The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-09-29
nlILY INTELLIGEN(ER.
saturday, sept'r 20. 1877.
EXECUTED {!
FIRST White Man Legally Hung
In the Territory !
,oHN THOMPS0N's SAD END

Pr the past forty eight hours the
,.bljc tongue has been busy with the
r.re Of John Thompson, the man who
-. condemned to suffer death for the
-,,dsr Of Solomon Baxter, at Renton
rebrusry last Every effort to save
,;r from his dreadful fate had been
ss,yed without avail and men who sci
s,m interfere in such matters had not
0o,r signed petitions for his commute
.;oa Of sentence. bu, actually went to
,,,s Executive in person and iinplered
..lsss. postponement of the execu
,,Ou. But the Governor was lnhexible.
.,aoclock on Thursday. Clarence Il.
p.gl., teegraphed his father that Gov
nor Ferry declined 10 interfere. Up
a th.s time, we had strong hopes that
. reprieyc was In possession OF some
ner,oDal friend of the Governor, TO be
dnWp forth at the proper moment.
y,in hope-lost man.
DgIET RETROSPECT
Nthis mans crime and trial will salts
s, spy nan who is not a walking bun
die Of bigotry. that the death penalty
was rank injustice to him. The law IN
civil cases allows men twenty days az
Tar ssr;:ce, to file All answer TO the com
plsint. This is mere matter of sordid
money o. land; how about human
life This man committed u homicide
on Sunday, was indicted oil Tuesday,
tri.l began the next day, convicted on
Friday and sentenced 10 the scatiold on
saturday. What time had his counsel
to do Justice to his casey 1t is true,
they were noyices in the profession, but
they lsbored like honest Inen and true,
to save him. If y man is granted twenty
DAYS to file an answer in suit for pal
,ry lot Of ground, what time should be
Be granted to answer for his lifey We
covet no mans riend,hip and fear no
usn's enmity. but the Indecent haste
Of that trial has caused the writer to
thank God that be Is private citizen
no HOPE FOR PARDON,
The hope was strong in the bosoms Of
Thompson friends. that he would be
respitcd for term If not committed to
imprisonment for life. This hope died
away yesterday morning when the hour
Of 10 arrived and no word of respite
reached the jail The Sheriff had an
nousee6 his intention privately of per-
forming the execution at that hour, but
subsequently, concluded 10 defer it till
the last moment. Even at that early
hour, the Jail walls were hung about
with men and boys of all ages, drawn
thither by an overwecDing curiosity to
zee the sickening spectacle. Meanwhile
scouple Of the doomed mans friends
from Renton called to see him in his
cell Rev DR.. W. Macie, his spiritual
adviser, had been with him OIL night
and was seated beside him when our
reporter entered. The jallor sat near
Toe outer door aud the heavy grating of
tho condemned mans cell revealed
gimpses of its inmates.
Ills LAST NIGHT ALIVE.
All Thursday night. the hollow voice of
The prisoner was heard in PRAYER and
application, broken occasionally by the
tlndly voice of ID. Mactie who watched
y him with Christian fidelity. About
lslf-past three Oh Friday morning, he
isil asleep but it was broken and
troubled rest. starting nervously every
lew minutes. About O'Clock he awoke
and the jailor hearing his voice, went
.aso The cell aud asked what he would
nave Tor breakfast. Thompson ordered
TWO eggs aud cup OF tea. after eating
sa'cn he began conversation again in
y" tone OF voice. 50 rs not to awaken
ais roommate. John Dowd, who is
sx'sing few days more for larceny
!" was In this situation that he was
'ssna wiisn We. IN company with two
s'a"emen OF lienton, entered the prison..
AN HOUR IN JAIL.
:, var reporter did not care to sit in
.as Condemned mans room, as the Wis.
a0,s mad something to tell him and u
a." from reporter seemed at this
sus AZ act OF idle curiosity SO pend
" Tue execution, our man took his
s III The corridor aud thought an
wv, was Dot long TO wait. But it WAS
= hour Of intense pain. for the con-
mnea man soon afterwards arose and
An to pay with a fervor that WAS
Ypsiaag. Fear of death might strike
ae @en dumb, but this poor creature,
sIppllcatiug for the pardon of God
VIZ Sns. poured forth such eloQuence
70 man ever surpassed. There was
ALTERING. 10 hesitation; but every
.~u came as gracefully AS the choicest
SaOed period of the most polished
es sald;
TIE PRISONERS PRAYER.
:, almighty Father Of the Universe,
~ uost not desire the death Of any
.sa IN native sin. with fear we APP
se thy white throne. Oh Lord.
IN nasf given life TO man which is
n. ~ uncertainty; thou hast given
r. Out Que certainty which is death.
+ ans OF loug lifetime are abou,
sapiated, and in this, the eleventh
-: ieel the shadow of thy holy
4 - we SOW. 50 must we reap. aud
Justice Of thy word hsw bow
:esd Life is fall of snAres and
s,s1s. Oh, my God. if had bu,
70 thy voice long ago; but
NJ paved with good intentions
- .to OF bio d. guilty sinner doth
sasa "nei the glory of Thy eternal
IN Aud now, CD Lord, am her,
e.. very soul knocking at the
s.,n. VI death. aud in thy infinit,
49, receive my soul. Blot out th,
au Of nv airs ~,,,h a.. ia -,