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THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION, NOVEMBER 29, 1881.
THE CONSTITUTION.
EnUMed .1 the Atlanta I’ost-oflioc oh second-class
matter, November 11,1878,
Weekly Constitution, price #1-1.0 per annum.
dubs ol twenty, $20, and a copy to the setter up
the club.
WEEKLY CONSTITUTION. SIX MONTHS, $1.00.
ATLANTA, GA„ NOV KM HER 20,1881.
Ilr.ArTin i. snow in the frozen cast.
Vf.nnob predicts another fall below zero.
Thursday night’s frost extended into
Florida.
Mb. Hill’s physicians assure him of his
complete recovery.
Tiif. rinderpest prevails to an alarming ex
tent in lower Austria.
The crank aimed at President Rlaneo, of
Venezuela, but foiled in his design.
The Irish judiciary are opposed to a sus
pension of the right of trial by jnry.
Richmond insists that she is not as badly
pitted with small-pox as she is accused of
being.
Thebe is only one thing so far perpetual
about Kecly’s motor, and that is its failure to
lie perpetual. _
The rivers in some of the western states are
overflowing their banks, and causing great
damage to proi*Tty.
Fashionable society in Washington must
!»c fed on excitement, even at the expense of
court-room associations.
The immense crowds that thronged the ex-
jxisitioa buildings all day yesterday attest
the great interest felt in it by the people.
Short coots and tight pants are prescribed
for the male sex the coining season. This
will set the average fat man off to advantage.
The defeat of the land leaguers in a - local
election in Cork, hitherto supposed to be firm
in its allegiance, may prove to he an im^brt-
aut indication.
The styles for children’s wear, described
elsewhere, are tasty and handsome, and will
engage the immediate attention of the moth
ers of the land.
The Chilians have arrested President Calde
ron, of Peru, as well as the minister of foreign
affairs. It looks as if Peru might as well go
•out of business. ....
The king of Bavaria has published a book
in Paris, in which ho severely denounces
Prince Bismarck. Ilis majesty is in the field
too late in the season.
The business men of New York evince a
dlsiiusition to laugh at Jay Gould’s proposi
tion to break np the stock exchange for one
more subservient to himself.
The murder of Lynch, at Oxford, North
Carolina, was a singularly brutal affair in its
execution. The two murderers were found
under a bridge dividing the booty.
Thebe is evidently a good deal of bad blood
among the municipal authorities of New
York city. Mayor Grace is denounced in un
measured terms by his opjKincnts.
The cotton planters of the Mississippi val
ley will be in Atlunta in full force on the Oth
of December. They will bo heartily welcome
to the Piedmont region of the south.
The sale of the South Carolina railroad
tinder the decree of the United States court,
lias been confirmed by Judge Bond, and the
conveyance to the purchasers has been duly
made.
Jay Gould is now going to have a little
stock exchange of hit own, conducted upon
principles congenial to himself. Jay is be
coming great enough to be allowed to wear a
stand-up collar.
Amoxo the other industries of Pennsylva
nia, that state boasts of a steer that can make
a mile in four minutes. It is doubtful wheth
er this allegation steers as close to the truth
as it should.
municipal election. Important issues will
come before the new council, and if our peo
ple wish to be worthily .represented they
should do their duty at the polls.
It will be a matter of congratulation that
the public schools will continue tlieir exer
cises even until December 15th, but the prop
er authorities should see to it as early as pos
sible that the schools should be kept running
the entire year round.
Gciteau is right when he insists that the
stalwart newspapers tiiat made such vindic
tive war upon the late president should share
with him the odium of the assassination.
The assassin only executed the thinly dis
guised suggestions of his party chiefs.
It is not often that the actual valuation of
property in cities proves to be greater than
the sanguine estimates placed upon it by the
taxing power, as lias been the case in Atlanta
for the past two years. The fact is that he
progress of Atlanta is beyond tho calculating
power of the city council or any other body.
Bill A bp hits at a genuine grievance when
lie speaks of people who spread their baggage
at large in railway trains, while others are
standing up for want of scats. Generally, it
is the ugliest woman *n the train who wants
to occupy two seats, which should accommo
date four persons, for herself and her band
boxes.
Another monopoly in an article of gene
ral necessity has been formed in Chicago,
where Mr. McCormick, the reaper manufac
turer, and Mr. Whitely, his rival in the same
business, have formed a partnership, thus
controlling the entire reaper business through
out the world. The firm is worth over $11 -
000,000.
The denth of Chipco, chief of the Tallahas-
sees, in Florida,' will recall momentary atten
tion to the disappearance of tho aboriginees
from this quarter of the continent. The In
dians of Georgia and Florida made a brave
resistance to the encroachments of the ag
gressive pale-face, but the children of the for
est were steadily driven back until now but a
few scattered remnants of tribes remain
where once they ruledin lordly sovereignty.
It is intimated from Washington that Sec
retary Folgcr will depart from the ways of
his predecessors, and pursue a policy that
will be at once bold and aggressive. Instead
of keeping large sums of money locked up
in the treasury, he will pay it out and keep it
in circulation. It is also stated that when
bo wants bonds he will go into the market
and purchase them to the best advantage.
The people of Meriwethcrcounty arc taking
steps for the building of a branch railroad
from Chiplcy, tlie,tcrminus of the Cojnmbus
and Rome railway, to Chalybeate springs, by
way of the White Sulphur and Warm springs.
$35,000 have already been subscribed toward
the project. It is understood that the Colum
bus and Rome company will iron and stock
the branch line. The opening of this road
will add largely to the trade of Columbus.
THE NOOSED NECKS
An important debate took place in the
German roichstag yesterday, on the social and
financial policy of the government, in which
the opposition claim to have gained consider
able advantage.
The graveyard insurance business lias taken
a fresh start in Pennsylvania. All that an
enterprising young man in that state has to
do to get rich is to insure all his decrcpid and
tottering relatives, and then fold his arms
and wait for them to dio.
