Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-07-20
EXECUTED
The Tbisf and Murderer Robert
Wilson Dies on the Gallows.
Last Scenes In the Mortal Career
of the Slayer of Frank
II. Russell.

While the city slumbered and all |
busy sounds were hushed last night, |
Robert Wilson, the murderer of
Frank B. Russell, rested
quietly, having made peace with the
world and mankind previous to retir.
ing, which he did about the hour of
ten. The warmth Of cheerful day
began to shed itself upon the roof Of
his jail quarters and the surroundings
ss he rose this morning. He told his
keepers to wake him at 6 o'clock,
that he might clean up his cell and
prepare it for a visit OF the sisters
and priests, whom he expected.
After putting his quarters in order he
lay down and communed in silence
with his thoughts, until about eight
o'clock, when he again rose to psrtske
of his breakfast, which he
ate with a hearty appetite. A
little later the Sisters, who have
attended him so faithfully, and
Father Aloysius, of the franciscan
brotherhood, were admitted andRobert
had his first communion, the ceremony
being conducted by the priest named
The priest took his departure shortly
after the conclusion Of the ceremony,
but the Sisters remained a couple
OF hours or so, Offering
such religious consolation as the So
lemnities OF the occasion required.
About half past ten o'clock a news
gatherer from this paper visited the
condemned culprit. He expressed
himself glad to be visited by him, and
asked as a last favor that other mem
bers of the press who had visited him
from time 30 ttiiEl5 10 pitched into for
having ventilated him 80 much to his
disadvantage.
Robert received a couple of choice
Havana cigars from his visitor, and
said he would enjoy them little later.
He then proceeded to talk in a ram
bling and disconnected sort of way,
not confnIng himself to any subject
long at time aud venting much nom
sense, with good deal of venom in
spots, though he repeatedly stated that
he held no vindietive feelings toward
any human being and he could shake
hands with the worst enemy he ever
had, and ask him to meet him as a
! friend in the next world.
Wilson was an Intelligent person
for one of his age and kind. lie
wrote an excellent business style Of
chirography, plain and legible and
said he had gone to school in Nilsson
ri, when youth, also that he haG
improved himself since, by reading and
! otherwise. He was born in Baltimore
Maryland, on the 22d Of March, 1868
and when he last saw his mother, some
two years ago, she was a widow, liyinG
at Kansas, City, Missouri. At Oh
/, early age in his career, according tt
his own statement, he began to WorG
among horsemen as hestleF, and he
claims to have followed thai
occupation since. In his per.
: sonal appearance he was strikingly
s good looking for q darky. liz
was grif in color, and his blood, a:
indicated by it could not have been
more than half African if as much
i He has written several letters to
Q Governor Bate since his condemna
| ton, and did it himself without die,
tation. They are reported 10 have
besn sensible compositions. 4he Gov
J, erlor replied to him twice, the
n frat time telling him tr
e have his lavyera 10 make
! up a statement Of his case that he
= might look into it; the next time the
Governor stated that after careful
! consideration he could not conscien
= tiously interfere to commute his SEN
tence. To the latter Wilson replied
on postal card that he thanked the
Governor for the interest he had man,
ifested, and he believed that he had
acted as he thought bcstl also that Ae
had not at any time eptettaiRed much
hope OF mercy, aud though be be
: lieved be deserved q less tragic fate he
would at once prepare to make bis
n exit from the world. The epistles
r written by Wilson indicated the pos
session OF q more cultivated mind
o than his language did.
Partly ia Fesponse1t 10 questions aud
in part Voluntarily, Wilson made about
the following statement to the re.
porter:
. II believe in the Catholic religion
L though my people we're Baptists, and
my early religious educatio1 was in
= accordance. Relieving as | do | sent
' yor 4 priest to come and see me- The
priest, Father AloysiuS, and the Sis
}. ters, have visited me regularly, and
r have also been visited by the Rev. I
H. MeOauley, Of the Beal street eel.
Ored Baptist church. Last Sunday
s was joined to the Catholic religion
by baptism administered by Father
: Aloysius. Mr.. Lawles served as my
E godfather and Miss Lizzie Tracy o.
godmother, The ceremony occurred
! about q O'Clock in the morning, and
, since then l have been earnestly de,
7 voting myself to the faith and the
;, prayers of the beautiful religion. Be
& fore became allied to the Catholic
religion | grew discouraged, because
g tkoae Ehe belonged TO other sects die
: not come to see me anS appesret
a a careless as to my salvation. | hsv,
y nothing against any one in the via
y world ard could shake hands with ~,
J, worst enemy, and tell him to meet M
g 10 better world than this. lam sat
= isAed that justice will be done me il
b the next world, but it has not bOel
done me here.
l. In response to questions Wilson
). continued:
J. "The trouble which | had wit
n Mr.. Russell occurred on tn
ID night of the 18th of Septembe
is last. He had pistol pointed at m
as head, and Herman Waite, Who wa
n with him. said, Kill himl kill him