Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-05-14
HANGING OF LOVE ROBINSON.

Love ROBINSON, the negro boy, who
on the 26th Of April Of last year, kill
ed a little negro girl in Fort Mill
township named Lima Watson, paid
the penalty of his crime this morning
by being hung by the neck until he
was dead.
The hanging took place in the debt
or's room Of the county jail, in strict
accordance with the law, in the pres
ence of a number Of witnesses. The
drop fell at 1107, and death, which
resulted from strangulation, followed
within fifteen minutes, although to
make sure, the body was allowed to
hang for about fifteen minutes longer.
The instrument Of death consisted
of scaffold, supported by four legs,
with a platform on top, supported on
one side by hinges and on the other
with a rope. The moose was suspend
ed from the ceiling overhead and af-
ter 1t had been adjusted around the
condemned mans neck the trap was
sprung by cutting the supporting
rope with hatchet.
Led by Sheriff Brown and Deputy
Sheriff Quinn, Robinson came from
his cell with a firm, unwayering step,
and climbed to the position that had
been provided for him on top of the
death platform. He gave no sign of
fear or other emotion, but on the con-
trary appeared to be the coolest man
in the room. The work Of tying his
legs and adjusting the black cap con-
sumed something like a minute, and
during all that trying period the pris-
oner stood firm.
After all the preliminaries had been
arranged, Sheriff Brown said to the
negro in a kindly tone: Now, Love,
IL there Is anything you want to say,
you shall have an opportunity to say
It," The condemned man hesitated a
moment, and then said:
"I want to thank the sheriff and all
the rest Of you for being so kind to
me, and want you all to see where
I am for what I have done, and want
you to meet me in glory"
Then after a pause ne said to the
sheriff:
IT am ready to CO."
with hatchet in hand, Sheriff Brown
said, Good bye, Love-"
"Good bye, sheriff; good bye ALL
returned the negro.
There was a brief silence. 1t was
evident that the condemned man had
nothing more to say. This silence was
interrupted by the sudden swish OF
the hatchet, and the negro's BODY snot
down through the trap. 1t was per-
fectly still at first, but later there
were a few contortions of the body,
and these were followed by absolute
Hmiet until life finally fluttered out,
when DR.. Miles Walker, the county
physician, pronounced him dead.
There were several hundred people,
both white and colored, about the jail
on account Of the hanging. They were
allowed to go up into the jail be1ore
the hanging; but just before the time
for the execution everybody was ask
ed to get out except those to whom
the sheriff had previously EXTENDED
a special invitation or PERMISSION.
After the body had been hanging for
some minutes, the door was opened
and the crowd was allowed to come
in, view the hanging body ana ME
out.
The whole thing passed on In de-
cent and orderly manner. There was
no hitch anywhere. Although II was
evident that the job was g. very dis,
tasteful one to the sheriff, he showed
no signs of nervousness, and omltteo
no detail Of his duty, from the read
ing of the death warrant to the cut
ting of the rope and to treating the
curious crowd with all due and prop
er courtesy. ,oh
During his long Imprisonment, RoD,
inson had the ministration OF ReVs. II.
To- Gillespie and R. E. Sharpe, but tor
weeks past has received closer atten-
ton at the hands Of ministers OF MS
own race, Revs. ]. B. Middleton, M. A.
Murray and G. w. Jennings. He was
able to read and at the instance OF the
colored preachers, has repeatedly read
the 14th chapter Of John. The col
ored preachers say that he had quite
an intelligent idea Of what he read, ana
they believed that he was truly repen-
tant and entirely reconciled to his fate.
There were no friends Of the negro TO
take charge of his body, and 1t was
buried on the county home farm.