The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-05-08
CAPPS CR0AKEl.
EXECUTION OF A BLACK FiEND.
Isham Capps, for the Rape of Mrs.
q. a. Thornton, Hanged m Fort
worth He Confesses the Decd
An Interview with the cub
prit-He "Goes 10 Glory
History of the Crime.
Special to the Herald.


of Isham Cgpps, colored, for the rape Of Mrs.
&. {. Thornton, in this city, on tho 18th Of
February last can be styled a complete sue
cess, both MS yindication of the law and Ms
an example to evil.dotrs of that particular
class, of whom this community has had rea.
son 10 stand in dread.
cAPPs' CRIME.
On the morning of February 10Th. 1850,
at an hour before daybreak. Mr.. c. Q.
Thornton left his home, rs usual, to go to
his daily employment at the gas works. I'M
medistely after his departure, the negro
Capps effected an entrance through win
dow in the rear of the house, which he pried
open with table, fork, evidently borrowed
by him for the very purpose from white
woman in his neighborhood who identified
the property at the examining trial. Caps
made his way cautiously to the room,
which he knew from previous observa-
ton to be occupied as the sleeping
apartment, and opening the door, ran to the
bed where Mrs. Thornton lay with her baby.
The light of lamp, left burning on the
mantle, plainly revealed the features of the
negro TO Mrs. Thornton, who recognized him
as lsham Capps, beyond any doubt. The
atlrighted woman gave utterance TO piercing
screams, to stife which Capps set about sc-
comprising but failed to subject his victi n
TO his foul embrace, rs the outcry she made
had brought an awakened neighbor, Mr..
Bright Wilcox. The negro heard APP
preaching footsteps and quilted the
apartment just as Mr., Wilcox entered
the house. Mrs. Thornton hurriedly re-
counted to the neighbor what had happened
and besought him to 90 for her husband.
Mr.. Wilcox had not proceeded many steps
on his Grand, when Capps re-entered the
house and again sought the
PRESENCE OF HIS FREY.
He surprised Mrs. Thornton almost into
spasms, finding her sitting on the side of the
bed nursing her baby. Ere she could collect
herself sufficiently to renew the alarm, the
negro had ruthlessly torn from her breast
the babe and placing one hand
on her mouth, with the other choked
her into commissions. When he had
reduced his victim to state
of physical prostration, he threw her on the
floor and maltreated her at his pleasure. The
re arm OF Thornton and Wilcox caused Caps
to desist at last, and he darted from the room
just AS those gentlemen opened the front
door. They saw his retrealing figure and
made after him. Capps sprang through the
window, barely missing being struck by an
axe which Mr.. Wilcox threw after him. Mr.
Thornton pursued Capps for distance OF
fifty yards TO fence, which the negro
cleared, minus Il lapel Of his coat, which
remained in Thornton's hand, who had made
spring after him. A light shower the
night before enabled the officers to track
Capps to his home, about half mile off,
where he WAS found and arrested by Marshal
Farmer that night. At the time II WAS
given out that the negro had only attempted
to commit the base crime, but at the
trial it was proven by the testimony
OF Mrs. Thornton that the black tiend
succeeded only too well in his hellish
design.
On the night after his arrest there was
| strong talk oftaking the case out of the civil
courts and an attempt to lynch him was only
frustrated by the action of the authorities in
the Rush Lloyd case, some time before.
The participants in that affair were heavily
fined by the courts, and the large mob gath
cred at midnight on the square was persuad-
"a, without much difficulty, to give up its
avowed determination to take Capps out of
the Sheritl's hands. Capps was tried as
speedily rs possible, during the following
month, and was convicted and adjudged to
die. No appeal was taken in his case.
AN INTERVIEW WITH Caps.
A HERALD reporter visited Capps at the
Jail at balf-past seven o'clock this morning,
ard through the courtesy of Sheriff Hen
ferson was accorded nm Interview. Capps
chains had just been cut away from him,
delicate job that was superintendent by
Marshal Farmer.
Capps was communicative enough to sat
isfy the ordinary reporter, and on some sub
iects was willing to talk freely, and the
following conversation was had.
Reporter morning Caps; got " ur
irons off see.
Capps. Yes sir, and feel aheap better
than have in y long time.
R-You are all ready, Isurpose, for what
is eoiag to take place this afternoon?
C.-Yes sir; I'm ready. don't know how
may feel when it comes to meeting death,
but feel prepared now.
Rand resigned?
C.-Ies sir I'm willing TO die, and have
no hard feelings toward any one.
! R-Do you confess your crime
! CT say now Just what | said in court and
what always will say, that only made an
attempt on Mrs. Thornton.
DIDN'T ACCOMPLISH MY PURPOSE.
R.-But if you were only convicted OF an
attempt, the punishment would not be hang
ing but imprisonment in the penitentiary,
and you say you are resigned to die to-day.
C.-Well, / am willing to die, because
had vii thoughts and tried to commit the
crime. But l wasn't guilty of what they
said.
R.-Then you must think that your pun
ishment is unjust?
C.-Well you see, it is more than de-
served, but am ready to die since | can't
help myself.
R.-You say you had "evil thoughts"
about Mrs. Thornton. When did they come
upon you?
! Cat night. when lay down in my bed
at home | would think of it.
! R.-Would such thoughts come in the day
time when you happened to see her
C.-No, sir. IA think about having seen
her at night after had got into bed.
/ Rand then your mind would be set on
the accomplishment at any risk of your de-
sign?
! C-Yes. sir [ couldn't keen from think