The meeting of tho National dairymen’:
association, to be hold here during the expo
sition, will be one of tho most important
gatherings of the season. F.very one is inter
ested in butter nnd cheese, as well as olco-
margerine.
Tub hounds in Ireland are coming in for a
little of the popular indignation Over five
hundred people attacked the Ayinagh hunt
club, at the classic prccinet of Bally Mac-
N«bb, and made sad havoc with the horses
and hounds.
The recent evidence of the mental derange
ment of Mrs. Christiancy will attract renewed
interest in her case. The humble treasury
girl was much happier than the wife of the
gouty old Bluebeard from Michigan.'
The greatest day of the entire season will
bo the farmers’ and planters’ day, December
6th. The attendance will be huger than on
any previous occasion, and the importance
of tho gathering cannot lie over-estimated.
The Turkish government has called upon
tho bey of Tunis for a large indemnity
eiaimed to be due the refugees front Sfax, who
were damaged by the French bombardment.
The matter has been referred to the French
minister.
T Wagner, the Maryland damage swindler,
has come to tho end of his rascality. The en
forcement of his executions has been en
joined, and he has been mulcted in costs to
sum that will require his attention for some
time to come.
DAnLONBOA furnishes the world this morn
ing with several choice pieces of criminal
news. One killing, one case of stabbing, the
admission of a prisoner to hail for alleged
• murder during the war, etc., constitute the
burden of the story.
The news from Peru shows a most distress
ing state of affairs. Pierola is at the head of
one government, nnd Cajcleron is at the head
of the other, while the country itself is being
devastated by the conquering Chilians. The
Chilians are ready to consider peace proposi
tions. but the fact that Pern has no fixed gov
ernment with which to treat renders nego
tiations very difficult. In this emergency
some of the Chilian statesmen propose an oc
cupation of Peru for five years, when air elec
tion should take place for president and con
gressmen. Pern is certainly in a critical and
unhappy condition.
Mb. J. Stanley Brown, private secretary of the
late President Garfield, is about to go into the bank
ing business in Washington. Mr. Brown is a very
young man, but he seems to have accumulated just
enough money to keep him otT the lecture plat
form.
Now that tho cold weather is coming on, nnd lawn
tennis is no longer profitable, the English colony
at Rugby will find it difficult to make a support.
Accordino to Mr. Barker, of Maine, tho factory
managed by cx-Govemor Bullock is badly in need
of protection. Is Mr. Barker right? We know of
no other reason why the cx-govemor should be
spread-eagling in a convention of monopolists at
Chicago.
TnE statement ts made that Howard Carroll is to
be President Arthur’s private secretary. Such an
appointment os this will certainly be a step in tho
direction of reform. Cnrroll has written many hard
things about the south, and yet, strange as it may
seem, the southern man who calls at tho white
house when Carroll is in charge, will find a friend
at court. President Arthur would have to search
far and wide to find material for a better appoint
ment than this.
Brother Talmage is vehemently opposed to a too
vicious use of tobacco. This is all well enough; btit
did Brother Talmage ever put a quid on a hot shovel
and muster about the house to drive out the mos
quitoes? If he never did, he is not qualified to give
ndvico in such delicate matters.
THAT GAVE WAY TO THE PRES-
'SURE OF HEMP.
South Carolina Leads off with the Largest Delrga-
gation. While Georgia and Tennessee Follow-
History ot the Crimes for Which the
Victims Forfeited Their Lives.
South Carolina.
WHY HENRY JOHNSTON WAS nANOED.
Sumter, November 25.—[Special.]—Henry John
ston, colored, was hung in the jail yard of this
county to-day at 12:30 o’clock. The gallows was of
the old-fashioned kind, and it} accordance with a
law of this state the execution was private, only the
officers of the law, the representatives of the press
and a few citizens being present. The prisoner was
brought out of his cell a about 12
o’clock. He was accompanied by the
Catholic priest and a colore reacher,
with the usual guard. He ascended the scaffold
witn a firm step and failed to make any address
which it was rumored would be a long one. He
had slept well, had eaten very heartily and seemed
calm and collected. The sentence of the court was
read by the deputy sherifT; the priest spoke a few
words to the convict. He then asked the sheriff in
a whisper not to let his body fall when cut down,
and not to forget to mail some letters which he had
written to friends. Tho fatal noose was placed
around his neck, the black cap
covered his entire head and face, and at twenty
five minutes past twelve he was hung. After a
lapse of five minutes the doctor examined him and
found him still alive. He had struggled a great
dca] fora few minutes, but had become quite still.
After hanging eignt miuutes longer the body was
cut down and placed in a plain coffin. It was then
again examined and the neck was found to be
broken. Father McNeil took charge of the body,
no relation being on hand to claim it. The weather
asextremely cold last night; wc had for the first
time a killing frost and heavy ice formed. As we
returned from the jail yard we heard of the arrival
of another colored prisoner charged with murder
in tills vicinity.
Both the prisoner and his victim were negroes,
and the trial of the case developed the system of
voudoolsm or feticism, to which their race is still
addicted in some of the southern states. The pris
oner, before his trial, made a full confession, which
was put iu evidence. He stated that he was in love
with the wife of the deceased—a woman about 25
years of age—the prisoner being nearly 40. She re
pelled his advances, and ho sought tho aid of a
conjurer, one Orange Isaacs, an aged negro. The so-
called conjurer gave him a charm, known in the
language of negro witchcraft as a “hand” com
posed of various articles, viz: beeswax, foxes’ hair.
littlo sand from the shoe of tho person intended
to be acted on, and a drake's foot all sewed np in a
small cotton bag. lie was told to wear It next to his
skin over his heart for one week, and the woman
would love him. He did so, and at the end of the
week reported to the conjurer that the womau had
confessed her love for him, but had refused to ac
cept him as his paramour unless her husband sep
arated from her. The conjurer then gave John
ston another charm designed to alienate tho hus
band from the wife. It was worn the piescribed
time, but be reported that the woman and her
husband continued to live happily together,
and that the charm would not
work. The conjurer replied that Davis must be
possessed by a devil, and tbut he would give John
ston u charmed bullet, which he must put iu his
gun and fire at Davis’s head as he passed from the
wood iu which he was working towards his home,at
sun down the next evening. Johusion cb
iected, that if he killed the man the
aw would hang him if he was found
out. His fears on this head were allayed by the
conjurer giving him another charm, which he said
would be prout against the law,- and that no judge
or jury would convict him while he wore it upon
his person. Thus fortified, Johnston shot Davis
through the head the next evening, kilting him iu
stoutly, and covered his body with leuves in the
wood near the spot where he fell. He then pro
ceeded to the house of tho deceased and
was received and welcomed by the widow, and
domiciled himself iu me place of the dead man.
