The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1880-04-09
Condemned TO Die.

al weeks ago, on the streets Of Spar
tanburg, while intoxicated, by some
strange freak, shot and killed Pet
Williams, a negro, without provoca-
tion. The Spartan in noticing the
Court proceedings reports the follow
ing melancholy facts. One cannot
but feel sorry for the execution of a
murderer, but something must be
done to stop the reckless taking of
life. In the case Of White the jury
did their duty, and thc sentence is
just:
There were three murder cases tried
at this court, a very unusual thing
for Spartanburg. Bobo & Carlisle
defended Thomas Wife and John G..
Paris, and Duncan & Cleveland and
l'omar Il Simpson defended Aaron
Massey.
White shot down Pet Hawkins.
colorcd, on the streets of Spartan
burg The strange thing is that he
did this without knowing Hawkins,
or without any provocation TO shoot
llm. 1t may never be known what
was the secret spring in his mind that
made him do this deed. 1t was q
terrible deed, and the, penalty is also
terrible. Paris in an angry scufllc
KILLED Jack Williams, Williams max
ing an attack with a-gun. Paris in
The scufllc jcried the gun away from
Williams, and struck him across the
head while he was rising, which blow
caused his death. Aaron Massey
Killed, by shooting, his half bi other
lom. They were out hunting, both
having guns, and in talking over a
settlement they became a little cx-
cited, and the gun of Aaron went Off
and killed Tou. 1t seemed 10 be n
clear case of accidental killing. When
the verdict was announced Aaron
lelt infinitely more happy than lie did
when Lees army surrendered, and
freedom was bestowed on him.
TIE SENTENCE OF WHITE.
Friday afternoon the prisoner was
brought into Court and placed in the
dock. A dense crowd packed the
courtroom at the time. Judge Wal
lace feeling the awG,l solcmnity of
the occasion, said:
Thomas White, stand up. Have
you anything to say why sentence of
death should not bc pronounced on
you?'
For the first time during the whole
trial the prisoner showed some soita-
ton Of mind. His voice was little
qulvcrng and he said: II can only
say that am clear Of the charges
against me. l am not guilty of them.
am innocent Of it. In NY con.
science before God l don't feel that |
done this deed. l don't think il RIGHT
before God 10 put me to death for
what did not do" These were
about his words, uttered with not SO
much connection MS here expressed.
Judge Wallace then said about as
follows:
"Unfortunately for you, Thomas
White, a jury of your countrymcn
have declared you guilty, and it is my
painful duty TO declare the judgment
OF the law. l do not punish you, and
the jury does not punish you. The
jury have found, after careful invests.
CATION, that you killed Pet Hawkins.
On that record the duty, painful as it
is, devolvcs upon me to pronounce
the sentcncc Of the law. | cannot
lind it in my heart 10 add one word
to the Keen distress you feel. All
men must die but when you, n young
man, full Of life, just in the vigor of
manhood, conc to die fulon's death
1t must penetrate you Will, degree
of distress which cannot be expressed
in words. 1t must occur to YOU, as
IL must TO every man, that if you had
not had pistol in your pocket
Prisoner: 81 did not have q pistol ;
before God"
Here his attorney asked him to be
silent. Judge Wallace was patiently
waiting to hear what he had to say,
"lf you had not had Il pistol in
your pocket, and been on that fatal
afternoon drinking liquor to excess,
Pet Hawkins would not have been
killed, ami you would not be here to
receive the sentence of death. pet
Hawkins death and your approaching
death are traccablc TO the common
nractirn ff t1ripEinr