The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-07-14
SENTENCED To DEATH.
Allen Wright Sentenced In the Dis
trict Court by Judge AIdridge, 10
lie Hung on the Goth OF August
for the Murder of Jesse Wiclss

Allen Wright colored, convicted of MUIR
der in the tirst-degree for the killing of Jesse
Wcks, colored, and who refused to take an
appeal, asserting that he would rather hang,
was sentenced by Judge George n. Aldridge,
in the district court Monday morning. The
prisoner was taken suddenly i'll Saturday,
and it was thought that he
attempted to suicide by taking poison,
yet he denies it. Still weak from his illness,
he entered the court room Monday morn
ing. supporting himself on the arm of Dep
uty Sheriff Dean, and took his sent in front
of the judges rostrum. The court asked
the prisoner if he wished to appeal his case,
and he gave negative answer. Judge Field,
speaking for himself and Colonel simpson,
who had been appointed by the court to de-
fend the prisoner, stated that they had advised
the prisoner to appeal, but that he had siren
uousy refused TO do so. When asked by the
court if he bad anythipg to say why the sem
tence of death should not be passed upon
him he replied, 81 have plenty to say, but |
am too sick to say it now. Nose Perkins,
the witness for the state, swore lies against
me, and can prove by n hundred men that
they would not believe him on oath. have
not tried to kill myself to keep
from hanging, but would us soon be dead
as alive" The court then pronounced the
following sentence:
"Allen Wright in case 1926, you were
indicted Tor the murder of Jesse Wicks.
| When your case WAS first called for trial you
asked for continuance, which was granted
you. When il was again called you made a
second application on the ground Of the
absence ofone witness. The application was
oyer-ruled, and while the trial was porceed-
ing that witness came in, and you had the
benefit of his testimony. The court APP
pointed to conduct your defense two eminent
attorneys, who did all in their power for you.
But jury, after hearing the law, testimony
and argument of the counsel returned u
verdict against you of murder in the first
degree and assessed your punishment at
death. The crime you committed WAS with
out extenuation or defense. The
murder was rs premeditat d, cool and bloody
as ey r stood out in bold relief on the book
of crime. You had made friends with the
deceased you had given him your hand in
token Of the honesty of that friendship, and
hours afterwards, when contiding in that
friendship, unprepared for an attack from you
and unprepsred for death, you shot him and
kille him you murdered your friend. The
law has wisely and Justly fixed the punish
mont for an oiensc like this at death. 1t is
therefore ordered and decreed that you be
taken hence to the JUL of Dallas county, ana
there kept safely until the Goth day OF
August, 1880. From thence, on that day, Mt
l. o'clock, you will be taken by the ,heritf of
I Malta, al Inol ~
The prisoner listened to the sentence
sealing his doom with perfect
Indifference, and when the court had fin
ished hearose vita difficulty, and taking the
officers arm, walked slowly from the court
room to the Jail, where he was locked up to
av ait the day of his execution, which will be
in public, owing to the fact that the situa'
ton of the jail yard renders it unsuitable for
the purpose. 1t will be conducted, however,
as privately as possible under the circum'
stances.