Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-05-08

neared upon the streets, and some slngu'
lar "reminiscences of his former lie were re- e
lated. Among them that 1t was ge1eraily
believed he murdered the huspan9 "a
woman at Wilmington, in THIS State' !uiin
~ -1or With whom he had then criminal
intercourse. The opinion of all was that
ba was a terrible. desperate character, and
from their knowledge of his former career
on ANXIETY and singular curiosity was ex-
o;tod anocno them to see how he died. Few
tbere were who pitied him, dying, as they
bo1;oved him, guilty without confession,
ord none sympathized with him
A. eighteen minutes before one O'Clock,
40 gnard being formed in hollow square,
The condemned was led forth attended by
the Sheriff and some assistants, and with a
smile upon his features, took his seat In
the cart, in which was also his coffin, be
side his sister and his brother-in-law. The
procession moved slowly through the streets
accompanied by large crowds, male ana 1e-
male, whites and blacks, many belng ID
carriages and many on horseback ana on
foot. While on the way to the galioWs ne
looked cheerful and spoke continually to
his sister of the Scriptures, assuring her he
had renented and that his peace was made
with God. At the gallows throngs of peo-
ple were already assembled, the number of
females being almost equal to that of the
males. The few trees in the field were
crowded with men and boys, and under
every imaginable shade that was present
were huddled together every imaginable
species of humanity.
Soon the procession came in sight, ac-
companied by horsemcn dashing over the
field, dispensing the crowd, and at eight
minutes past one the cart was halted under
the gallows. The condemned man appear
ed unaffected by the sight, but talked in
cessantly to his sister and others Of rei-
gion, trying, if possible to assure them that
he had repented. Upon being informed
by the Sheriff that he could address the as
sembled crowd he arose, and turning his
dark eyes upon them spoke ID loud voice
which rang back from the woods as if de-
mon there was mocking the tone and spirit
of a wretch who well knew he was going
into eternity with an unconfessed murder
upon his mind and falsehOods on his lips.
He spoke of his early childhood, his parents
and subsequent career in the army, refer
red to the dissolution of the Union, made
biasphemous illusions to the Deity, invok-
ing that name to prove assertions that he
knew were, some of them at least, false
The politics Of the country he discussed
freely, and upon being informed, in reply
to question OF his, that Holden was elect
ed Governor of North Carolina, he brand
ed that person as q SecesslOnlst and a man
that could not be trusted. His only refer
euce to the murder was half explanation
of the country and the different roads and
paths leading to the scene of the murder,
in which his only anxiety was to show that
some two or three of the witnesses swore
falsely against him. He mentioned parti-
culariy one James Isabel, who, he alleged,
had perjured himself in the case, and con-
cluded by saying that had there been no
lies sworn against him he would not have
been there This concluded his speech,
which had lasted nearly one hour, and af-
ter an apparently affectionate farewell of
his sister, who was then re moved from the
cart, the rope, which all the time had been
round his neck, was thrown over the gal
lows and fastened. Standing there on the
brink of eternity this man, calm III the
presence of that vast crowd, refused to ad-
nit publicly the murder of which they all
believed him to be guilty.
At tWenty-fOur minutes after two 2. NJ. |
the cart was moved, and the body Of Thomas
Dula was suspended between heaven and
earth. The fall Was about two feet and the
neck was not broken. He breathed about
five minutes and did not struggle, the pulse
beating for ten minutes, and In thirteen
life was declared extinct by Dr.
Campbell, attending surgeon. After hang
ing for twenty minutes the body was cut
down and given over to the afflicted rela-
ives of this terrible criminal.
Thus closed the career of man who,
though young in years, ignorant and de-
PRAYED in character, was one of the most
confirmed and hardened criminals of the
age in which he lived As yet the written
confession above given has not become
known, and the greatest anxiety is evinced
among the people to ascertain whether he |
has left any confession that he might be
too proud to make them in public. His re-
ticence, however, is accounted for by the |
wish that he would not implcate his &C
Mrs. Anne Mellon, now to be |
tried,
An eleven pound catamount has just
- 4 r.