
""THE END IS A SAD DEATH
So the Condemned Man, Standing
on the Gallows, Speaks OF
His Execution.

GALAN, VA. October 1s.-George A
Peters, who on the night OF May esd
last shot and killed Rev. Joseph Easter.
a respected minister OF the Dunkard
Church. was hanged in the jailyard at
Hillsvilie to-day. The condemned
declared dead in twelve minutes.
Only about a Dozen persons witt
messed the hanging, though there was
an orderly crowd of>perhaps 500 on
the outside OF the prison yard. Peters
bore up we'll, and walked to the scat
fold with steady step When the hymn.
Jesus. Lover of My Soul" was sung
Peters joined feebly in the singing.
In his last moments he seemed to real
lie the Importance OF prayer Being
asked II he had anything to say, he
replied by inquiring II there was q
minister present. Learning that there
was not. he called upon Sheriff Blank
enshtp. who was about to perform the
awful duty of ushering the man into
eternity, to offer pnyer, but the officer
said he could not do so. Prayers were
offered by Deputy Clerk Lapdreth and
DR.. Wilkerson.
End of Such Man.
Peters WAS placed on the trap which
was soon to be sprung, and again
asked II he had anything to say. He
replied: 1.-THE end OF man who vlo-
lates the laws OF his country and OF
God is a sad death at the final hour"
The body Of Peters was turned over
to his relatives and taken away to
be prepared for burial. The man was
only about thirty-five years old and
was a native OF Georgetown, S. C.
The crime for which Peters was
hanged was the murder OF Rev. Mr..
Easter on the night OF Aay esd last.
Rev. Mr.. Easter. who resided in
aGa hs Re o eaTss COUNTY
tended court at Hillsville as witness
before tho grand Jury. He gave testi-
mony IN reference to the illicit traffic
IN liquor In his community. implicat-
From him the facts were ELECTED that
his life and property had. been threat
ened; yet he shrank not from what he
to be his duty.
Cnme In Dark Of Night.
After Mr.. Easter returned home that
night and retired. he mada mention OF
threats made and arose and went to
the barn and turned out his horse
and removed his harness. The hour Of
midnight had not arrived when man
Webb called him. up. and inquired the
knew Mr.. vebb we'll, ana It seems
, never SUSPECTED that his qnestioner
was other than he. So he arose, OPEN
tons. Tho man seemed to llnger as
though he was not satisfied. when Mr..
Easter asked him IL he was riding or
afoot; Being told that he was walk.
nearar sse an stepped Ie into ,n the
yard and around the house to show
him pathway that lay across the
fields. Mrs. Easter lay In bed at
window and saw the man by the clear
I yt,t ne t.. = nj
STONED shoulders and noted his Pc
culiar sida steppinS, as though he was
trying to keen something concealed.
The two men had scarcely passed out
Of sight when she heard o gun fire,
Easter walked back into the house.
sank upon the floor and expired
short time after
:, Late IA 9 'p n the atter1os,n, before the
renE GeorEs nast es|sFs was s1fn
II shotgun, Late In the night of the
Peters called at the house of
a AIRS. MeCraw and called for boy
that was living there, or was sup
e et ne me there in
Easter or We've stretched Joe Eas-
He was told that the boy was up
W StaiSs in n beg With boy named Easter
Peters left the house at once.
When Mrs Easter was summoned to
go before the grand jury to indict
ininlns the one In which Peters was
engaged in. conversation with num-
her OF other men, and the door Left
star. Wien Peters commenced talk.
OF the man that murdered my hus-
When taken into the presence of
number of other men, Mrs. Easter de-
libsrately pointed her finger at Peters
and exclaimed: "That'a the man who
much dlsconcerted, and told hor That
she was mistaken; that he was not the
man, Again, She, pointed her finger at
him and said: you are the man. Il
know YOU are the man, and God knows
YOU are the man that called my hus-
band from the house."
The trial In July resulted In the con-
N!ction OF Peters.