The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-08-18

there 30 1t was alleged. plotted for
Ltashiey's obstruction. MARGARET called
ner husband out In the YARD. ana
James Lylcs. with cheap pistol. shot
MIN. killing him almost instantly.
IL was several days before Margaret
Lashley and Jim Lyles were arrested
on suspicion. and the magistrate VINO
heard the preliminary case was about
70 dismiss them for lack of evidence.
have forgotten. and who was an eye
Witness, came into the courtroom ana
told the whole story In n most graphic
a ma sehsational way; The Two were
counsel having forgotten a number OF
postponcments. and worked In several
nelays OF one kind and another tlnaI,
~ they were convicted and sentenced
70 90 hanged. The case went TO the
supreme Court on appeal. but the
loWer court was sustained. and II was
more tnan two years before the cN-
treIne penalty of the law was Inflicted
The woman admitted her improper
relations with the negro Lyles, but TO
her last moment or earth denied that
she had entered into cons piracy to
murder her husband. and knew not
ihat Lyles intended to shoot him when
she called him into the yard. but SAID
she called him out to make friends
with him before she entered the house.
and before Lyles and two others OF
the dancers had lott her there alone
feared.
Sang Like n Bird.
The hanging took place on the bright
morning of the 22d of January. lSe2,
IN a high -plankcd iuciosurc to the rear
Of the Danville jail. and Sherin L. H.
Boisscau allowed only a limited num-
Der of witnesses and preachers within
Inc Enclosure. There Were extended
religious services 1T the toliows. con-
Quoted BY two colorcd preachers. Mar
saret Lashley had maSn!nrent con-
lralto voice. and having worked in the
tobacco factories OF Danville and sung
al Eh
the hymns in the books. and IT must
he certain that she never sang better
or sweeter than she did as she stood
on the Ballows that crisp January
morning. / remember one OF the hymns
the preacher lined out was
"Hark from the tombs a doleful sound.
My ear attend the cry,
Come wrctched man and view tho
where YOU must shortly lie"
and that was appropriate enough. per
haps, but j Thought something more
soothing might have suited better. Just
before the last hymn Vas sung Mar
saret Lashley made her dying state
ment. TO the effect have gwen above,
and then, OF her own accord. she COM
menced to sing the nyun; 1 Viii soon
be at rest over there The preachers
and OTHER good colored singers Jp'n.d
in. and ! am sure | never heard sweet
er singing in all my lie Every man
in the Enclosure was in tears before
tho hymn was completed. and throush
misty eyes they looked at the .calmest
person in the Observation-Disclosures
Lashley Every man asked himself
If it were possible tor a murderess to
sing so sweetly and so calmly a mo-
ment before an awful death. and
haNi always believed that IL al that
moment one ma. IN the crowd with
more courage than tho others mad
made vehement proposition to rescue
the woman Sheriff BOlsscau would nave
had diiiiculty. and "a good deal OF ii. in
carrying out the orders OF the court.
other women may have been hung
in Virginia in the foretlme. l don't
know. but these two executions of
females l do know all about