, 1877-10-06
8xGGUSed! !
t'ir~t whit" Wan E.cgm!iy Edung
ira rhr Territory.
JOHN THOMpsoNs SAD END.


For the past forty eight hours the pub
he tongue ha, been busy with the name
ol John Thompson, the man who was
condemned to suffer death for the mu o
her of solomon Baxter, at Rcuton in Frh
last. Every effort Ia save him from his
dreadful fate had been rs,nytd without
avail and men who seldom interfere in
such matters had not only signed peti-
tions for his Communication Ot sentence,
but actually went to the Executive in
person and implorcd at least u postpone
ment of tdc execution, But the Govern.
or was inheXiblc. At . o'clock on Thurs
day, Clarence Il, Blglcy tclegraphcd his
father that Gov. Ferry declined to inter
tere. Upto that time, We had strong
hopes that rcprcve was in possession
of some personal friend Of the Governor,
to be drawn forth ut the proper moment.
VAN hope lost man.
A BRIEF RETROSPECT
OF thismun's crime and trial twill sat
;sfy any man whois not n walking bundle
OF higotry. that the death penalty WAS
rank injustice to him. The law in civil
eases allows men twenty days after ser
vice. ~ tiiG an answer to the complaint.
This in mere matter of sordid money or
land: how about human life? Ths
man committed homicide on Sunday,
was indicted on Tuesday, trial began the
next day, convicted on Friday and sen
fenced to the sCatfold on SATURDAY,
What time had his counsel to do justice
TO his case 1t is true, they were novices
in the profession. but they labUred like
honest men and true, to save him. III
man is granted twenty days to file an
answer in suit fTa paltry lot of ground,
what time should he be granted to an.
swer tor his lile2 We coyct no mans
friendship and fear no mans cnmty, but
the indecent haste of that trial has
caused the writer to thank God that he is
private citizen.
NO HOPE FOR PARDON.
The hope was strong in the bosoms OF
ThOmp,on's friends, that he would be
respited ior term, if not commuted TO
Imprisonment for lite. This hope died
away yesterday morning when the hour
of ten arrived and no word of respite
reached the jail The Sheriff bad an
nounced his intention privately of per.
forming the execution ut that hour, but
subsequently concluded to defer it till
the last moment. Even at that early
hour, the Jail walls were hung about
with men and boys OF a ages. drawn
thither by nm 0verweenlng curiosity to
see the sickening spectacle. Meanwhile
u couple OF the doomed mans friends
from Renton called to see him ir his cell.
Rev. DR.. Muctie, his spiritual adviser, had
been with him all night and was seated
beside him when our reporter entered.
The .jailor sat near the outer door and
the heavy grating OF the condemned
mans coll revealed glimpses OF its in
mates.
HIS LAST NIGHT ALIVE.
All Thursday night, the hollow voice
of the prisoner was heard in prayer and
suppication, broken occasionally by the
kindly voice OF Dr. Macktic who watched
by him with Christian fidelity. About
half-past three ON Friday morning, he
fell asleep but it was broken and
troubled rest, starting neryously every
few minutes. About o'clock he awoke
and the iailor, hearing his voice, went
into the cell and asked what he would
have tor breakfast. Thompson ordered
two eggs and acup of tea, atter eating
which he began conversation again in
low tone OF voice, 50 as not awaken his
room mate, John Dowd, who is serving a
few days more for larceny. 1t was in
this situation that he was found when
We, in company with two gentlemen OF
Renton, entered the prison.
AN HOUR IN JAIL.
Our reporter did not care to sit in the
condemned mans room, as the visitors
had something to tell him and visit
from reporter seemed at this time an
act of idle curiosity. So pending the
execution, our man took his seat il the