The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1922-12-20
INTERESTING COPY
OF NEWSPAPER
HAS BEEN FOUND
Tells of An Execution AT
Gate City. Va, Thirty
Eight Years Ago

brought TO the Herald courier ny '.
NJ. McGhee, of GOO Sixth Street,
Bristol. This issue carries news
story that is so old that it is new.
Possibly some of the older inhabi-
tants of Bristol and Gate City and
the vicinity will recall the incident.
This paper was published by J. b.
Adams and is on cold rose" tinted
paper. 1t has seven columns and is
we'll printed. Typographical error
cannot be found on the entire sheet.
This extra" edition occasioned by
the hanging of Wayne Powers, and
George Gibson convicted of killing
and burning the body of Will Glib
son, Chestnut Ridge, near the Russell
County line. The story MS it appear
ed in the extra of the Progressive
Age" in 1854 reads in part as fol-
lows
Wayne and Jonas Powers, two
brothers, and George and VIII Glib
son, the latter cousins had been alb
scented from the county for some
months, residing in West Virginia.
Las, spring they concluded to visit
their homes. and in company started
on their journey. On Saturday ev-
cning April 10, 1854, they stopped
at the house of John Ramey, and
purchased gallon OF brandy, and
then started for Chestnut Ridge, ~
ing close to the Russell line, where
quiet spot was chosen for the CON.
hitting OF the murder. Here the life
OF Will Gibson was taken by the men
now under the sentence OF death.
After the killing, rails and other
combustihlc matter We're piled upon
his remains in AN effort to destroy
the evidence of their crime by ere
mating the body OF their victim. The
next morning smoke was seen rising
from there, by S. p. Porter and wife
while going to preaching, and they
investigated the cause and found
portions OF the unconsumed body.
The news spread rapidly, and on
Monday Richard liagcr. Ambrose
Taylor, and Alex Austin had these
men nrrcsed on the charge Of having
killed Will Gibson. They We're taken
to Sinking Creek church, and an ex-
animation before Justice Ramsey
was held. They were bound over and
brought to Scott county, and lodged
in Jail on Wednesday, April %,
1854"
The Progressive Age" then tells
of the ,riul OF the men which only
consumed about week. the Jury in
each case reaching verdict Of gull
~ within a shor, time after leaving
the jury box The case was prosecut-
ed by Commonwealth Attorney Ma
jor Holloway, the men were defend
ed by Richmond and Duncan, and
John 7, Corn, Esq, Judge Kelley is
named rs the presiding judge.
The judges speech as he pronounc-
ed the death sentence on the prison
ers is given in its entirety and com
prises almost a column of small print |
In concluding he is quoted as saying
Though his cour; can see no relief
which can be legally extended 10
you; though no other human tribunal
may be able to grant you relief, yet
SO infinite is the mercy of God, that
even the darkest crimes do not close
the door Of hope TO those that APP
peal to him. Forgiveness and pardon
he gives to those even about TO perish |
on account of crime. il they APP
proach him in true contrtion and re- |
pentance. And now with the most |
profound regret that SO terrible .
duty must devolyc upon me, mus,
pronounce upon each the judgment
Of the law, which is that you each be
taken TO the county from whence you
came, and from thence to the place
OF execution. and on Friday the 9th
day Of February next, and there be
handged by the neck Till you are
dead, and may the Lord have mercy
on your souls"
The speech on the gallows by
George w Gibson one OF the con-
demned men is given in full, Gibson
attributes his crime 10 liquor saying
ne would never have killed Will Glib
son II he had been sober. He plead
earnestly for the people TO vote
liquor gu, OF the land, and declared
it to be root of all evil.
Wayne also made n long speech,
and warned against liuuor cards al nd