The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-07-12
TRAP AND TRIGGER.
FIVE FEARFUL PENALTIES PAID.
Eed-Handed Murdercrs Each and All,
Who Go to Death With the Stale,
Stereotyped Lie on their
BlasphemOus Lips.
A Triple Execution.

Fr, SMITH, July ll.--Spccial.l II
Thomas L. Thompson, Jack Woman
killer and John Davis We're hung here
To-day in the courthouse enclosure on
the same gallows where over fifty others
nave paid The penalty of capital crime
,."rinS the past ten years. The eNecu-
ton was conducted so quietly
mat many people in the
ely were not aware in had
taken place. The three condemned
had made no religious demonstration
until very recently, and one of them,
John Davis, made no efforts Of any con
sequence on behalf of his soul. After
listening to the reading
OF THEIR DEATH WARRANTS,
bidding their comrades in the prison
farewell, the doors We're swung open al
Has and the condemned men marched
forth, dressed in new suits of black
alpaca clothing. to death; their
spiritual advisers accompanying them.
They assembled the steps leading to the
death traps firmly aud took seats ON the
platform. Rev. Mr.. Berne first went
through the ceremonies of his church
with Thompson, and at the conclusion
bid him goodbye and left the scene.
Rev. l.. II. Butte, of the Methodist
church, then made few remarks, after
which he offered up Il forvent prayer in
behalf of the condemned. Next, Rev.
Mr.. Moore, (colored) of the baptist
church, came forward, and in behalf
of Womankiller, said he had been re-
quested by him to state that he
WAS GUILTY, AND WAS VERY SORRY
for what he had done; that h. was will
ing to give up his life to atone for the
deed, and did not think he had been I'M
justly dealt with. Al jacks request a
hymn was sung, and then the ministers
bid them goodbye, and took their de-
parture. The three men then stepped
| firmly or the tran, and
Thompson made few remarks
touching his religious efforts. He
was very firm and showed not the least
sign OF fear. The Indians had nothing
to say but Stood firm and erect while
their arms and legs were being pinioned.
The ropes were adjusted the black cap
drawn over their heads, the trap
sprung, and the law had been vim
dictated. They were given drop
OF six feet, and all three of their necks
were broken. They were pronounced
pulseless in fourteen minutes after the
drop fell and in sixteen minutes were
placed IN thcir collins. Thompson left q
sealed statement with his spiritual adj
wiser, witch was found TO contain a
statement Of his case and was simplv "A
repetition Of his evidence on the stand.
stating chat The deed was done i'm self
defense.
ANorrEE ACCOUNT.
Fort SMITH, Ark, July ll.-Three
United States prisoners were executed
here to-day for murders committed In
the Indian Territory. Thomas L..
Thompson, Il white man, John Davis, Ga
lull-bloOded Chuctaw lndiam and Jack
Womankiller, alias Galcatcher, "a full
blood Chefpkecl. The drop fell nj II
o'clock. All died without n struggle.
| Thompson was executed for the murder
OF his partner, James o. llOlloran, in
the Chickasaw nation last December;
Davis for the murder of William Bull
lock, white man travelling through the
ChOctaw nation in MAY, 1881, He
waylnid Bullock i'm the woods, shot
and robbed him. Womankiller while
drunk found an old white man aslecp I'm
the woods, murdered him without proy.
acatiOn and then robbed him. All three
admitted the killing and the Indians
gave no reason for their c.hmc, Int
Thompson claims to have killed his part
ner IN self-deicnse. lie made that State
ment on the witness stand aud i'm His
last confession to a minister, but strong
circumStan,ial evidence against him
caused his conviction on the ground thpt
he murdered his partner for his interest
IN their property. Three other prisoners
were To have been executed to-day, bui
the President pusdoncd one and com.
Wuted the sentence Of the other two Ia
Imprisonment for life.