The brother of the deceased, suspecting from bis
absence that he had been the victim of foul play,
and finding Johnston iu possession of his house,
hud him arrested on suspicion of murder. Thu
body was found covered up us described, on the
fourth day alter the killing.
Goteac is an entertaining witness. He confess
es that the editorial in the stalwart organs denounc
ing the president led him to commit the crime of
assassination. This shows .that the organs have
considerable influence in current politics.
THEREarcsixty thousand drummers in the United
States. Jhe armament of each consists of one dia
mond pin, four satchels, and two iron-clad trunks.
Tledoer is now figuring in the northern papers
as “a colored man named Pleasure.” Pleasure and
Colonel Jack Brown arc endeavoring to get up a
correspondence with the president in regard to get
ting a southern republican in the cabinet, but the
president doesn't seem inclined to enter into any
correspondence.
Some of our esteemed contemporaries have stop
ped their presses in honor of thanksgiving day; but
The Constitution, like the weather, comes along
every day iu the week except blue Monday.
The fact that the Hon. Bill Jones, who attempted
to assassinate the prison van in which Gulteau was
journeying, has been released on ball will cause a
thrill of gratifiimtion to run up and down the back
bone of the country. It ts well known that there
are already too few BUI Joneses in the repubUc.
Guiteau is of the opinion that he has the Lord as
well as the stalwarts on his side. He is certainly
correct as to the stalwarts.*
The citizens of Atlanta should not fail to
register in order to be entitled to vote at the ' as the present fall has been.
General Lomgstreet announced in Washington
the other day (bathe doesn't see any sign of Ma-
honelsm in Georgia The fact is quite a tribute to
the common sense of our people.
The inflamed critics who were recenUy sounding
war's alarum on their tin-horns and shaking the
bloody shirt on their persimmon poles because Gen
eral Sherman ventured to visit Atlanta, have now
The prisouerconfessed the deed, and was'jfiSiced
on trial before Judge Mackey, of Sumter,- on the
first Wednesday In last tnou h. The trial drew an
Immense throng of negroes to the court-house,
whose faith in the power of the conjurer saUsfied
them that the prisoner would not be convicted
His faith was strengthened by the fact that
two of Uto jurors emp.-umcled in the
case, one a negro and the other a white
mau, were taken suddenly ill, and two others had
to be substituted in their stead. The jury, as finally
organized, consisted of nine whites and three
blacks. The prisoucr wasably defended by Messrs.
Ba*rou and Beard, and the trial occupied the entire
day. The jury were out but ten minutes, and re
turned with a verdict of “guilty.”
Tno verdict was received with exclamations
of surprise from many of the negroes present. They
thought it was impossible to convict Johnston while
he wore the “charm” given him by Orange Isaacs,
and were at a loss to explain how his conviction
had been accomplished. The prisoner was brought
before the judge for sentence and was asked if he
had anything to sayTvhy the sentence of death
should not be pronounced. To this he replied that
he was anxious for the court to give him as much
time as possible, ior that powers (which were un
known to the court and jury) were at work which
would yet save him. Judge Mackey sentenced him
to be hanged to-day.
RICHARD JAMES’S EXPIATION.
Marion, S. C., November 25.—[Special.]—Richard
James was hanged here at 12:57 o’clock to-day for
the murder of Mr. David Merrlwether Harrell.
The history of the crime for which he paid the
penalty is as follows: Shortly after dark in the
evening of August 9th, 1880, Mr. David Merriwether
Harrell, one of the most estimable citizens of this
county, was foully murdered while he was going
home along one of the public streets of the town.
As he was passing the Presbyterian church he was
suddenly felled to the ground by the blow of an
assassin that had lain in wait for him. Mr. Harrell
was in his thirty-third year, and had been a resi
dent of Marion for thirteen years. He was bora
in an adjoining county and was reared in wealth
and luxury. He was graduated from the youth
Carolina college, and was regarded as a scholarly
gentleman. Besides being a merchant he was su
perintendent of all the public schools in the county
at the time he was slain. life was kind hearted,
inoffensive, and had not an euemy in the World,
save the black skinned and blacker hearted villain
that took his life. When struck down to the earth
he uttered a cry for help, but another blow from
his assassin's hatchet hushed his voice forever.
Persons iu the street heard the noise and hastened
to the spot from whence it emanated to find the
worst fears corroborated. In a pool of blood lay
poor Harrell in a dying condition. Several persons
were seen to run away in the darkness, but they
could not be identified. The stricken man was
borne ou a mattress to his home a few blocks away,
when his fond wife and seven prattling children
rent the air with their lamentations. In ten minutes
Harrell was dead.
A- soon as the tragedy became known excitement
tan high and crowds started out in all directions
to scour the town and country for the murderers.
'About three hours after Harrell’s death three negro
brothers—Bea James, Bichard James and Lewis
James were arrested on suspicion of being the
gnilty parties. They were brought here and
S laced in one of the most secure cells iu the jail.
ear midnight the jail’was surrounded by an infu
riated mob composed of whites and blacks, old aud
young. They demanded the suspected negroes and
threatened to hang them from three large trees on
the public square. Thesheriffand jailer, withgreat
bravery aim firmness, refused to give up his pris
oners and defied the lynchers to take them out.
