Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-06-03
TO BE HANGED ON FRIDAY.
what the Prisoner has 20 Say.

On Friday next about noon, Thomas ID.
Wright, who was convicted in April
of the murder of the peddler Roger.
the law by hanging in the Jail yard, unless
executive clemency is interposed. The jail
yard is small and as at former executions there
halls and doOrways have been blocked upso as
20 impede the movements OF the officers of the
law; on this occasion, by request of the de-
partment Of justice, there will be but few per
sons admitted.
WRIGHT ADMITS THAT HE KILLED ROGERsKI.
Wright when he first was committed to prison
Acknowledged TO a certain person that he had
guently he accused BENNY, who lived in the
same house. Within q few days past he has
tacitly Acknowledged the crime by saying: AZ
don't think that il Is fair to send man to the
penrtentiary when he killed four men and hang
peddler.'
A few DAYS since some gentlemen were ad-
mitted to the Jail yard to see the gallows, and
the trap was sprung to show how il worked.
Wright hearing this noise came to the window /,
and seeing the party said, Z" They have built
that for Tom Wright, but 1 am id if they will
hang me on it,"
wRIGHT's THREATS.
Yesterday afternoon, in consequence OF GER
not be hung, and would give them trouble, &c.
bo was brought out of his cell and stripped of
his clothing 10 be certain that he had nothing
secretCd therein, and new suit of clothing
having been brought to him he put on pants,
shirt. and shoes, but refused to put on a coat;
and his leg irons were changed to others, to
which he is attached by chain and handouts
in which he will be kept until the morning OF
the execution. In consequence of his violent
behavior he is debarred from receiving the
visits of any others than his spirital advisers.
HOW HE BECAME CATHOLIC.
Something has been said recently in relation
to his espousal OF the Catholic faith, after min
isters OF other denominations had been visiting
him, and it has been limited that the priests
. nwx. A1r-nZ hat hnxx
is not the case. Some time ago he was con-
fined with prisoner of the Catholic
faith who was visited by Rev. Father RoccOfOrt.
During his visits Wright became acquainted
with the beliefs and doctrines OF that church.
After praying several weeks and receiving the
instruction of the colOred ministers, he said he
coud not feel prepared to meet his GSd as he
to try the Catholic church, and taking the
counsel of one of the guards he sent for Father
Wigett over week ago, and that minister has
been visiting him almost daily since. This
morning Wright seemed perfectly resigned to
his fate.
THE sCAFFoLD
is the same on which jenkins, for the murder
of his wife; Woods, for the murder OF Cheese
man, and johnson, for the murder of his
wife, were executed last fall and winter.
1t Is substantial structure II feet square. The
platform Is 10 feet from the ground, supported
by by 4 timbers at the corners, extending
feet above the floor of the PLATFORM railing
at that height extending around il. In the
center of this platform is the trap, 5 by feet,
flush with the floor. On the east side piece of
plank inches long and inches wide extends
an inch above the floor. This piece rests on the
end OF an iron rod attached to the curved iron,
the ends of which support the trap, and a foot
being placed on it, the trap is sprung. A flight
of II wide steps is on the west side of the struc
tuTe, near the southwest corner, and in the CEN
ter OF the north and south sides two upright
timbers extend to a height OF 20 feet. supporting
the cross beam OF by timber, from the center
of which the fatal moose hangs. The whole
structure is painted lead color.
The prisoner being much heavier than his
predecessors every precaution has been taken
to have everything strong enough to prevent
any accident, and under the beam two heavy
braces have been placed. and a new rope of the
best quality and larger than usual has been
stretched. noosed and soared, ready for the
work Of the law.