Judge's Sermon
( The following article was related by the late J.L. Strain of the lower section of Cherokee County which was at one time a part of Union County. It concerns the incidents in the trial and execution of Phineas H. Johnson, who is reported to be the first white man ever hanged in Union County for murder. )
Following is in part, the words of the presiding Judge, Judge Belton O'Neal, when he passed sentence upon Johnson.
" Young man, for you this woman made herself a guilty, degraded being, For you she left a home of plenty and took upon herself a name of shame and remorse. You had pledged her a false pretense of love. How could you, young man, slay her who had thus giver her all to you? How could you level your gun at the head which had often been pillowed in guilt affection upon your bosom? Remember, I beg you to remember that her blood will sink you forever into ever lasting torment, unless you feel the mercy of your Savior's dying blood has removed the guilty weight from your soul. Will you not, as you approach the gallows, say with me, shame upon such a state of things? You will be most probably the first white man ever hanged in Union County, and fearful will be the comment of your fate upon such a state of morals.
" Is it true that you and the deceased were once members of the same religious community? Can it be that you forgot the weak and lovely being at your side was your sister in the house of your master? And that by violating her confidence you snatched a crown from her head to place upon it one of shame?"
" If these things be so, think on them, ponder them, night and day for they demand a powerful reckoning at the bar of justice. I ask you to go with me in thought, to the house of your parents. What is there? Peace? No, oh No. I can in my imagination, hear your young wife pleading to share your fate, and your solitude. Your Mother like Rachael weeping for her children and would not be comforted because they were not. Your Father once a successful man, lamenting and broken up like David for Absolem, and saying " Would God I had died for thee." As awful as these reminiscences may be, they are nothing to that which is before you. Death, nay, a shameful one, in a few days must be met and suffered."
" Oh young man, do not die forever. God is before you as He ever has been willing to be gracious. He still points you to the atonement, offered at Calvery. He still says " Wash and be clean." I have no doubt that although a murderer like Massey, you may yet have his hope of pardon and peace. I have heard with pleasure that you have said you believe that hope. Be not deceived. Wrestle continually like the good old Jacob with the Angle and say with him " I will not let thee go until thou bless me." Then when you shall receive this blessing you can triumphantly pass through the valley of the shadow of death exclaiming, " I will fear no evil for Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff con fort me."
The sentence of this court is that on Friday, the 13th day of February, 1852, between the hours of 10 in the forenoon and 2 in the afternoon, you shall be hanged by the neck at the place of execution in this county, and may God have mercy on your soul.
According to the stories of the trial, Johnson was convicted by the " bray of the jack "
Johnson possessed a rifle, which when fired, had a peculiar crack, and every time it was fired and the Jack was within hearing distance, it would bray. He would not bray when any other rifle was shot, other than Johnson's. On the occasion when the fatal shot was fired, several people heard it, and immediately thereafter they heard the bray of the Jack. Nothing was thought of it until the body of the slain woman was found, and to those who had heard both, the slaying was immediately attributed to Johnson. This was the primary evidence used to convict Johnson.
On the day of the hanging, crowds gathered from far and near and lined the way from the County Jail to the hanging grounds. Temporary stands were erected to sell sandwiches, lemonade, and the like.