The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-05-23
.JASpER RHODES HANGEL
ON The GALLONS IN GALVESTON
The Mulatto Wife Murderer Dies Tn
finchingly for His Crime Pounded
Glass Found In His Pockets.
His Deed and Death.

lrder. The doomed man passed last
Ileht until midnight in ordinary con-
creation with the Waterman, Tken he
urned in and slept soundly. He was
weakened at 1880 by Sheriff Owens and
,artook of hearty breakfast. About 0
o'clock last night the sheriff took the
recaution TO remove Rhodes from
ais old cell TO u room IN the
,Outhwest corner on the second floor,
rnis move was unexpected 10 gho pris-
ner, and had a very depressing effect
he cause Of which was soon explained.
dc was made TO undress and put on q
lew suit OF clothes for the occasion. IN
he fob pocket OF his ole pants was
found
A PACKAGE OF FOUNDED GLASS.
This was undoubtedly intended sS a
asst resort to cheat the gallows, II no
uetter means offered. Ait9r his old
lothes were taken from him he begged
itiously that they be retUrned, eSpec
pilly his pants. He did n0t know that
ne sheriff had found tho pOulded
glass. He also repeatedly Esked
be allowed TO return to his old cell.
his was denied him by the sheriff, who
vas determined the sentence of TIE law
,hould lot be defeated.
About $ o'clock this morning Revs.
Jackson ana Kemp, colored, visited
Rhodes and spent some time witch him,
inging and praying. Rhodes did not
inter- into the service with 8ny degree
~ enthusiasm, for In the midst OF the
prayers be sent down for somo of his
nings, which he claimed he had left iu
ne bathroom and then he again request
I'd the sheriff To allow him 10 visit his
I'D cell. II is believed he had some
ieadly poison secreted N the old cell
search will be made for IT, During the
morning
a LETTER FRog GOV Ireland
wss read to Rhodes, IN which the eX-
acutiye declined TO interfere.
AT II o'clock the prisoner was led
rom his cell and assembled the ladder
eading to the scaffUld, which was in the
Gtic over the main building OF the Jail.
hole had been cut through the ceiling
lst over the stairway leading TO the
econd floor. This gave the Yictlm a
rOp Of eight feet. He took his place ON
ne uap with firm step. While he
tood IN this position tho death warrant
as road 10 him by tho sheriff.
RHODES REMARKS.
He was then asked II he had anything
% say and replied:
81 want my relatives aud friends 70
cave 90 bad habits and stay away from
ad places.'
He then shook hands with his two
rotners and bid them goodbye. lie
vas remarkably cool TO the last. Just
- the sheriff was plNcing the black cap
yer his head he drew heavy gold ring
ION his finger, handed 1t to the sheriff
With the remark:
'NiiYe this To mother"
AT l2:l4 he trap WAS sprung and tho
1Ody OF tho murderer shot down the
rap with great violence, breaking his
f.flEnfnullN IA ty,t
ne was pronounced dead and the body
vas removed u the main
hallway of the Jail where,
"a It's coffin, several thousand
eople, chiefly colored, viewed the re-
lains
Only about so people Witnessed the
Execution, but On the ouside of the jaii
vas gathered about 1000 people from an
sarly hour, who stood In the hot gun,
ratiently awaiting the signal that The
qrutal murderer was dead.
HIS CRIME
vas one OF the most blood
hirsty and unparalleled butcheriugs
over committed on this island
was the murder OF his wife, Mary
Rhodes, which occurred in this city, on
he night OF October q, 1891. Rhodes
vas light mulatto, about 20 years old,
and was somewhat OF dos peTste char
dcter, generally feared by people OF his
race. He was continually engaged in
oroils and was under b nds at the time
If the murder. for seriously stabbiug a
White man on the wharf. Mary Rhodes,
ais wife and victim. was ii bright, good
ooking mulatto woman, y years old,
and was married to Rhodes H. tho latter
part OF April, 1881. Their married lite
vas rendered exceedingly unpleasant by
he brutal and int uperate conduct Of
Rhodes, which forced his wife to sepa-
cate from him and again enter the ser
vice of MIR. Richard IL. Tierman's fam.
lly, residing ON the corner ofThirteonth
street and Broadway whore she
was employed as domestic prior To her
marriage and by whom she was highly
esteemed. Rhodes made repeated at
.empts TO get his wife TO return 70 him,
out without avail. About half.past 7
o'clock on the evening of October DIST
Rhodes, In company with Sam Wilson,
another negro, visited the residence of
MI. flernAn during that gentleman's
tOsencei and gained access TO the rear
yard through SIDE gate. Rhodes re-
naming ia tho background, sent VIII
son forward to inuuce his vile to como
out into the yard on the plea that Inc
~ ilson) wanted 60 talk u her. The
unsuspecung wife stepped out into th,
yard 10 hear what Wilson had 70 saw,
and when she got into the shadow OF tha
building she WAS instantly confronted
~ Rhodes. a few exciting words
passed between them, whom Rhede.,
luick as Dash, drew his pistol and
lodged a bullet in fhe brain Of his wife,
and then quickly jumped astriio OF her
prostrate body and with e knife Inflicted
- horrible cash In her throat. IN the
meantime her sister, who had seen
Rhodes and his companion enter the
Yard rls1ed up stairs and informed
Mrs. Herman that Jasper Rhodes was
VA the yarn win pistol and she feared
ne intended % kill her sister. Mrs.
Herman, apprehensive of trouble.
seized her husbands pistol lying on d
dresser, n rried down the rear stairs
ana mad scarcely reached tho yard be-
ore she was startled by the report and
uash Ola pistol, and said her fsithful
reiNAnl tell 20 the ground with moan.
she sprang forward 10 her defense, pia,
tul Drawn, but was so Mortified with
What she saw, that she, for moment,
'ost her sell-possession and would moi
dre hrf pistol. Rhodes having COM
ploted MS hellish deed, sprang from the
nooy OF his victim and flourished his
nhtol 10 INC lace of Mrs. Herman, and
Win his accomplish escaped IN the
The city was Mortified; the
excitement was intense, and lynch.
lag was strongly talked OF, while
very svenue OF escape WAS clos IN
Nathced' Wilson was apprehended the
next morning and lodged in Jail. For
iour days the city was closely searched
or Vac musdur n. On tho morning ol
The 10Th of OcOber Rhodes was dlscoy.
o,red concealed under house ia the
East End aud was taken into oustod y
and speedily carried TO jail. AZ the M
venIbel term of the criminal court h,
secured a continuance. Wilson, his NO
complice, was tried and acqitted. al
the January term Rhodes was tried
found guilty and sentenced 10 death
The case was appe sled 10 the court O
appeals, which affirmed the finding o
the lower court and tho criminal wa
sentenced In March last by Judge Cool
TO be privately hanged May %, whicl
sentence was duly executed In the ia'
building today. This np hpe a nfth In