Jack Hunt
The Wife Murderer Explates his Crime.
A Sketch of his crime trial and conviction 

        The first execution that ever occurred in Monroe county took place in
Madisonville, the county seat. On Tuesday last. Where Jackson Hunt was
hanged for the murder of his wife, and was witnessed by a gaping crowd
of morbid sight seers. The execution was to have taken place on the 29th
* . But the doomed man having asked time in which to prepare for death,
and that being the day set apart by the National and State Executors as
Thanksgiving. A day looked forward by Christians everywhere throughout
this broad land as one most specially grateful observance. Governor
Porter postponed the execution of the life sentence until the 18th *.
        The prisoner had bored up firmly sense the sentence was passed out him.
But when the day downed who's setting sun would find him but an inert
inass, he realized to the full extent his inevitable doom.
        Jack Hunt was born in Monroe county, as the son of G. W. Hunt, who at
present resides in the county. And is an honest farmer in good
circumstances, has a large connection the most of whom are in easy
circumstances, and good citizen, who have been humiliated by Jack's
crime.  He was 20 and his wife about 18 years of age when they were
married. And it had been less than a year at the time of the murder,
sense their marriage. A short time after they were married, Davis'
father of Hunt's wife moved to North Carolina and Jack and his wife went
with him. After remaining there several months they returned to the
county.

        The crime

        the crime was as diabolical in conception as it was deliberate in
execution. And thrilled the quite community where it was committed with
horror. The murder took place on the 27th day of July, 1875, and his
wife was  enceinte at the time she met her tragic fate. Jack was an
unsteady fellow dissipated at times and frequently abused his wife.
Whipping her repeatedly, and locking her up afterwards, when he would
absent himself from the house, leaving her alone till he felt disposed
to release her from enforced imprisonment. Occasionally when he had
abused her, she would seek refuge at a neighbors house which always
enraged Hunt, Although it was at Hunt's own sister's. Mrs. Farmer, wife
of John Farmer who lived about half a miles distance.
        On the evening before the fatal day and again on the morning of the day
on which the killing took place, Hunt gave his wife a terrible beating, 
and while he was temporarily absent from home, she fled the nearest
neighbor for safety from farther violence. The brutal and infuriated
husband followed her almost immediately and with threats and curses
ordered her to return home with him, and for no other reason than that
the poor, frightened and helpless girl was afraid to do so, he
deliberately, in the presence of his own sister, raised his cowardly arm
against her, whom only nine months before, he had vowed to cherish and
protect. When he fired the first shot he started away, but the wife
still true to her womanly instincts, with a broken arm and staggering
toward the door called out to him.  "Oh Jack, don't kill me. I love you,
come back and I will forgive you all." But this appeal, which was enough
to have melted the heart of a savage had no effect on his pitiless
nature, for he turned back and with a deadly aim at her breast fired and
the fatal shot, the bullet passing entirely through her body and burying
itself in the door shutter. Crying out "Oh! I am killed," the beautiful
young wife fell bleeding to the floor, and in gasping tones, begged Mrs.
Farmer to pray for her, and immediately expired.
        After Hunt had fired the fatal shot, he placed the weapon in his
pocket, and without bestowing a glance on the body of his victim, he
moodily strode from the house and plunging  into the forest not far
distant, was son lost to view. Mr. Farmer had gone to the spring, a
considerable distance off, and was absent at the time the murder was
committed, but hearing the firing he ran home with all speed, but too
late to prevent the foul crime. Hunt skulked in the neighborhood,
successfully concealing himself for two day, but was captured and lodged
in jail at Madisonville, at the expiration of that time,. After
remaining in jail about ten days he made his escape from prison, but
strange to say made no effort to fly, although one of his brothers
offered him money to aid him to do so, but he insisted on being
furnished with a horse, but it is supposed , fearing that the absence of
the animal might excite suspicion, the request for the horse was
refused.
        Hunt had before the murder of his threatened to kill John Farmer, his
brother-in law, because he had always offered Mrs. Hunt a asylum when
making refuge from the violence of her husband, and not only supposing 
that Hunt would carry out his avowed intention the first opportunity, he
lent all the assistance in his power to discover his whereabouts. His
efforts were successful, and one day while  in the woods he discovered
Hunt concealed in the boughs of a tree that had blown down, and forced
him to surrender. Hunt did so, being unarmed, and knowing the just cause
Farmer had to fear him, begged piteously that his life might be spared,
which was acceded to, his only desire being to protect himself and
further the ends of justice.
        On his way to prison Hunt betrayed a variety of conflicting emotions.
He descanted on the beauties of nature so smilingly spread out before
his view, though taking no pleasure in them, He expressed the deepest
remorse for his crime, saying that if wealth and liberty were offered
him he would accept neither unless his murdered wife could be re-endowed
with life. He said his grief would be somewhat alleviated if he could
feel assured that his wife had been prepared for heaven, and alleged at
one moment that he had killed her to save his own life, as he had
treated her so badly that he feared her relations would murder him for
so doing. Another time he said that he could scarcely realize having
committed so heinous a crime avowing that he had always loved his wife,
and had certainly been inatigated by the devil.
        He would have been tried at the January Term following of the Circuit
Court of Monroe county, but the atrocity of the crime excited such a
feeling of horror in the community the case was postponed and the trial
took place in April of this year, by change of time before the Circuit
Court of Mcminn County which resulted in verdict of guilty, and he was
accordingly sentenced to hang, but took the appeal to the Supreme Court
where final maintained the decision of the court below.
        With the shadow of the scaffold staring him in the face, Hunt's family
and friends industriously circulated a potation and actually obtained
signatures to commute his sentence to imprisonment in penitentiary for
life. But with no avail. The crime was of a nature so shocking for mercy
and the just sentence of the law was not interfered with, and thus one
of the fouls crates, in our criminal annals was expiated. 

