Henry Robinson, 1887 November 4

defense

but she was released at her preliminary hearing when no real evidence
against her could be produced and Robinson maintained that she knew
nothing of the crime, While his convictionwas not appealed, he was
branted one 30-day respite from the original date of execution to the
disappointment of the huge crowd of blacks who were totally unsympathe-
tic towards him and had gathered for the hanging on the original date,
Then, on Nov, li, 1887, he was ridden in a wagon from the jail to the
gallows, 34 miles away. on the southwestern boundaries of Union Springs,
and hanged, Robinson went to his death calmly and even jested on the
scaffold when he asked Sheriff Charles M, McRae: "Captain, is there
any danger of this thing breaking down before you are ready?" The
Sheriff assured him that there was not, and one of the several thousand
blacks outside the burlap bagging that had been erected around the
gallows shouted: "You needn't be afraid of anything of that sort,"
After the cop and noose had been placed over his head, he remarked:
"Hanging is might bad, but if a man is ready, why_let it be over with
as quick as possible and.all will be right and well." His last words,
spoken just before the trap fell, were: "I am ready." His neck was

broken by the fal] gnd KXX jhe was, pronoynced dead in 11 minut eS»
Ma repuery LE BOR SSON. Hn Se MOL

was arrested o jon, | tte S;
different stories, in all of % Owen. |
him first with the eze and that the killing was accidental or in self-—
defense. Mrs. Owens was also arrested as an accessory before the fact,|
but she was released at her preliminary hearing when no real evidence
against her could be produced and Robinson maintained that she knew
nothing of the crime, While his convictionwas not appealed, he was
branted one 30-day respite from the original date of execution to the
disappointment of the huge crowd of blacks who were totally unsympathe-
tic towards him and had gathered for the hanging, on the original date,
Then, on Nov, lj, 1887, he was ridden in a wagon from the jail to the
gallows, 34 miles away. on the southwestern boundaries of Union Springs,
and hanged, Robinson went to his death calmly and even jested on the
scaffold when he asked Sheriff Charles M, McRae: "Captain, is there
any danger of this thing breaking down before you_are ready?" The
Sheriff assured him that there was not, and one of the several thousand|
blacks outside the burlap bagging that had been erected around the
gallows shouted: "You needn't be afraid of anything of that sort,"
After the cop and noose had been placed over his head, he remarked:
"Hanging is might bad, but if a man is ready, why_let it be over with
as quick as possible and all will be right and well." His last words,
spoken just before the trap fell, were: "I am ready." His neck was

broken by the fal, d KX¥ he was, pronoynced dead in 11 minutes.
ieee ee

defense,
ERE ie Cha aah a heenecinone Gis donee nrc |
against her could be produced and Robinson maintained that she knew
nothing of the crime, While his conviction was not appealed, he was
kranted one 30-day respite from the original date of execution to the
disappointment of the huge crowd of blacks who were totally unsympathe-|
tic towards him and had gathered for the hanging on the original date,
Then, on Nov, li, 1887, he was ridden in a wagon from the jail to the
gallows, 34 miles away on the southwestern boundaries of Union Springs,
and hanged, Robinson went to his death calmly and even jested on the
scaffold when he asked Sheriff Charles M, McRae: "Captain, is there
ary danger of this thing breaking down before you are ready?" The
Sheriff assured him that there was not, and one of the several thousand
lacks outside the burlap bagging that had been erected around the
gallows shouted: "You needn't be afraid of anything of that sort."
After the cop and noose had Ese placed over his head, he remarked:
tHaniing is might bad, but if a nap is ready, vy Let it be, over sth
as quick as possible and Pucahon eerie nah ed
spoken just. before the trap fell, were ent am ered i

fal] ed dead in 11 minutes.

ED

ae

Robinson, a l\7~year-old black man who had been born into slavery in the
State of Florida, was brought to Alabama as a child and raised in Ala-
‘bama after his mother had been purchased by a man named John Cameron,
‘In 1858 he was married to a woman several years older than he and they
‘became the parents of four children who lived, three boys and a girl,
‘A field hand, he was sent to Mobile during the Civil War to aid in the
-erection of breastworks and afterwards he returned to Bullock County,
When the war concluded, he and his family, freed, remained in Bullock
County where Robinson worked as a sharecropper on a plantation,

Around 1883, Adam Owen, an 80-year-old black man, widely respected by
others of his race, moved to an adjoining plantation with his 25-year-
old wife, Polly. In time, Robinson became the lover of Mrs, Owens and
their conduct was such that their relationship became general know-
ledge, On June 1, 1887, Owens visited Robinson in a field where he
was working, possibly to remonstrate with him about his attentions to
his wife, and Robinson attacked him with an axe, After Owens was dead,
Robinson dragged the body to a log pile and fired it, ZXKEXEKH Whe

others in the neighborhood inquired as to Owens! whereabouts, P lly
said that he had gone to Butler County to visit relatives but thi

explanation failed to satisfy them and a search was instituted, His
skeletal remains were found in the remains of the fire and Robinson

Robinson, a h7?=-year-old black man who had been born into slavery in the
State of Florida, was brought to Alabama as a child and raised in Ala-
bama after his mother had been purchased by a man named John Cameron,
In 1858 he was married to a woman several years older than he and they
became the parents of four children who lived, three boys and a girl,

A field hand, he was sent to Mobile during the Civil War to aid in the
erection of breastworks and afterwards he returned to Bullock County,
When the war concluded, he and his family, freed, remained in Bullock
County where Robinson worked as a sharecropper on a plantation,

Around 1883, Adam Owen, an 80-year-old black man, widely respected by
others of his race, moved to an adjoining plantation with his 25-year-
old wife, Polly. In time, Robinson became the lover of Mrs, Owens and
their conduct was such that their relationship became general know=
ledge. On June 1, 1887, Owens visited Robinson in a field where he
was working, possibly to remonstrate with him about his attentions to
his wife, and Robinson attacked him with an axe, After Owens was dead,
Robinson dragged the body to a log pile and fired it, XHEXEXH Wha
others in the neighborhood inquired as t wens! 1 :

Bei d Guse he hed sponse oa er Lesa Lo vite wtisegseoubs, Pebly

lanation failed to satisfy them and a search was instituted, His
skeletal remains were found in the remains of the fire and Robinson

obinson, a l\7-year-old black man who had been born into slavery in the|
State of Florida, was brought to Alabama as a child and raised in Ala-
fama after his mother had been purchased by a man named John Cameron,
In 1858 he was married to a woman several years older than he and they
became the parents of four children who lived, three boys and a girl,
4 field hand, he was sent to Mobile during the Civil Yar to aid in the
erection of breastworks and afterwards he returned to Bullock County.
When the war concluded, he and his family, freed, remained in Bullock
County where Robinson worked as a sharecropper on a plantation,
Around 1883, Adam Owen, an 80-year-old black man, widely respected by
others of his race, moved to an adjoining plantation with his 25-year-
old wife, Polly. In time, Robinson became the lover of Mrs, Owens and
their conduct was such that their relationship became general know-
ledge. On June 1, 1887, Owens visited Robinson in a field where he
was working, possibly to remonstrate with him about his attentions to
his wife, and Robinson attacked him with an axe. After Owens was dead,
Robinson dragged the body to a log pile and fired it, ZMEX#KH When

others in the neighborhood inquired as to Ovens! shereabou
See: SOI ae ae
mand @ search was. insta beds His

1 Lyzesrst sak no ad tun fen st sow