He Hangs This Day (1891)

Atlanta Constitution, Georgia
3 July 1891

He Hangs This Day,
Washington's Last Glimpse at the World,
He Prayed and Sang Till Midnight and Then Dropped Asleep - His Last day on Earth,
Today Washington Hangs.
Between the hours of 12 and 1 o'clock today he will mount the scaffold.

A few minutes afterward the trap will spring and the slayer of Oliver will be hurled into eternity.

Everything is in complete readiness for the execution.

The black vest and breeches, the alapaca coat, the yellow flannel shirt, requested by George - the embroidered slippers - all were brought to the jail yesterday afternoon by Deputy Barnes.

The condemned man will this morning don them - the last clothes that he will ever wear.

The gallows stands looking more grimly than ever, as though impatient for its victim.

The rear fence has strips nailed against and above it. The three triggers, one live and two dead, were arranged yesterday afternoon...

Attending the execution will be: Rev. Lee, Rev. Jones and Rev. Hall; Dr. Griffin, Dr. Alexander, Dr. Gregory and Dr. R. W. Westmoreland, representatives of the press, and any relatives of Washington who may care to be present...

Search Historical Newspaper Collections

Mrs. Longstreet Dead (1889)

Atlanta Constitution, Georgia
31 December 1889

Mrs. Longstreet Dead
A Distinguished Georgia Lady Passes Away
Gainesville, GA, December 30 -- Special -- The queen city of the mountains mourns over the death of Mrs. Maria Louise Longstreet, consort of General James Longstreet, who passed peacefully away last evening at nine o'clock, at the Piedmont hotel, in this city, surrounded by her husband and her loving children.

Mrs. Longstreet has been confined to her room several months and bore her suffering patiently and with Christian resignation. She was a lady of rare and varied accomplishments, and in her death Gainesville loses a bright ornament in society. Her maiden name was Garland, a daughter of General John Garland, of the United States army, and a distinguished citizen of Virginia. She was born on the 16th day of March, 1827, at Fort Snelling, Minn., and was married to General Longstreet in Lynchburg, VA, on March 8th, 1848. She accompanied the general while engaged in the Mexican war. She was not unaccustomed to rumors of war or the din and smoke of battle for she was near to the general while his sword gleamed for four long years in defense of his country during the civil war. Prior to this time she was on the frontier with her husband, where he was engaged fighting Indians. She leaves five children - four sons, John Garland, Robert Lee, James and Randolph, and one daughter, Lula. Alta Vista cemetery will be her last resting place, where her remains will be interred tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock.

Search Historical Newspaper Collections

Skeletons of Two Human Beings Found (1875)

Atlanta Constitution, Georgia
3 April 1875:

Irwinton - About four miles from this town, in a southwestern direction, the skeletons of two human beings were found some time since, in a situation and a position, which has convinced all who viewed the bones, that they were the victims of vengeance of Judge Lynch. They were found some distance from the road on a small stream of water, in a thicket, and one of them when found had a rope around its neck, and was lying under a tree, which was probably used for a gallows. The other one was probably shot. Persons who have examined these skeletons are of the opinion that they are the mortal remains of two negroes, who four or five years ago committed an assault upon a widow and her daughters by the name of Kemp, living near there, inflicting injuries upon one of them from which she has never recovered. He struck her a severe blow on the head with a stick, which so injured the nervous system that she now frequently has fits. These negroes were arrested by an officer, and on their way to jail were intercepted near this place by unknown parties, and the negroes taken from him. Since that day nothing has been heard of them, and the finding of these bones probably explains the mystery that has enshrouded their fate. - Southerner

More U.S. Lynching Victims