The Execution 

        On Tuesday the weather was fine and the crowd who assembled to witness
the execution of the unfortunate man numbered between 4,000and 4,500,
composed of men, women and children, who had come from every direction,
and some of them a distance of forty and fifty miles.
        Monday night Hunt was visited by his mother and one of his brothers
between 8 and 9 o'clock, who had a  private meeting with him, which was
quite affecting. It is supposed that during this meeting he was given a
dose of morphine he took about 12 o'clock, which came near terminating
his life several hours before the time set apart for the execution. Drs.
W.N. Bicknell, and Moses Duncan were called in by the Sheriff, who
administered metics, when morphine, in large quantities, was discovered.
Hunt stated that he was influenced to take the drug by parties whose
names he would not disclose, but said that it was none of the officers,
guards, or any one connected with the jail.
        A large number visited the jail during the morning. All were admitted
who could be, though many actuated merely by curiosity were turned back.
One of Hunt's brothers asked for a private interview with him, but in
view of the experience of the night previous, the kind hearted Sheriff
felt compelled to refuse it.
        Hunt was dressed in a neatly fitting black coat and vest with brown
pants, slightly turned up at the bottom, and wore a fine felt hat and
polished boots. He was shaved at 10 0'clock and his hair combed, when
his toilet was completed with a white turn down collar and black
necktie. 
        His mother, who must be about 60 years of age, bade him a last farewell
before he left the jail. She was with him two hours. A well lighted room
was given up to receiving visitors on the occasion. The interview was
one of the most affecting. Biting with the manacled hands of her son in
her withered palms, convulsed with agonizing, she mummered "My boy, my
boy!" A friend attempted consolation but knowing her that the death pang
would not be long and the prisoner was prepared to die. But his heart
broken mother could only sob out in reply "I hope he is, oh I hope he
is!" 
        During the meeting at times Hunt's eyes would fill with tears, and
again he would appear unmoved, and asked his mother frequently to cease
weeping. Just before leaving his mother asked him why he had committed
the crime which he replied that "he had a cause and I would do more if I
could".
        At half past 12 0'clock the mournful cortege  left the jail en rout for
the place of execution, about half a mile west of town. The prisoner was
placed in a two-horse band wagon belonging to Mr. F. A. Ramsey of this
plane, in which were seated Sheriff Waren, Deputy Sheriffs E. A. Hodge
and W. H. Gormley, J. M. Young Mahion McAutor, F. A. Ramsey, J. B.
Young, Wm. Ghormley, brother in -law of the prisoner was also in the
wagon. On either side marched the guard summoned on the occasion, about
fifty-six, in charge of, Capt. W. L. Clark, and assistants. There were
detachments in front and rear of the wagon, and it was with some
difficulty they could keep the surging crowd from impeding the progress
of the sad procession.
        The gabbet was erected in an open field, around which was a slight
incline, which together with the space surrounding was densely packed
with people eagerly awaiting the enactment of the closing scene in the
tragedy, the first act of which has been the topic of conversation for
two years past.
        The wagon, with its living freight, drove up under the dread instrument
of death, which had been erected at an early hour in the morning.  It
was compiled of two upright post, of pack lumber, about twenty-six feet
high, with the usual cross-beam, which was braced at either end, while
in the center an iron ring was fixed, The gallows was in the center of a
circle, around which a rope was stretched. Inside of the this the guards
were stationed to keep the crowd from entering. Upon the arrival at the
gibbet, Sheriff Waren said, 
        Ladies and Gentlemen and fellow citizens. 
We are assembled here to today under the saddest circumstances it has
ever been the misfortune of the people of Monroe county to witness.  We
are here to witness this execution. I feel that it would be presumptuous
and out of place for me to make any attempt to make farther remarks, as
I certainly feel that we have the sympathy of all present. And that our
unpleasant position is properly appreciated by all. The warrant I here
hold in my hand  requires me to perform the saddest duty of my life, and
though unpleasant, that duty is none the less imperative.
        Hi then read the findings of the Supreme Court and the re-sentence of
the prisoner by that tribune and also the respite of the Govenor. The
Sheriff then announced that twenty-six minutes would be allowed for
devotional exercises in behalf of the prisoner, which were conducted by
Revs. G. H. Colthorpe and J. P. Keffuver, of the Baptist Church,. Rev.
Mr. Colthorpe read the 13th chapter of Paul's Epistle to the Romans, and
in his remarks briefly denounced the custom of carrying concealed
weapons and warned the crowd present of the terrible results, as in the
present instance.
        Rev. Kefauver read the 10th chapter of Roman's. In his remarks he
stated that he had talked frequently with the prisoner concerning his
future and while he hoped his faith was well founded, he feared the
criminal was unprepared for the great eternity into which he would soon
launch. 
        During the remarks of the ministers the prisoner, at times evinced some
signs of emotion, but the greater part of the time appeared the most
unconcerned of any one within the circle of the guards.
        Hunt confessed some time ago, but no farther confession, either written
or verbal, was made. By request of the doomed man. Rev. Mr. Kefauver
read the following letter.

