Executed
James Craney
James Craney, a Black man, was hanged in the jail yard at Lexington, Virginia, on April 24, 1891, after being held in the jail there. According to The Morning News, he spoke from the scaffold expressing good will toward all men, with a prayer on his lips as the drop fell. In that statement he disputed the account of events that had been given. The paper reported that his pulse stopped within eight minutes and that his death was said to be painless.
Cause of death, as reported: Executed by the state
Reported by: newspaper report of the hanging.