The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-30
A BLOODY VILLAIN,
After Years of Delay, At Length Pays the
Penalty of His Crime.

MACON, Ga. oct. 29-ThOmas voolfolk
was hanged here at 80 this afternoon for
the murder OF nine persons. On August 6.
! 1887. the bodies Of Richard f. Voolfolk, a
we'll 10 do white planter, his wife, their six
children. and his wife's sister were found
| living i'm pools of blood in the Voolfolk resi-
| dence. \ short-handled axe, cl0tted with
/ blood ANA hair, was found in the hallway
! of the house. The bodies Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Voolfolk and their infant lay in
the same bed, and across the three
cOrpses tine body Of the eldest daughter,
| a recent graduate of W Wesleyan College. had
been thrown. In other rooms the bodies OF
the other victims were found, and evidences
Of terrible struggles were 10 be seen.
Thomas G.. Voolfolk, the only surviving
member of the family, was arrested. He
protested his innocence when brought into
the room where the bodies lay, and eXhl-
blted no nervousness. He narrowly cs-
capped lynching, and the c0rOnel's jury held
Voolfolk accountable for the crime. Blood
was found on his body and on bis under
clothing. The garments that be had worn
on the day of the murder were found soaked
in blood in an old well. His trial lasted
ten days, and an attempt was made to
show that the crime was committed
by negro desperate; but the
Jury found Voolfolk guilty after being out
twenty minutes. He was sentenced 10 be
hanged on February 10, 1855 but the Su-
preme Court Of the state granted him new
trial. After many legal impedments had
been overcome, voolfolk was sentenced 10
he hanged August IL, 1859; but legal tech
nicalities were again interpOsed, and on
October !, 1889, he was resentenced To be
hanged October -, 1890. WOOlfolk's motive
for the crime was desire TO obtain posses
l... Narlfl lgh no
feared would 90 TO his fathers second wife
and her children.
DECLARES HIS INNOCENCE TO THE IAsI.
The execution took place in the outskirts
of the town of Perry. Georgia, and was
witnessed by 1000 or 5000 people. On the
eallows Voolfolk was cool and composed.
After the minister had prayed, he himself
prayed feryently, and declared his innO-
ceuce i'm his prayer. a written statement
signed by Voolfolk was read, in which he
gave it as his dying declaration that he was
Innocent of the crime for which he was
being executed.
THE EXECUTION.
At 1881 the drop fell. The fall failed to
break his neck and death resulted from
strangulation, his pulse continuing 10 beat
for eleven minutes after the fall. Twenty
i've minutes later the body was cut down.
THE LAST NIGHT.
The doomed man slept well last night
from . 10 4 O'Clock. He got up at 5 O'Clock
this morning, and had long interview
with party Of newspaper men, with
whom he cOnvcrsed for half an hour,
laughing and exchanging Jokes and
being seemingly absolutely undisturbed
bv his approaching death. After the de-
narture ofhis visitors he bathed and shaved
and put on a new suit Of clothes. He was
then visited by several Of his relatives. TO
whom he bade farewell without betraying
any motion. Later on he was clOseted for
nm hour with his spiritual advisors, aud
after their departure he devoted the time To
meditation and prayer until he was cohduc-
ted 10 the gallOws.