Some of the rash young men of the party were pre
paring to force an entrance into the building, when
the opportune arrival of a committee of distin
guished and influential citizens caused a cessation
of hostilities. The mob were importuned with and
dissuaded from carrying out their rash designs,
after which they quietly dispersed, leaving the ter
rified trio i n the hands of the officers, who promised
to prevent their escape.
The court of general sessions met here in No
vember, JSsO, and the James brothers were placed
in the prisoners’ dock. Such was the excitement
and so bitter the prejudice against the defendants
that it was impossible to obtain an unbiased jnrv to
try the case. It was therefore decided to continue
the case until the next term of the court, when it
was again taken up. and a jury impanelled without
difficulty. The trial lasted a week, and the court
room was continually thronged with eager crowds,
who listened to the details with absorbing interest.
Two able young lawyers of the Marion bur under
took the defense of the prisoners snd worked ear
nestly and conscientiously to save them. The tea-
turned into court with a verdict of “gulltv”
as to Ben and Kichard, but “not guilty” asto Lew
is—the youngest of the three.
The judge, in passing sentence, took occasion to
compliment the attorneys for the defease for the
ability they had displayed in their couduct of the
difficult case. He informed them that the prisoners
had been proved guilty beyond a doubt, and it
would be useless to make any further efforts in their
behalf. He then passed death sentence to be exe
cuted the 3d of last June. Upon this day Ben
James was duly hanged, but at the hist moment the
governor granted Uichard a reprieve. Kichard, on
some technicality, succeeded iu obtaining a new
trial. In March last the court again met here, and
after an imi>artial trial. Richard James was again
convicted. The judge sentenced him to be hauged
here to-day.
Richard James was a most repulsive looking
creature as he treaded the gallows. Meanness was
clearly marked lu every lineament of his face, lie
looked like Guiteau done up iu mud. He was
about 35 years old. nearly six feet tall, and did not
weigh more than 129 pounds.
For the fourth time the same hangman’s rope was
used by the sheriff to day, and the same rope that
sent Ben James to eternity was used to-dav in the
execution of his brother Riebard. Without any
signs of fear for the fate before him. Richard
James marched to the Fcaffold and
met his doom, still protesting his innocence of the
crime for which he was convicted. He received a
large number of his friends in A room in the jail,
where he was placed after eating a hearty break
fast. The usual religious services were conducted,
and at 12:45 he was taken to the scafl'old. stopping
on the way to speak to the large crowd assembled
before the jail. Before the fatal noose was adjusted
he said that he had nothing more to say than he
had already said. At 12:57 the drop fell. His neck
was not broken, and he struggled violently for sev
eral minutes. At 1:30 he was pronounced dead and
delivered for burial.
SQUIRE CLARKE’S NEW dlANCR
COLUMBIA, S. C., November25.—[Special.]—Squire
Clark, a negro murderer, who was sentenced to be
hanged to-day at Lexington, in this state, has been
respited until the 23d of December by Governor
Hagood.
The Gallows in Georgto.
SANG ARMOR’S SWING.
Ceawfordville, Ga., November 25.—[Special.]—
Amos Ellington was an old and respected citizen of
Taliaferro county. He had lived there a number
oFyears, was known among the people as a man of
quiet and unobtrusive habits, whose only failing
was a love for drink. He owned property, near
Crawfordville, amounting to some four hundred
and twenty-five acres. Most of this land
was covered with wood, from the sale of which he
mainly subsisted. He was unmarried, and lived
alone in a small house a short distance from town.
Some of his laud he cultivated to a small extent,
and for this purpose he employed a few negro
hands, among whom was Sang Armor.
This man was more liked by Mr. Ellington than
any of his other employes, and it was very seldom
he came to town—as he did every Saturday—unless
Armor accompanied him, and it was Mr. Ellington’^
invariable custom upon the sale of the wood they
brought, to take Sang into some bar and liberally
treat him to whisky. Why there should have been
all this friendship on the part of Mr. Ellington for
a negro so'wholly brutal as tno man was upon wnom
ho lavished his kindness, there has been many
reasons given. Borne say Mr. Ellington had been
on exceedingly intimate termB with the wife of
Armor, aud. In fact, was the father of an illegitimate
soti bom to the woman. Be this as it may, the in
timacy between the brutal negro and Mr. Elling
ton existed. No one thought anything of it. It was
an accepted fact.
On Wednesday, thcGth day of April, of the pres
ent year. Bang Armor drove into Crawfordville
with a load of wood, and sold it to Mr. Hal Flynt.
Mr. Flynt, surprised at not seeing Mr. Ellington
with him, asked Sang where was his employer. The
negro hesitated, and iinully said, that Mr. Ellington
was iu the upland overseeing the hands splitting
rails. His reply was taken as the truth,
and nothing more was thought of the
matter. Saturday came. Contrary to his custom,
Mr. Ellington aid not come to Crawfordville. Sus
picion was aroused. It was an almost unheard-of
thing for Mr. Ellington not to visit town on Batur-
day. The following moining some of the young
men. thinking perhaps Mr. Ellington might be ill,
and knowing the lack of attention he would have,
walked out to his house. The doors and windows
were shut, aud the house bore the appearance of
desertion. They opened the shutters. The room was
unoccupied, the floor was cleanly swept, the bed
unrumpled This looked strange. The crowd sep
arated into squads, aud began to scour the woods.
In a short time a hallo .was heard from one of the
squads. The others rushed to the spot. There in
the middle of the road leading up from mead
ows and through the woods, lay Amos Ellington
dead.
A wagon and a pair of oxen stood by. The lines
were thrown loosely over. a small stump. The
ground around was trampled and niuiked with the
tracks of the wagon wheels. Mr. EUington lay
back.
