The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-21

wns no bunEle. The sheriff and doctors
faced what occurred and adjusted
themselves to the eXigencics. While
all present regretted the breaking, mono
considered 1t bungle. What more
could our good sheriff linve doneY me
good people OF Farmville do not neeu
your sympathy. They prefer congratu-
lations upon having officers that APP
pretended ana brought to 1ustico Two
OF the most noted criminals tnls SUITS wv
ever had. The inhabitants OF Farm
VILE rested better last night wnen
they knew these notorious muroerers
were out Of the world
we have nothing to say for or
against your theory Of execution Mt
the penitentiary. but we must insist
that our. sheriff be exonorated from
the insinuation OF bunging; for no has
most enloiently and faithfully dis
charged his duty. and enjoys tho full
confidence Of his people.
After carefully reading tho report
sent you by your correspondcnt' we
oro unable to SOC upon what you hnso
your headlines. They do not sccn to
us to be Justified by the article.
WILLIAM j. GILLS, NJ. D.;
s. c. HATCHER.
N 3. DAVIDSON,
C. r. CRUTE, M. D.;
LESLIA. FOCUS.
Chbf OF Police;
p. II. c. RICE.
r. Il. HAMLET.
j. NJ I1ANILET.
The Times-D spntch did not censuro
the sheriff, but tho facts spoke for
themselves. When Massie Hill was
hung, the rope broke so easily that
.he man was not even stunned but at
once arose and was able to nacend
the scaffold for another drop. The
second rope broke In several places
so the report says, but this time the
man was not able to rise. and finally,
after tho lapse OF a quarter of an hour
gasped his last breath on the floor
whore he had fallen.
we did not say that the sheriff was
to blame: but If this was not bunEled
execution, what was II? bunglc. ac-
cording to our dictionary. is an inenl-
cicnt performance.
Our correspondent says that the first
rope was guaranteed, and protests with
artless. grim humor that 1t was tested
with the body OF Jesse Ruffin before
1t was tried on Massie Hill. Tho re-
suit showed. however, that in the lat
ter case the test had not been sufti-
c!ent. The sheriff's mistake was in not
testing the rope thoroughly before he
tried it on either man.
If he will affirm that he made such
test. we will cheerfully acquit him
tain that the execution was bungle,
according to the definition OF the
term in the dictionary
AS for the ungracious retort that
need your (our) sympathy" we have
only to say that our remark was made
IN criticism Of the custom of executing
criminals In the towns and cities In
stead of at the penitentiary, and in
tender consideration OF the refined
feelings of the good people of Farm
vile. We shall not take the dictum
Of eight indignant champions nf the
<
lie sentiment in Farmville on that
point We feel sure that the good
and refined people OF that genteel
community would not make so rude
| reply to a polite and sincere express
| sion of sympathy from respectable
| newspaper.
| Finally, lot us remind the sheriffs
champions that The Tmes-Dispatch
| had on a previous occasion offered, in
an editorial article its hearty con-
/. gratulutions to the authorities of
| Prince Edward for their admirable
work in experimenting and bringin.
| to trial the men who were afterwards
| convicted and hung, and commended
| the court for the manner in which Il
| had protected the innocent and metet
out justice to tho guilty It was
splendid example and vindication O.
Virginia justice. and II the condemned
men had been sent to the pcnitentiar,
to be executed. the authorities and cit
liens of Prince Edward had bee,
spared a terrible experience and tn
criminal records Of the State grve
some chapter. Tho lesson Is obvious
|