The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-10-30
VOOLFOLK ON THE TRAP.
m DIED WITHOUT FLINCHING
AND WITHOUT COMPRISING.

xzov He Spent the Last Night In jail
E,s sleep Not Bad for a Man Wait
inc for Death-Last Interviews With
the Newspaper Men.
PERRY, GA, Oct. 29.-The execution Of
THOMAS g. Voolfolk for the murder Of nine
parsons. all members Of his fathers family,
took place here to-day.
The condemned mans last night on earth
WAS uneyentful. Up to IL o'clock he had
tracuent callers, with whom he chatted in
free aud easy manner On a variety of
tonics. When questioned concerning his
yuilt he always declared his innocence, pro-
.,sting at the same time that he was ready
N die. and wished to have the business over
with.
He went to sleep at o'clock and slept
souudlv until o'clock, when some unusual
noise awakened him, but in Eve minutes he
WAS again asleep, and had to be reused at
o'clock. at the change of the watch.
LAST INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESS.
Ats o'clock few newspaper men were
admitted and allowed interviews with the
prisoner, who reiterated his protestations
Of innocence and declared that he had no
statement to make. During the interview
Voolfolk talked cheerfully. indulging in
frequent jokes and laughing heartily at his
own sallieS.
Later he ate hearty breakfast and was
shaved. and, after bath, dressed in a new
suit of black, in the fit of which he took
much interest. These preparations COM
peted, several hours were allowed the con-
demned for meditation and prayer.
TAKEN TO THE scAFFoLD.
Att o'clock Voolfolk was taken in a
carriage, escorted by the Perry Rifles, to
the scaffold which had been erected in a
hind of natural coliseum, formed by the en-
crcing hills in the outskirts of the town,
where between 5000 and 10000 people had
gathered to witness the execution. The
prisoners steps were firm, he held his head
erect and looked straight into the faces of
the crowd.
On the gallows prayers were offered by
DR.. Warren of Macon, and Pastors Brew
statement, signed by Voolfolk, was read
in which he declared as his dying utter
ances, and in full recognition Of Gods all
seeing eye, that he did not take the life of
his father, or any member of his fathers
family, nor did he have any knowledge of
the person or persons who did murder them.
Voolfolk himself advancing to the front of
the stage, offered fervent prayer, calling
upon God to witness his innocence of the
crime asking for forgiveness for his enemies
and for the publication of his own
soul. The prayer produced a deep
Impression upon the multitude, and
many wept After the black cap had
been put on Voolfolk asked for five minutes
longer His petition was unanswered, and
the next moment, at / 80 O'Clock, the trap
was sprung and the body fell six feet. The
Elfv 1. -.
not broken by the fall, and death resulted
from slow strangulation. At the end of
eleven minutes, after a series of convulsions
OF the body, the pulse ceased to beat, and a
few minutes later Voolfolk was pronounced
dead and his body cut down and given to
bis relatives, VINO will bury it at Hawkins
vile.
WITH A PASTOR.
Dr. E. w. Warren of Macon, who was
pastor Of the Voolfolk family and had been
summoned at TOMS request, had long
interview with the prisoner yesterday.
The saerif unlocked the doors of the cell
and let Tom out into the corridors
% converse with the minister DIR.
n arren read and prayed with him
az S me length, Voolfolk taking deep
interest, apparently, in all he said, now
and then asking some question concerning
&1]Rolnts Is, III the doctors discourse He assured
WIN God and was ready to die. He had
nothlng but hopes of happiness hereafter.
for ne salo: II am an innocent man.
Xme for"
Dr.. Warren told Tom his doom was
eaied by law now, and it was proper for
pm 10 tell what he knew of the crime for
Thlch he is going to suffer.
PROTESTED HIS INNOCENCE.
DR.. Warren" said Voolfolk, earnestly.
Xyou wouldn't want man to tell a lie on
lmselt, would you? Well, if was to con.
ess, tnat's what l would be doing. am
In response to a question afterward Dr
Warren said he could not sav wbetbar
ooltolk was innocent or NOT WOnIv
}he doctor. '' OAHU
MAKES HIS WILL.
ON made his will and took leave of his
Vels' Mrs Edwards and Mrs, Cowau.
onuay afternoon. Fer that purpose he
as teKen by Sheriff Cooper to the court
eSe, stas, "nere ne had long talk with his
as ana strangely sad talk it
tfsctad ne two sisters were deeply
ecteo. Tom showed no more emotion
an ue mas betrayed all through the three
; als that have passed since the awful
~ ue was committed. He had the sheriff
iCe b;s MS will, giving his personal property
ns sisters, and then he signed it. His
ssVers gave him a parting embrace.
10y vent to the train and left Perry.
p"i was returned to his cell.
ATTEMPTS TO BRrBE THE WATCH.
.St rSe story is going about that Tom, few
80 80 ago, offered Mr.. johnson. the night
~, FoJO TO open door and let him out.
ouen offered him 800 for enough NOR
+~e Que. 70 take his life. Both offers were
4urSe, refused. When asked as to the
MI rinI pI these reports, Sheriff Cooper said
Asnt; so far is know, no such offer
% oeen made" The sheriffs denial was
euipnatic, however.
The CRIME FOR WHICH HE DIED.
terrible crime for which Voolfolk
Az Ced was committed on the night
Y; Ga . or in the early morning Of
!, Io0; Toward 1 o'clock in the morn
m u1rriole tIr shrieks were heard coming
> 'ns ~ direction Of the Voolfolk residence.
hin ~ Oclock Tom Voolfolk went 20 the
az Oh Green Lccket. a negro who lived
snort snort distance from the house.
In tLT]RIoTted that the entire family had
,so ArIied. IIS. Locket refused to enter the
,Tent ~tere ere the crime had been committed
pbbnSSa ana aroused some of the white
II bo5S' An Investigation revealed the
Z Poo PPoule' OF Capt. Voolfolk and his wife,
llnger ears voolfolk, the baby and his two