-ru- i... i. v uv _. , * | timony adduced against the defendants, while
subsided. This is as it should bo. There is noth- purely circumstantial, was nevertheless deemed
ing more horrifying than manifestations of rapine ' irresistible, and the court, jury and casual listen-
and slaughter lu a season as balmy and as peaceful thoroughly convinced of the de
fendant*' guilt. The jury, after remain
ing in the room three hours.
prone upon his back. Ilis left hand grasped a
whip, his right was lightly crossed over his breast.
His feet were crossed, and hishead turned one side.
Borne one raised him. The sight was a sickening
one. His right jaw was crushed and covered with
clotted blood. A tiny hole under the left ear
show ed where a pistol bail had entered. The wagon
wheels were spott'-d nnd the ground was stained
with drops of blood. The dead man lay rigid and
cold, his eyes staling, wide open and glassy. There
were no indications of a struggle. He had been
murdered without even otic chance to defend him
self.
A messenger was sent at once to Crawfordville.
Tho coroner, accompanied by a crowd of excited
people, soon arrived. An inquest was held, Two
physicians made a post mortem examination. The
result of the Inquest was that Mr. Ellington had
come to his death from the eli'ects of a blow from an
ax given by “some person or persons unknown.”
The excitement and iudignation ran high. That
so innocent aud inoffensive a man should
have been sj foully murdered, elic
ited but one expression from the ptop.e
that the murderer sfiould be hunted down and
made to suffer. Speculations were mad-. Out no
cluoeould be gained as towho committed the deed.
Messrs. W esley Wright nnd Bam Rhodes, of Craw
fordville, took the matter in hand. They traced
some unknown man os far as Macon; but they soou
saw he would have had no object in killing
Mr. Ellington save money. Mr. Ellington
never had any money, save some ninety-five dol
lars, found in his house, and this money, he bad
stated only a short time before, he intended to pay
to Mr. W. K. Gunn oil a note held by him against
Mr. Ellington. Theu the matter of Bang Armor
came to light. He was arrested. To Mr. Wright
and Mr. Rhode? he confessed the crime. He said
that two men of Taliaferro had bribed him to do it.
Before his preliminary trial, which oc
curred in May, he made another statement. Then
he stated that Aleck Stevens, a young wht.e man.
and George Jones, a negro, had helped him do it.
Jones had held the oxeu. Bang struck him with an
ax, and Stevens shot him. Jones and Stevens were
arrested. What gave face to this was the rumor
that William Stevens, a brother ot Aleck, had at
one time intended to go into business with Mr.
Julius Jordan. In the formation of the partner
ship William Stevens, so said report, had offered
as collateral for his share in the business a note on
Amos Ellington, in favor of Aleck Stevens, for $800.
George Jones was a witness to this note It was
further said that Mr. Ellington had denied the
genuineness of such a note. And another rumor
that Mr. Ellington had shortly before his death
received 31,500 from some source, after his
death Aleck Stevens had gone to Augusta aud
deposited some money in a bank there. Jones and
Stevens were taken to Wurrcutou. A preliminary
trial was held. No evidence could be gained. The
existence of the note could not be proved, and the
money deposited by Stevens was the proceeds of the
sale of some property by his mother. They were
discharged from custody. The pre
liminary trial of Sang Armor then took
place, in the evidence it wus shown that he had
been seen last with Mr. e.lliugtou. He had sold to
Mr. Julius Jordan a bucket known to be the proper
ty of the dead man. He had a pair of shoes that be
longed to Mr. Ellington, together with a single-
bafreled shot-gun. The link of circumstan
tial evidence was complete. Bang Ar
mor was bound over to the superior court
for the murder of Amos Ellington. In the final
trial, at the August term of Taliaferro superior
court, the same facts were adduced, and the negro
was condemned to be hung on the 21st of October.
He was remanded to jail, and everv’hing moved
smoothly on until about the middle of October,
when Crawfordville was again thrown into astir
by the presence of three detectives. It was re
ported that they had come for the purpose of thor
oughly sifting the case, and that they had accumu
lated facts sufficient to make things whrm, save
Sang Armor’s neck, and in his stead two other men
would hang. -The people discussed the matter
freeiy. As to Armor’B guilt, few, if any, had
doubts. He had again said that he was
the onlv one interested, and that he had
killed Mr. Ellington without premeditation
That he had asked Mr. Ellington to pay him some
money, he had refused to do so and he had killed
him.
Under a petition, signed by some prominent men
of Taliaferro, who wished the matter settled for
once and for all, together with an affidavit from Mr.
James W. Edge, the administrator on Mr.
Ellington’s estate, (in which he stated evi
dence he had sufficient to convict other
parties). Judge Pottle recommended a id the gov
ernor, under this recommendation, respited Sang
Armor until the 25th of November. This was on
Wednesday prior to the time first set for the execu
tion. Close upon this respite came the arrest of
A'.eck Stevens and Jeff Adams, a negro. They were
taken to Warrenton, brought back to Crawfordville
Saturday, and on the following Thursday
their preliminary trial was held. In this trial no
evidence was adduced save another statement from
Sang Armor, in which he implicated the two par
ties. No dependence could be put in his statements,
however, the cose of the state fell through, and
Stevens and Adams were released.
Nothing was left Bang Armor tnen but the dread
certainty of an awful death. The judge sent him
back to jail, there to be held until the 25th of No
vember. The crime had fastened Itoe.f aro “”5
him. he was bound about with it from his own tes
timony, and no hope of escape was left him. tnt-
excitement died down, the town again became
quiet, and all thoughts of the brutal murderer
passed out of tbe minus of the people.
Thursday night was Bang Armor's last night on
earth ‘ „ .,
He spent the most of the night in prayer. He said
that he was occasionally disturbed by the freignt
trains. This morning he was very unconcernedly
eating peanuts. He said that he was ready to go.
