Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-11-21
THoMAsToN, Nov. 20

THoMAsToN, Nov. 20
Daniel wilkinson is in the same stole this
morning that he was yesterday. At this writ.
inp he has onlv three hours of grace. He ia
calmly pacing his cell with flushed and
dogged face. Wilkinson rolled himself up
in his blanket at half past eight o'clock
Thursday evening. and went to sleep.
guard remained in the corridor all night and
visited his cell every half hour to note his
condition. At 8 the prisoner was sleeping
at half past nine the guard could not tell
whether he was asleep or not, and called his
name twice Wilkinson aroused himself,
rubbed his eyes and stared at the guard.
'Were Won asleep?" tn guard asked. Will
knson said he vas. He slept soundly till
half past II o'clock, when he woke up, but
soon went to sleep again and his slumber was
heavy till half past l A. M, when he awoke
and asked the time. He went to sleep again
in an hour and slept till half past four, when
he GOT up and dressed himself. He ate his
bread and coffee at the usual hour and with
his customary appetite. He devoured all
they gave him. He told Deputy Warden
Hnckley that he slept well and was feeling
first rate. The prisoners anti-religious feel
ing shows no sign of change. In his last in
teryiew with the chaplain he said he was bred
an Episcopalian and was baptized and went
to Sunday school, but he had forsaken his
old ideas and formed his present views after
years of deiberatiCn, and it would require
years of deliberation to change them. The
chaplain made a last attempt to excite con-
triton and asked the prisoner the following
question eff you had in your power The men
who YOU claimed have wronged you, would
you inure them?" Wilkinson replied ::
"Yes, would take my revenge"
Till the last moment of his life he wrested
with the awful problem: ''Is there anything
after the gallows?' He now knows some
thing about it. change came over him in
the last forenoon of his life When Chaplain
Towers visited the man at ten O'Clock he
found him less defiant, less sangune, and
more easily affected. He joined with the
chaplain in his PRAYERS, a thing he never did
before, and asked the chaplain to pray for
him, his first request of this kind He cried.
and tears welled to the chaplains eyes.
Wilkinson had never given any indication
OF having q soft spot anywhere in him before.
Wilkinson finally said he was yet dubious
about future state. but he did no t assert as
before his confident belief that there was
none.
A Remarkable Statement.
Wilkinson made one very remarkable state
men He told the chaplain he had made up
bis mind never to die on the galows and pro-
posed to kill himself in his cell Thursday
evening He would have committed suicide
but for a letter he received on Thursday from
Mrs. Knowles, the Augusta lady who had
been corresponding with him. After reading
the letter he determined to meet his hard end
like a man.
A Dramatic Scene.
At five minutes before eleven o'clock,
shile about forty persons, including officers
and witnesses, were in the prison guard room,
quietly waiting for the noon bell to ring,
there was a furry at the entrance. Warden
Bean was called out ard a dramatic incident
occurred. A lady with a face pale as death,
accompanied by little girl of s or 10 years
had arrived at the prison and asked to see
wilkinson. She introduced herself as Mrs.
Belle Knowles of Augusta, Wilkinson's lady
correspondent. The little girl was her
daughter. They passed quietly through the
guard room and into the corridor where Will
knson was. The scene that ensued was
enough to melt the sternest man, Tears ran
down Mrs Knowles face and flooded Viii.
knsons eyes. 81 come in the name OF
Christ" said Mrs. Knowles. ~ am glad to
See you," said Wilkinson in a low tone. "You
nave on this side of the water" ''Iwant YOU
% put your trust in Christ" said Mrs
Anowles You know he forgave the thiei
on the cross"
y wilkinson said he wished he could but ex-
pressed no change in his views regarding re-
Ngon The interview lasted five or six min
ues few words were said, and Wilkinson
'aue his visitor a fearful goodbye.
His Uust Cullors
Sheriff Irish. about IL. in company with
neV, +. Towers, Officers Porter and Peabody,
Dr Levensaler, city marshal of Lewiston,
Snerif Wadsworth of Waldo and Sheriff
eaapman of Penobscot proceeded to the cell
NJ, NJ wilkinson. He was calm and social.
n, "neh plnioned, he appeared to be the most
k< uhconcerned man in the crowd
' AZ quarter of twelve the fatal procession
ssueu from the western door of the prison
%a aO@ the yard, through the carriage shop to
81 e eanold. The prisoner was escorted by
J'rrlu rr Irish, deputies Porter and Mansfield,
NV Peabody of Thomaston, Ira NJ. True,
ma1lowell Officer Cook of Rockland, city
sn;''. us'snai of Bath and Rev. F. N. Towers, his
os.i ssa"uai adviser. He was clad in the robes
n ne church of England.
shone on one side of the prisoner walked Deputy
past pssln farker, and on the other, Policeman
saoouy OF Thomaston. Wilkinson was
n.as ssed IN the murierer's suit of black al
~" ssa blouse and pants. His arms were tied
besa aI sldes. He walked carefully with his
Gsa Gau bowed down. He had seven minutes to
,esr Iuen h.' ne stepped on the trap. He was
Tha " lhirty persons including the officers.
low ~ uost OF them stood on the ground be-
,ns. .ne scauold, which stood in the same
death. 'e"' tue TWO itaia"s " '"el
uyt
hi. nne sa Deputy Sheriff Parker was binding
nOo.a s. ana Deputy Morton was tying the
flenoou uader his ears, Wilkinson broke the
~ saying in voice so low that only