The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-07-07
THE EXECUTION.

one of the murierers of old man Schumacher,
expia.ed hi. crime on the rsllows.
Numbers of strangers from adjoining com.
munites commenced filling the streets of
the city early in the morning to witness the
execution of the condemned man, and on
earning of the contemplated privacy of the
affair, commenced hunting seats and locations
from which, if possible, view OF the scaffold
could be obtained The press, police force,
visiting sheritfs, several physicians and few
citiz ms only, were admitted. Yet the
housetops 10 the neighborhood. and the high
plank fence around the jai! had large num-
bers of curious spectators, and every con-
ceivable crack in the fence was put to use.
THE CONDEMNED
awoke early in the morning from sound,
refreshing sleep. When one of the guards
asked him now hefelt, ne replied first rate
had a good sleep. | have prayed God
that he would show me my future state In a
dream but have never had any," Hs ate a
hearty breakfast and smoked couple of
cigars while he talked with the guards and
visitors about his near exit from this world
He asked a guard for the sui. Of clothes ia
which he WAS to be hung, saying he wished
TO attire himself for death. When Sherif
Jones visited his cell about 10 o'clock in the
morning Thompson told him that he desired
to remain IN his cell up to the very minute
he was to be executed, IS he had nothing to
saw on the atIJld, and he wanted the officers
to get away with him as soon as poss Die
after he left it. During the morning two
colored ministers visited him and sang and
prsyei with him. He WAS very much
affected by the songs and broke down weep
ing, though they had been gone but few
minutes when no was fully composed again
and holding cheerful conversation with those
around him.
He SMOKED INCEs'ANTLY
IN to within ten MINUTES of the time he LETT
the cell to 90 on the scaffold. A HERALD
reporter, who called to see him about ii
o'clock in the morning, found him sitting In
o chair with his legs crossed smoklhga cigar.
He said that he felt better than he had IN a
long time before, and that he WAS ready TO
leave this world. AT 1:30 p. m. he was, to
all appearances, cool anu self possessed, and
talked freely about the near approach OF
death. DIS w. Field examined his pulse,
which beat at the rate of one hundred pulsA-
tions to the minute indicating some excite
ment. He said that he had heard that MIR.
Clint had telegrsphed the governor
for respite in order
that he might have more time in which 10
prepare .or death, but that he did not desire
Il. He repeated that he was innocent of the
crime. and said that his life had been sworn
away by Barney McDuff and other witnesses
who appeared for the state, but that he
would leave the world bearing malice to-
wards none. He could not say that he had
experienced religion, yet he felt that in death
he would be sustained by an allwise and just
God. He knew, he said, that most every ono
believed him guilty, that the jury and court
thought so, yet he was not guilty.
The condemned was attired in suit oil
black cloth, lasting CATERS, and wore white
cotton gloves.
Two colored preachers and two colored
women Wis ted him just before he was taken
from the cell. They sang and prayed, and
when they began singing the song, Savior
hear my humble prayer" etc, he began
crying. Looking around on the visitors, ne
remarked: my troubles will be ended in q
few minutes"
At ten minutes to o'cl ,ck Sheriff Jones
told him that bis time was up. His shack lea
were released, and, surrounded by the sheriff
and his deputies be stepped down into the
passage way that divides the two upper
cells saying:
"GooD BYE, BOYS"
When he passed the two lower cells, In
which are confined the colored prisoners, he
repeated 1t, turning first to one and then the
other cell saying good bye, boys, be good,
and passing on to the scaffold he assembled II
with a firm step, accompanied by
the officers and the colored divine.
Sheriff Jones read the death warrant to the
conaonaod, who stood with his right hand
resting on the trigger of the trap door. The
preachers then sang another song, precious
Name" and one of them offered up feryeni
PRAYER for bis soul. He wept sll the while
When asked If he had anything TO say be
an,wered that he had not. The moose was
placed around his neck and be shooQk hands
with the officers and his religious attendants,
bidding them goodbye, when his
hands and feet were secured.
Lifting his eyes hesvenward, he said In
clear, distinct voice:
"TAREwELL, VAIN woRLDP
He took his position on the trap door. the
black cap was drawn over his face, and al
two minutes 10 2 o'clock Sheriff Jones
sprung the trap and the soul Of Adam
Thompson was ushered into eternity,
the body falling a. distance OF seven
and q half feet. II was considerably con-
yuleod, the tNlbcnlng OF tue nutcice Wcre
plainly visible, and be was heard 10 gasp
several times by those standing near, and the
feet we're twice drawn up. At six minutes
after the drop Drs. Fell and Moore exam
ined the body and pronounced life extinct.
II is the opinion Of the physicians that his
neck was not broken, and tsst death was
csused BY strsngulsiiOn. Exactly twenty
minutes after the drop the body was cut
down and turned over 10 undertaken Linskie.
and the reiuAins were inferred 10 the colored
cemetery.
THK PRISONERS
In The isil witnessed the execution from their
cell windows. and it evidently made q de-
cided impression on them.
Tbompsan, had be been permitted 10 1--WE
until the 5 Of this mouth, would bSve been
In isil erscil, I've years. His was the fourth
leesl execution that has taken plsce in this
county.
HISTORY OF TIE cRnEE
The crime for which Adsm Thompson
was hung. was one Of slntst uopsrslled
strocit., and was committed BY himself sDd
West POllsrd, sDosbsr colored msn on the
frst day Of July 1876. just Eve years from
the day On which be pad the forfeit Of his
own life for the part be took In The bloody
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