At 12:20 the sheriff, accompanied by his deputies
nnd a guard of a hundred men, took Armor from
the jail. He was neatly dressed in a suit of new
clothes. At the head of the jail steps he saul:
“Ladies and gentlemen, farewell forever. He
mounted the coffin and was driven to the tiling-
ton meadow. About 1,000 or 1,200 people
were present. Some little excitement
was caused by the people in
the crowd asking questions. The prisoner mounted
the gallows calmly. He made his statement and
said: “I am ready to go, ladies and gentlemen.
Jesus Christ died for me. I’ve got to work for Him
forever.” _ „ ,,
Voice—What made vou kill Mr. Ellington? Tell
the truth. Five minutes to live. Tell the truth.
Bang—I can’t answer for nobody's sins but my
own.
The sheriff ordered the guardto stop the conver
sation. , ,
At 12:45 the nonse was adjusted. Sang took it
coolly and assisted in its adjustment. His
last words were: “Lord have mer—
The drop fell at one o’clock. At eight minutes
after he dropped his pulse was 75; at fifteen min
utes it was 40. and at twenty he was dead. At twen
ty-five minutes after he was cut down. His neck
was not broken, and the cause of death was stran
gulation.
Tennessee Throat-Throttling.
JOE HARRIS TELLS THE STORY OF HIS CRIME AND DIES.
Knoxville, November 25.—[Special.]—Joe Harris,
the Marble Hall murderer, was hanged to day at
Rogersvillc at 1:30 p.m. in the presence of three
thousand people. He was terribly agitated when
taken to the scaffold, and in attempting to make a
confession broke down completely, after speaking
five minutes. Harris made a full confession las
ght iu jail to the Tribune reporter. He said he
killed Brown and Hcek in self-defense. He
said the three played cards late on
the night of the killing, and that
all were under the influence of whisky. They dis
agreed over the game. Brown slapped Harris and
drew a butcherknife on him. Harris struck Brown
with a billet of wood, knocking him into the fire.
Heck started at Harris, when the latter knocked
him back on the bed. Harris theu pulled Brown
out of the lire, and threw him on the bed. He did
not set the bed on fire. It must have caught from
Brown’s clothing. Harris was scared, mid put on
hisown and Brown’s coat and ran out. Ueweutlnto
the field, got sober, and found the money iu the
pocket of Brown’s coat. Harris professed religion
while in jail.
Marble Hull is one of the most remarkable curios
ities to be found in East Tennessee. It is in Haw
kins county, about 70 miles from Knoxville, aud
four miles from the little town of Rogersvillc. It
was erected iu LM6, by Orville Rice, anu eo*t $16,000
in money, besides the labor of himself and regular
farm hands. A11 the material used iu the struct
ure was obtuined on the turm except the nulls,
glass and [mint. It is built of brick and finished
with marble in the most elegant style of those days.
1 he building is 56 feet long, 52 feet wide aud 60
feet high, being four stories. In front, there is a
magnificent murble portico 21x16 feet, approached
by a flight of broad marble steps. A white gravel
walk leads up to the portico and a stone wall, six
feet high, surrounds the yard which is adorned
with a beautiful grove of young forest trees. From
the portico is a splendid view of the Hol
t-ton river which at that place is flowing
towards the northwest. The south side of the
river is lined with rough, rocky bluffs, several
hundred feet high. The most remarkable fentur* s
of the surroundings of Murble Hall are two rou- d
knobs directly in front of the building aud only a
few yards distant. They are at least 200 feet high,
and between them is the road to the river. North
of the hall is a long, high ridge, the base of which
comes down nearly to tlie house. Between the two
knobs and the river stretches out IU) aeres of fertile
river bottom.
Orville Rice, who built Marble Hall, for many
years prior to 1846 kept a store and an itin at this
place. It was on tbe main thoroughfare and was
the stopping and trading place for travelers aud
drovers. He did a large business, employing as
many as teu clerks in his store, and in a few years
accumulated a snug fortune This he spent iu
building Murble Halt. He built it for a dwelling
aud' tavern. In a few years the East* Tonne--
see railroad was built and Marble Hall
was left teu miles to the north of it. This ruined
Rice, and ill a short time he was compelled to sell
his splendid property at a sacrifice, and a few years
later he died iu poverty.
Up toaboutu year ago John Brown and his family
and his sou Charlie with his young wife had been
livingfor several yeursat Marble Hall. The Browns
decided to go into a manufacturing enterprise, and
they exchanged the Marblu Hull property for prop
erty iu Bristol. Early in November the families
were moved to the latter place, leaving Charlie u;
the Hall to close up the furmlhg business and sell
off some stock.
On Wednesday before the killing Charlie Brown
went to vthitesburg with u drove of hogs, and An
drew J. Hick and Joseph Harris were employtd to
help drive them. The hogs were sold, and Brown
received therefor $263.
Charlie Brown spent Friday night at the house
of his father-in-law, about five miles from
Marble Hall.' While there he counted
his money in the presence of his father-ln-luw. The
latter also paid him ten dollars 111 small bills.
Among these was a $2 bill with a yellow stain on
one comer
On Monday Brown loaded his wagon with house
hold plunder preparatory to leaving for Bristol
early next mo.niiig. Andy Hick had been em
ployed to go with him. The two men slept that
night In the front room of Marble Hall on the first
floor to the right of the hallway. William Price and
his son Jacob spent a short time with them after
supperbut left ut 8 o’clock, going to his own house,
which was on the opposite side of the road. Tsis
was the night of the 22d ef November, 1880. Mr.
Blackly, who had purchased Marble liall, had
already moved part of his family. That night Mrs.
Blackly and three children and Mrs. Price slept in
Marble Hall iu a back room on the first floor. Brown
bad been boarding with Price since his family hud
gone to Bristol and that night he told Price he
wanted breakfast before daylight in ordBr to get an
eurly start.
