On April 9, 1890, Charles Carter was executed by hanging at the Cambria County Jail. The following accounts are found in the March 24, 1890 edition of the Cambria Freeman. The question is; would his conviction and execution have held up in today's courts?
Ebensburg Jail,
"I was born in Chesterfield county, Maryland, March 18th, 1869. My father's name was Jesse Carter and my mother's name was Della Williams before she was married. They were both slaves of Raddal Amlet. My father died when I was 7 years old. Mother then married Robert Gibson. She died when I was 9 years old. I stayed with my stepfather till I was 13 years old. I left my stepfather because he did not treat me right. He was an old man who could not help himself and I was making a living for myself and him too. I was used up as if I was a dog and could not stand it and left him... I was in Johnstown about three years… Up to this time John Matthews and I were very good friends".
In the newspaper article, Charles Carter is asked how it came about that he murdered his best friend, John Matthews. He describes a get-together with friends and how he and John eventually got into an argument over something a woman friend had said. As the two men fought Carter eventually found himself pinned over a hot stove on which water was boiling and supper was cooking. He had a pistol in his pocket and eventually he used it against his friend. He fled the scene and later, when he
discovered his friend had died, he fled the city. He was arrested in Harrisburg and describes the results of his trial.
"I was brought to the Ebensburg jail and had my trial during the December Court, 1889. I was taken into court without an attorney, without money and having not been in court before, did not know what I ought to do. I was absolutely ignorant of what was required of me. And if I had, I did not have the friends or the money to do anything for me… They would not let me explain, as I wanted to, on the stand. . . I do not think I had a fair chance for my life. . . I do not think any jury would have found me guilty of first degree. I have prayed to God to forgive me for all my sins and especially for the taking of the life of Matthews. I shall die in the peace of God."
Charles Carter - March 24, 1890
"Carter mounted the scaffold between
Sheriff Stineman and Rev. Bowman. On the scaffold Rev. Bowman made a short prayer after which Sheriff Stineman asked Carter if he had anything to say. Carter then stepped forward and said: "I am going to meet my father in heaven. I have no ill feelings against any one in this world. I hope to meet you in heaven where my father is."
"He stepped back to the center of the scaffold, under the rope, when Sheriff Stineman placed the straps around his legs above his knees and at the ankles and also placed handcuffs on Carter's hands. He then placed the black cap on his head, shook his hand and at 1:52 pulled the lever, when Carter dropped with a dull thud. He twitched convulsively a few minutes and then was still."
Cambria Freeman - March 24, 1890
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