Madisonville, Saturday Night
December 14, 1877
Mother, Father and Brothers:
        I will try to write you a few lines to bid you all a final farewell. I
do not want you , Dear Mother to be more troubled about me than you are
already, I want you to prepare to meet me in a better world, where sin
and sorrow is not found, Will, and Sam, I want you to be good boys, an
try to get to Heaven when you die. There is more pleasure in living the
life of a Christian, it looks plain to me now, though I did not think
so, nor see it in that light, before I sought and believe I found pardon
in a merciful Savior. I do not want any of you all to grieve for me, but
take warning by my misfortune and try to do better than it has been my
misfortune to do. Farewell to you all and may God bless and save you
all.    A. J. Hunt

In closing I wish to express to Mr. Marr, the jailer, and his family for
their kind treatment to me while a prisoner under his charge.
Respectfully, A. J.  Hunt

        Hunt did not  feel able to speak for himself and after the letter was
read, rev. Mr. Colthorpe arose and stated that the prisoner requested
him to say that he felt his sins had been forgiven, and desired all
present to meet him in heaven.
        Prayer was then offered by Rev. Mr. Colthorpe, when the platform was
placed  on the rear of the wagon and the rope placed in position. Just
before mounting the platform the prisoner whispered to Deputy Sheriff
Hedge, who was standing on the grounds by the wagon, to tell Mrs. Marr,
the jailer's wife "good by".  He then mounted the platform, upon which
the Sheriff was assisted by Messrs. J.M. Young and F. A. Ramsey. Hunt
was so weak that he had to be supported by Mr. Ramsey, While his feet
and arms were being pinioned. Just before the Black Cap was drawn down
over his head after the fatal cord had been placed around his neck he
bid Sheriff Waren good by, and at forty-two minutes past one o'clock the
wagon was driven from under him, an Jack Hunt was launched into
eternity.
        He swang off easily, and when his body was steadied, his boot-heels
were not more than two feet from the ground, an eight minutes pulsation
commenced and after twenty minutes life was pronounced extinet, death
was caused from strangulation, as the fall was not sufficient to break
his neck. After hanging twenty-seven minutes he was taken down and
placed in the care of his brother-in law. And was buried at Tellico
Plains in the family buring ground, on yesterday.
        The rope was the one used at the execution of John Webb, in Knoxville,
two years ago, and it is intended to be used on the 29th instant, at the
execution of Jacob Harris at Clinton.
        Weather it started as a fact, having come to light since the trial, the
motive prompting Hunt to murder his wife to be jealously, though it was
not premeditated, and many think he intended to kill his brother-in-law
John Farmer and then kill himself. A Great many believe this.
        As above stated the crowd in attendance was large. But to the great
satisfaction of all lovers of law and order, and to the honor of old
Monroe, the behavior was most admirable. This good behavior and order
may be due to some extent to the public spirit of Mr. W. W. Wooten,
proprietor of the saloon, who closed his place of business for the day.
We saw no cases of drunkenness. 
        Sheriff Waren and his assistant performed their  duties, though very
unpleasant, with credit to themselves, showing judgment and nerve, and
nothing at all occurred for which blame could be attached to anyone.

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