During the night Mr. Price had occasion to go out
on his front porch, and looking across towards the
H 11 saw a light iu Brown’s room. Thinking that it
must l*e neatly day. Price went back into his house,
made a fire and told his daughter to get up and
prepare breakfast, lie then went out to call Brown,
but as soon as he got outside smelled something
burning and went back to see if it was anything iu
his house. Finding nothing, he went outaud called
Brown but received no answer, lie called several
times and then w* nt over and knocked at the Hall
door, but could not arouse any one. The odor of
burning wool was In the air, and going around to
the end of the house, Price saw in Brown’s room a
faint glimmer of light. He called again but received
no response. He found all the outside doors locked.
He next went to the back of the house and called
his wife telling her tqget ud and assistiu preparing
breakfast. She replied tha't it was too early, the
clock having just struck one. He told her he
smelled something burning, and thought it must
Tn Brown’s room. She aud Mrs. Blackly opened t
back door and let Price In. He went immediately
to Brown’s room and found It full of smoke, though
there was no flame. He rushed in. and stooping
down, put his hand on one of the men. He seized
the body under the arms and started to carry it out,
but tite man’s flesh wosso hot that he dropped him
immediately, and then dragged him out Into the
hall by the hair. This was Andrew Hick, and he
was dead and stiff. He was lying on the bed on his
back in a natural position with his arms by his
side. Price rushed back into the room and found
Brown lying across the foot ot the bed on his face.
He was yet limber, and Price dragged him out by
the ana! Price supposed that the men hud been
stifled and burned to death, but when
Mrs. Blackly brought a light he dis
covered that they had been murdered.
Hick’s face was covered with blood and a great gash
had been cut above the eye as with an ax. The in
strument had sunk deep into his head, killing him
instantly. He was burned almost to a crisp from
his hips* down and ail the clothing had bunted
from his body, and his right ear was burned off.
His legs had burst and the flesh was frying. Brown
was horribly burned on the back. There was blood
on the left side of his head and a horrible gash
above the ear. The blow had crushed bis skull
separating It into two portions, the fracture extend
ing all the way round nis head. The clothing had
all burned up and the bed was entirely consumed,
except ih small strips immediately under the
bodies of tbe men and the floor had nearly bunted
through in several places. The murdered men had
bled profusely, and great pools -*f blood were on
the floor by the bedside. The bed had been made
down on the floor.
A close examination of the premises showed that
the murderer must have entered through a base
ment window, and up the basement stairway, and
made his exit the same way. No tmoe of him was
found and the instrument with which the deed
was done could not he discovered. The news of
the murder spread like wildfire and in a short time
the sheriff aud several hundred citizens were
scouring the country iu every direction in search of
the murderer.
Thomas Lawson, who lives nine miles from Mar-
hle Hall, revealed the first circumstance which led
to the capture. About daylight on the Tuesday-
morning of the murder, Joe Harris had stopped at
Lawson's for breakfast. While there he gave Law-
son a half dollar and he went and procured some
whisky, v.-liich Harris partook of freely. He asked
Lawson to help him count some money. Lawson,
not having Ilia spectacles, could not see to count it,
but he noticed that Harris had a large roll of green
backs. which he said he had made gambling.
From Law-sou’s Harris went across Clinch moun
tain, about twenty miles, to the home
of Jacob Rimer, his step-father. He
gave his mother an overcoat which
he was wearing, telling her to put it avray. He
then went off Later in the day when the sheriff’s
posse came to Rimer’s in search of Harris, the coat
was shown to them and it was identified os the
property of Charles Brown.
Further search was made for Harris, nnd that
night ho was captured by Shuriff Blevins at the
houseof a woman naroed-Burtou. He made no re
sistance. He was searched and $253 found on his
person. Upon being questioned, lie said he had
earned the money at work. He was accused of the
murder but bitterly denied it. He fiually said that
a trump had given him the money; that he was
coming from Rogersvillc Monday night and fell iu
with a tramp, and that tho two walked ou together
until they came to Marble hall, when the tramp
went in telling Harris to wait on the outside; that
the tramp soon came out, handed Harris the pocket-
book and tolu him to walk on down the road and
he would overtake him; that the tramp went back
into the house aud was seeu notnore,
The prisoner was confined in the Hawkins county
nil nnd at first it was feared that he would be
lynched, so great was the public iudignation at the
unprovoked murder.
At the next term of the circuit court in Hawkins
county. In February, 1881, Joe Harris was tried for
his H e charged with the murder of Charles M.
Brown The trial attracted large crowds of people
from all over East Tennessee. Harris w«8 convict
ed and was sentenced by Judge Hacker to hang on
Friday April 1. Harris was convicted entirely on
circumstantial evidence. The money found on
his person was clearly identified, as belonging to
Brown, the stained $2 bill being accurately de
scribed bv Brown’s father in-law. The overcoat
and a knife found in Harris’s possession were also
identified as Brown's property.
Harris appealed to the supreme court, and at
oxville in October the lower court was sustained
Hnrris condemned to hang on Fridny, Novcm-
25,1881.
Joseph Harris was a young man 2o years
old. He was poor, and had grown
up in ignorance, never having learned to read until
after he was confined in jail for the murder of
Brown. He was not considered a bad man, though
he was rathe: worthless. He was rather a good
looking man, and if well dressed would have pre
sented a handsome appearance. The crime for
which he to-day suffered death was probably liis
first oft'ense before the law
THE COMING TWO WEEKS.
The Great Week* ot the Cotton Kxpovltfeu.
By reference to the official announcement made
elsewhere in our columns it will be seen that tho
coming two weeks at tho exposition promise to be
of great aud exceptional interest. Tho events are
so arranged as to make almost every day a special
occasion, offering decided atlrutctions to new bod-
Nashville’ day” occurs to-morrow, and will be
honored by the presence of the mayor and common
council of Nashville, accompanied by a large num
ber or friends. These geutlemeu will arrive to-night
aud stop at the exposition hotel. To
morrow morning they will be met there by Mayor
English and the city council of Atlanta
and escorted by them to the exposition grounds
aud through the various buildings. At 3 p. m. in
Budges’ bull the public reception will take place.
