The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-03-29
Calvert.
Execution of Fred. Il. Waite.

Execution of Fred. Il. Waite. .-.
--CALvERT, March 23.-TSpecial. To-day
Fred E. Waite expiated the crime of rnur-
der for killing A. d. WISER the jaiier OF
Robertson county, The prisoner last night
slept well, after hearty supper, with a
bottle of champagne, This morning, aft Ell
breakfast, the death warrant was read to
him, which he received without tremor,
and when told he had only two hours to
live said he was ready whenever the time
came. Meanwhile he wrote out will eX-
pressing wish to have his body buried in
the Franklin graveyard, revoking the sale
that he had made of his body some time
before to the doctors OF Bremond.
Last night before retiring he expressed a
wish to have violin played for him, which
request was complied with by Professor
Donell, and he then asked that no minis
tiers be brought into him, az he desired
none.
At 1890 the sheriff and deputies left the
jail with the prisoner for the ccaffold, on
Gallows Hill, about three quarters of a
mile south of Franklin, and, on arriving,
the prisoner mounted the steps az calmly
as in any every day scene OF life.
Upon being asked by Sheriff Jones il he
had anything to say, he made a long
speech, somewhat different from the usual
dying declarations on the scsflold, saying
that the citizens OF Robertson county knew
| what he had been tried for and had been
condemned to death; that he had no fears,
as he knew not whence he came and knew
not where he was going; that he thought
that justice had not been done him as he
had not intended TO kill A. ID. WISER when
he struck him, but only wanted TO keep
him from being able TO hurt him. He then
read his last will in regard TO his body.
The black cap wss adjusted at los, and a
short click of the Ratchet and Fred Il.
Waite was launched into the great beyond.
At In he ives pronounced dead By DTs.
Britt, Cassington and Meade, and was then
placed in a neat coffin and carried off and
buried by Sheriff Jones and posse. Sheriff
Jones, Deputy T. B. Jones and 7. M. Rein
hardt deserve great credit for tbs manner
in which everything passed of, as they
had done everything possible to add to the
comfort Of the prisoner, and A. the time Of
the execution there was no hitch whatever
IN the proceedings.
The history OF the crime 10 that on the
morning of May 25th, 1882, Waite and
Compton, both white, and Wyatt Banks,
colored. carried out plot they had made
10 escape from the Robertson county jail.
Upon Ad. WISER. the iailer, and brother
of Sheriff Bud WISER, carrying the break
isst 10 the prisoners he was struck from be
hind by Waite with piece Of iron tubing
that had been torn from a wssts-rise.
Upon being struck WISER, attempted 10
draw his pistol, and said stop"
Itwss then that Waite struck tho fatal
bow and three prisoners then took Wyser's
pistol and watch and fled. They were pur-
sued By the citizens enmtsse, ana were
caught the following night
They we're arrsigned for trial July % fol-
lowing, and although ably defended were
condemned, Waite and Banks to be hung,
and Compton 20 the peDitentlary for Lie.
Waite and Banks appealed and the de-
cision Of lover court was affirmed. Then
they appealed FOR communication 10 the gov
ernor and Waite was refused but Bank.
was granted a respite II thirty DAYS froO
today, and to-dsy Waite met his doom a.
ca mly 20 any man could.