Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-02-16
Big Hass|s HIl's Rope Broke
Twice Before He Finally
Died IN Agony.
WALKED TO GALlCNs StCOHD TIME
Jesse Ruffln Also Paid Death Penalty
in FarInvl'Ie Today for Killing
Postmaster Jcl,n Grub in Prince
Edward county-Hs crowd Wit.
messed siekenins Spectacle.

FAIdMVILa4E, VA. Feb. 10
Jess,. Ruffln. alias William RuGn
and Mass.e Hill, alias Masslc Jack.
son, hc'Ja negroes. were hanged in
Prince Edward county jail this
morning shortly after sunrise. A
crowd of several hundred persons
gatherel around the Jail before the
crack of day, hoping to witness
the double execution. and inside tlhs
prison where thc negroes wore
hanged fully ONE hundred ana fifty
were admitted.
Ruifin was first prepared for hang
ING and with a full confession OF
his crime and the expressed belief
that lie was going TO a better land,
than this. without tremor. In
qline minutes after tie trap was
Sprung by Sheriff ptckenson he was
pronounced dead by the JILL physic
IAN. DR.. w. Il. Anderson. The nc
Srois neck was broken.
Wthin distinct sound of Runln's
Damaging Massic Hill awaited his
Turn. smoking u cigarette and talk,
Ing with two ministers of the Cos.
pei He declared that he was
fnily prepared fer the ordeal, and
would go to the, ccailold fearessriy.
NfS uiht ".iN'I ullC lOuI III
the death trap had been reached
ne turned to the sheriff and asked
az h ewould be allowed TO pray.
Being answered in the affirmative he
Stcod and prayed aloud for more
THAN five minutes.
The black cap was then adjusted
and Hill assisted upon tile tIvup
Rev. S. C. Hatcher, of the Methodist
church, then offered n prayer, after
Which the tlUp ws.s immediately
sllrung.
Hill f:n fully six feet TO the
end of THE rope, when there was
a sudden rebound. snap of the
rope. and the condemned man went
with Al thuIl upon the hard floor
beneath.
Was sckenIns Scene.
Tho crowd WAS Ihorror.stricken.
The scene was sckenthg when the
condemned IMAM arose from the
floor and asked that 'hhe straps be
removed from about 0lis hegs that
HE might walk up the steps ana
back to his death trap. This was
done and again upon the scnTcld
ancthcr rope was adjusted about
his neck, It being the Same one
used In the execution of Robert
booker last SPRING.
hill WINS asked II the first a..
tempt at hanging him had ls,lrt
much aud replied that 1T did moi.
Without ceremony the trap was
sprung the second time, and the
hbrror Of witnesses can scarcely b.
imagined when the rore aetain broke
Sending The form OF Massie u :
heavily upon the floor beneath. This
tinle The lay unconscious. which was
a relief to the throng about him,
and III fifteen minutes after the
second accident the physicians pro.
aounced him dead.
Crimes for Which They Suffered.
The ernie for watch THO two
men forfeited their lives this morn.
Ing was one of the worst ever com.
ntitted in tlp;s section. On .Iltne 5.
1906, they shot and mortally wound-
Cd John Grubb, THE ageI storekeep-
er snnd postmaster OF Tuggles ana.
after Wbbing the premises, set fire
to the house, burning the old man
alive
Hill was captlred at Emporia,
Va, month or more arterwarl
and made complete confession i'm
pEcating Ruflin. He told where
The latter might DO found, and