Mayor English will welcome the guests aud be as
sisted bv Aldermen Goodwin aud Lowry and
members of the council iu such remarks
inuv be callc-d for by tho responses
of the* visitors. The occasion will be on
interesting one, and there are enough Tennessee
ans in Atlanta to make it a notable day fat ihe his
tory oi the great fair. ,
•Drummers’ day ’on Wednesday,will be thcocca-
slon for the congregation of alarge and jolly repre
sentation of the commercial travelers of the union.
Mr. M. W. Grady is expected to deliver the address,
and thereby a choice treat is provided for this body
of visitors.
“Florida day” is ou Thursday, and information
comes that a monster delegation ol Floridians will
be on hand to signalize the day We hope to see
this occasion In numbers and interest equal to lit e
jrogres-lve character of the citizens in whose honor
l is set upart.
The Home military will be here in full
force on Saturday aud the day will be a rous
ing ovation to them. Our people admire themnttd
our visitors will be both curious to see them and
proud to do them honor. The Romans will accom
pany them in strong numbers.
Elsewhere will be found the full details for
planters' week, an episode in the exposition uur.als
which promises to be of great interest aud produc
tive ot inr-reaching results.
Friday. December 16tn, has been put on the calen
dar as “Ministers’ Day,” iu accordance with the re
quest of many clergymen. H is hoped that a very
luigc number of them, of ail denominations, will
attend on that day. Among those who ate expected
are Bishops Fierce wnd simpson. Reverends Henry
Ward Beecher. James Freeman Clarke, aud Morgan
l i t. of New York.
“Editors’ Day” is set down for Tuesday, Decem
ber ruth, and no effort will be omitted that could
go'to make this one of the greatest days of the ex
position. To no force more titan to the press, under
tite conduct of progressive editors, is the
exposition indebted for its existence in
all its gruudetir and prosperity. It is
tne desire of tne management to properly
recognize this fact, and to that eno they have estab
lished tills day as the fitting ocea-ldtt for their’ ac
knowledgements. Among tite distinguished editors
who are to be invited, aud from w hom addresses
will be expected, are Hons. Carl ftchura, Henry
Wntterson and Joseph Medill aud Colonel J. H.
Estill, of .Savannah.
From the above it will bo seen that the exposi
tion authorities are diligent in making it an attrac
tive and instructive affair. Every day between
this and the new year will be of like marked char
acter with those above designated. Among them
will be tite recei lions of Secretary Blaine, Hon.
Samuel J. Tilden, General llancook, President
Arthur and General Gram.
THE COMING GRAND DOG SHOW-
The Applications for Entries Tram AU Parts si the
Country Dally Received.
The great dog show which is to bo held in Judges’
hall on the 13th oi next month, aud *he three fol
lowing days, is going to be one of tho principal at
tractions of our great exposition. In an interview
with Mr. Lincoln, the superintendent, he assured
us the success of tne show was assured. He only
h»x>ed the people the state of Georgia would enter
iht-fr fine dogs and so help to swell the list of en
tries.
The applications for entries during tho past week
have been very numerous. New York state will be
represented with someof the choicest stock. Mich
igan will be here to compete for the prizes. New
Jetscv, Maryland, South Carolina, Tennessee and
Kentucky will all be here with their crack dogs.
The sportsmen of our own state tire quite entbu
siastic over the show, and as special prizes will be
given for Georgia raised setters, it will be interest
ing to all lovers of dogs to see who has the best in
this state.
The Adams and American express companies,
have agreed to return all dogs free of charge on pre
payment of their usual rates to the show. The
Southern express company will uo doubt do the
same.
The interest already displayed by ladies is very
Brest, as tile numerous inquiries about the care of
their dogs predicts. It is unnecessary to snv that
all dogs will receive proper care and attention.
Mr. Lincoln informs tut that a lady exhibitor at
the last New Y ork show, had the smallest dog he
oversaw, and be had it carefully guarded by a
watchman all day, as the dog wore a beautiful gold
collaiinlaw \»iUi seven diamonds and valued o£
It is expected that the director general
will name tne bench show week, the “American
gentlemen sportsmens’ week.” If soil will probably
be the best week that the exposition boa Eeett.
The en tries for this show close oil the 5th of Decent -
her and should be made as early os possible.
matters of sport.
t^ The new California racer is receiving much atten-
Loiullard proposes to add to his stables in Eng
land for the coming season.
Orrin IIickok, the turfman, has gone to Cali
fornia to endeavor to find a mate for Santa Claus.
Boston is looking forward with interest to tho
Balch double team race. A number of famous
teams have been entered.
. arc anxious that the proponed race
in Chicago between the English racers of Keene
and Lorillard should take place.
Bond has accepted the challenge of Hanlan to
v a over l nc Thames championship cottrse
for the Thames championship nnd a stake of from
£200 to £1,000 a side.
In the pigeon shooting match to-day in London,
between Dr. Carver and Mr. Eden, a member of one
of the principal clubs, for £100 a side, Mr. Eden
stood at 28 yards and Dr. Carver at 30 yards. Dr.
Carver won the match by five birds, killing 35 out
Wntcli Carefully Your Health,
Are your hands and feet cold? Does your pulse
beat Im-gular? Does you r heart quickly palpitate
at the least exertion, worriment. or nervous excite
ment? Does your face often flush from a rush of
blood to the head? Are you troubled with dys
pepsia, indigestion, or some urinary disorder?
Beware. Death may at any time suddenly ensue
from apoplexy. Do not delay. Y'our system needs
Borne true medical tone. Nothing is’ so good as
Brown’s iron bitters. This excellent remedy will
assist nature in quickly regaiuing her lost hold on
health and life. It strengthens every part of the
system, and restores the different organs of life to
tneir normal condition. In diseases of an exhaus
tive nature. having a tendency to weaken both
mind and body, it invariably acts like a charm.—
Journal. nov27—d&wlw
—Pome men had rather wear a large cameo ring
on their third finger than stockings on their feet.
—Warner’s Safe Kidney and Liver Cure.
novl5d2wsua wed fri&w2w