, 1877-07-15
His Crime tho Killing OF q Po-
iceman OF That City.
The Man Enangled to Death By q
Disgustingly Slow Process.
Fruits Of q Burglarious Copartnarship in
Columbus, 0.
Tho Work 81 Tuo Enterprisiuy Bean-Sttaltrs
Suddenly Cut OF.
THE SCAFFOID.
HANGING AT NASHVILLE.


NASHVILLE, Tcn1l., July 1f.-FiYe thousand. :.
people witnessed the hanging Of the man VII
son {colored), for the murder Of Policeman
Perkins. The prisoner was escorted by strong
guard from the jail to the scalfold at 1880 a.
NJ. The trap fell ut l0:45 i. us., and he wss
pronounced dead forty-fivc minutes thereafter
The moose slipped, and he died OF strlnsu1a-
tion, suffering intolerable agonies. He writhed
and squirmed. his pinioncd hatds usadly bat
tling with the air, hts legs drawn convl1lsively
up and down, and shot out, while his body
trcnblcd in the throcs OF 4 muscular
motion which, like spasmodic waves, trav-
erset the corrugated surface OF his qt1igez-
ing frame The prisoner was 81 years Of
age aud possessed rare intelligence for
one of his race. He expressed great contrition
for his impulsiyencss. Tic WAS baptized Just
previous to execution, and he expressed
HIS READINESS TO MEET GOD.
The Rev. Dr.. J. a. Harrison, Episcopal; the
Rcy. E. McNair, Presbyterian; and Father
Doyle, parish Catholic priest, continued spirit
ual mnstrations toward Wilson until just be-
fore the trap fell. lie tendcrly embraced tho
crucitl1 given him By Father Doyle, and clung
to it until the last moment. He made ns
speech, though it was understood lie was to
have delivered sermon. His death was So ter
rib1y tragic that the vast assemblage sllud-
dercd when they witnessed his agonizing con-
tortions.
THE CRIME.
On the 18th Of July last, Wilson murdered q
policeman Of Jackson named V. G. Perkins,
who, In pursuit OF his duties. was cndeayo1'nss
to arrest Wilson under the following ciEruni-
stances: On the night OF the muruer. Wilson
had gone to tue Methodist Church with Phcbo
Miner, young colo1ed girl: After church they
we're joined by another girl, Annie Watson,
and later by q colored nan na!ncd
Watt Ballard. 1t was BRIGHT
.smoonshipy night,'' US one Of the witnesses de-
| scribed it, aud the four amused themselves oy
walking about the town: laughing and talkinx.
Going up IN alley III the rear of barber Stop
| Watt Ballard, who was employed ut this place
| and had the KEY, opened the door, md all went
| in. They struck light, and testimony showed
that they drank some wine, but lnaulsed III 10
pistol, and, laying it upon the table, one OF tho
| girls picked it up and
| BEoAN TO Tor WITH IT,
| but, upon being warned that It vas loaded, laid
spent in the barber-shop, the men went out aud
came back, reported tha: there were two po-
Ct ths Eas% bis psto sen
back after it. Proceeding up the alley aud
! across street, one Of the policemen, Mr. Fer
! kIns, caught hold OF the girls anu asked where
they were going. Wilson answered.: nat
are you going to do with them!" fer&ins said:
wait d minute anl will snow you,' callin::
at the time to the other policeman to come and
| assist In arresting them. At this time Wilson
wheeled around and drew bis pistol, Keeping it
concealed close down to his side: fGrkins ASK
piled, still holding tho pistol down: - NO, Ar-
| Perkins, haven't got anything to shoot you
with.'' Just then Perkins
SAW THE PISTOL
/ +t,~ou,3,,,v o1A,ut Wflenn. entfe1Y-