Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-07-20
DYING DAY
OF the Murderer Wilson, Last Werd
with the Condemned Man in
His Cell.
His Fears for To-Day and His Hopes
for the Life Beyond the
Trap.

The condemned murderer, Wilson, wac
visited in his cell yesterday, his last day on
this earth, by a representative OF the AP-
PEAL, who questioned him closely concern
ing his frame of mind, his fears for to-mor-
row and his hopes for the life beyond the
trap.
After the ponderous doors had been
locked behind him the reporter approached
the prisoners cell and peered through the
window. After q few moments his eyes De-
came accustomed 10 the darkness, and With
the aid of a few faded rays of light which
struggled between the BARE, the unfortunate
man was discovered seated upon the edge of
his lowly cot, his eyes bent upon the
floor with q thoughtful esrnestness,
seemingly lost in a deep and
MELANCHOLY
Upon hearing a voice close at hand he re-
covered himself with a start, then YEARLY
assuming the erect posture, slowly sp-
preached the window. His eyes were
suuken, A;.iAeA Observation-Disclosures
his general appearance was one we'll fitted
for he who was fsted to die at the hands of
the hapgmau. The reporter thought it
would be q cruelty almost objectionable TO
question one in 20 pitiable a condiuion As to
mis- feelings, hopes and fears, but = desire to
fod one doomed to . gaiIows death who
feared the trap and the mysteries of the
unknown beyond, depressed other feelings and
he asked about the prisoners general health,
and his anticipations of the future. The
doomed man replied that he had never felt
better" His appetite was remarkably good,
he having feasted off of chicken, sardinee,
which kind friends had brought him, but he
remarked that che was
RATHER TIRE
from standing talking to visitors during the
greater part of the time; his legs were rather
weak, but otherwise he felt perfectly WE'LL"
To the question as 10 whether he liked
visitors or not, he said, Shat he liked to
have his friends call, especially the priests
and the Sisters, for they had cheered him up
and had taught him 10 believe in the Catho-
lie religion, and that, since he had en-
braced that religion, he had no fears for the
future, but believed that he would 90 straight
TO heaven from the scaffold."
When asked if he was disappointed in the
Governor not
HIS sENTENC
he replied: "No; that he did not expect him
to do 80, and that he entertained no harsh
feelings against him, for he believed that
everyone had acted toward him % their
conscience dictated. He said he felt very
grateful to his lawyers for the way they had
iocoieu III hhs eeAounc, ~ "a OSosA
no. pay them he knew they would be re-
wsrdsd for it hereafter"
In speaking of his treatment during his
confinement he said that he had been treated
.as we'll as he could have been, aad spoke of
Jailer Lawless as a 'good, big-hearted man."
With a few more remarks, wishing that his
an~ticipations tor future happiness might be
reslizsd, the reporter bid him by good bye,
and calling to the turnkey 10 open the door
be departed, musing upon the deception of
outward appearance.
WILSON'S P
The following special was received from
Nashville last night:
"Gov. Bate to-day received a letter from
Robert Wilson, who is to be hanged at Mem
phis tomorrow, thanking him for the inter-
est he had taken In his case, but regretting
ihut his sentence had not been commuted 10
imprisonment for life, as he had asked Of the
Governor. Wilson wrote his appeal to the
Governor himself, who examined the records
and determined that he could not with
Justice interfere"