Jessie Davis, 1879 June 13

then declared and, at Davis' request, he was granted a change of venue
to Johnston County where he was tried, convicted and sent enced to die,
Ris case was appealed to,the North Carolina Supreme Court on the
grounds that, as hehad previously been tried in Franklin County, he
was placed in double jeopardy by the Jofmston County trial, The con~
viction and sentences of death were affirmed and he was hanged in the
jail yard at Smithfield on June 13, X8& 1879, The execution was in-
tended to be private, but over 1,500 witnesses peered over the f ence
which was only six feet in height. J#MHX Davis made.a 20-minute ha-
rangue from the scaffold in which he admitted having relationships
with Mrs, Chamption but claimed that it was with her permission and
had occurred over a period of time, He said that she had accused him
of rape after it became known that he was visiting her and that he
was being*hanged solely because he was black and she was white. He
then launched into a bitter denunciation of all wtkk white people
in general and of the Sheriff, judge and jury in particular, XHexK
After the black cap had been placed over his head he continued talk=
ing and the trap was sprung as he was feeling for the chair in which
he had karlier been sitting. 4s his neck was not broken, he died of
--sbrangulation in ekeven minutes, ..- = 80 NC 351-NC BK &
NATIONAL POLICE GAZETTE , June 28, 1879 (7-1) MAG. EX.

then declared and, at Davis' request, he was granted a change of venue
to Johnston County where he was tried, convicted and sentenced to die,
Kis case was appealed to,the North Carolina Supreme Court on the
grounds that, as hehad previously been tried in Franklin County, he
was placed in double jeopardy by the Jofmston County trial, The con-
viction and sentenced of death were affirmed and he was hanged in the
jail yard at Smithfield on June 13, X84 1879, The execution was in-
tended to be private, but .over 1,500 witnesses peered over the f ence
which was only six feet in height. J#MAX Davis made.a 20-minute ha-
rangue from the scaffold in which he admitted having relationships
with Mrs, Chamption but claimed that it was with her permission and
had occurred over a period of time. He said that she had accused him
of rape after it became known that he was visiting her and that he
was being*hanged solely because he was black and she was white. He
then launched into a bitter denunciation of all wikk white people

in general and of the Sheriff, judge and jury in particular, ZXH&XK
After the black cap had been placed over his head he continued talk-
ing and the trap was sprung as he was feeling for the chair in which
he had barlier been sitting. As his neck was not broken, he died of
| strangulation in ekeven minutes, ...._.___—_==_-89 NC 351-NC BK &
NATIONAL POLICE GAZETTE , June 28, 1879 (7=1) MAG. EX.

then declared and, at Davis' request, he was granted a change of venue
to Johnston County where he was tried, convicted and sentenced to die,
His case was appealed to,the North Carolina Supreme Court on the
grounds that, as hehad previously been tried in Franklin County, he
was placed in double jeopardy by the Jofmston County trial, The con=
viction and sentenced of death were affirmed and he was hanged in the
jail yard at Smithfield on June 13, XRf 1879, The execution was in-
tended to be private, but over 1,500 witnesses peered over the f ence
which was only six feet in height. MAK Davis made.a 20-minute ha-
rangue from the scaffold in which he admitted having relationships
with Mrs, Chamption but claimed that it was with her permission and
had occurred over a period of time, He said that she had accused him
of rape after it became known that he was visiting her and that he
was being*hanged solely because he was black and she was white. He
then launched into a bitter denunciation of all wikk white people

in general and of the Sheriff, judge and jury in particular, TMEXK
Afte? the black cap had been placed over his head he continued talk-
ing and the trap was sprung as he was feeling for the chair in which
he had barlier been sitting. 4s his neck was not broken, he died of
strangulation in ekeven minutes, C 351-NC_BK &
NATIONAL POLICE GAZETTE , June 28, 1879 (7-1) MAG. EX,

DAVIS. Jessie

Davis, a black man, was a Franklin Co., N, Cey laborer, On Dec, 25,
1877, he was working in a field cutting logs and clearing the land
in a remote part of Franklin County near the Nash County line, He
noticed Mrs, Margaret Champion, a white woman who had been deserted
by her drunken husband, who lived with her small child in a nearby
cabin several times during the day when Mrs, Champion went to the
spring for water, Late that night he went to the cabin and demanded
admittance. When she refused to open the door, he broke it down

and dragged her from underneath a bed where she had sought refuge
with her child, Using a large butcher knife, he threatened to kill
both of them unless she subinittled to him sexually and he forced her
to have intercourse with him several times during the night. When
he left early the next morning, he told her that he would return that
evening and she could expect more of the same treatment, She went
to the nearest magistrage and swore out a warrant for his arrest.
After Bavis was taken into custody, she identified his voice while
she was blindfolded from that of several other blacks, The blind-
fold was then removed and she picked him out of the line up, At his
first trial, the jury was unable to agree on a verdict with eleven
members voting for conviction and one for acquittal, 4 mistrial was

DAVIS. Jessie

Davis, a black man, was a Franklin Co., N, Ce, laborer. On Dec, 25,
1877, he was working in a field cutting logs and clearing the land
in a remote part of Franklin County near the Nash County line, He
noticed Mrs, Margaret Champion, a white woman who had been deserted
by her drunken husband, who lived with her small child in a nearby
cabin several times during the day when Mrs, Champion went to the
spring for water. Late that night he went to the cabin and demanded
admittance. When she refused to open the door, he broke it down

and dragged her from underneath a bed where she had sought refuge
with her child, Using a large butcher knife, he threatened to kill
both of them unless she submitted to him sexually and he forced her
to have intercourse with him several times during the night, When
he left early the next morning, he told her that he would return that
evening and she could expect more of the same treatment. She went
to the nearest magistrage and swore out a warrant for his arrest.
After Bavis was taken into custody, she identified his voice while
she was blindfolded from that of several other blacks, The blind-
fold was then removed and she picked him out of the line up, At his
first trial, the jury was unable to agree on a verdict with eleven
members voting for conviction and one for acquittal, 4 mistrial was

DAVIS, Jessie

Davis, a black man, was a Franklin Co,, N, Ce, laborer, On Dec, 25,
1877, he was working in a field cutting logs and clearing the land

in a remote part of Franklin County near the Nash County line, Hi
noticed Mrs, Margaret Champion, a white woman who had been deserted
by her drunken husband, who lived with her small child in a nearby
cabin several times during the day when Mrs, Champion went to the
spring for water. Late that night he went to the cabin and demanded
admittance, When she refused to open the door, he broke it down

and dragged her from underneath a bed where she had sought refuge
with her child, Using a large butcher knife, he threatened to kill
both of them unless she submitted to him sexually and he forced her
to have intercourse with him several times during the night, When
he left early the next morning, he told her that he would return that
evening and she could expect more of the sane treatment. She went
to the nearest magistrate and swore out a warrant for his arrest.
Atter Baris was taken into custody, she identified his voice while
she was blindfolded from that of several other blackss The blin
fold was then removed and she picked him 6 UDe his
first trial, the jury was unable to ene elaranlenattelera:
members voting for conviction and one for acquittal, 4 mistrial was