Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-26
THE DEATH PENALTY.
VHoMAs WILSON HANGED FOR THE
MURDER OF jim DAVIS.
W,I1~d n q "Cske Walk "--wiison's Last
Words, "Good.lly, Good-py Meet
NE In Heaven"
Especial telegram to the pispasch.I

ManrINsvrrIE. Va, July 25.-Thomas
Wilson is dead. At II AN. four colored
divines went TO his cell and held appro'
pirate services, all making short and feeling
talks. and Preacher Nicholson offered up
the finest PRAYER ever heard here. The
prisoner joined in the singing. ms
brother came IN during the services and
fell on the condemned mans neck ana
wcpt bitterly. but for good reasons the
pr;soner reouested the taller 10 remove
him out of the enclosure. saying: III my
brother had no moro respect for me than
20 come to my hanging drunk l do not
wish for him 10 be present" At l1:4O
Wilson came out Of jail dressed in neat
black suit and walked deliberately and IN
aided upon the scahoid.
IT WAS WHISKY.
He told the people that whiskey brought
him 10 this IAN our DAYS are numbered !;
mine is to-day. | am ready TO CO." He
then lead in singing. oh, mother. VIII
you meet me on Cansan's happy shore!
Then there was o prayer by. Professor
Holmes, and Wilson again led In Singing,
Z" am going home To die no more a
PRAYER was offered by Rev. Nicholson, and
a benediction bv Rev. Carter. The Sherih
then adjusted the rope around the prison
er's neck, when he smiled and said: That
is choking me; fix it right want To die
right"
MET NE IN HEAVEN
The black cap was pulled over bis face,
and all present said "Good-by," Wilson re-
spending in cheerful and hrm voice;
"Good-by, good-by: meet me IN Heaven.
Deputy Sheriff b. 7. Davis sprung the trap
door. and Thomas Wilson was hurled into
eternity.
Drs. Anderson and Smith pronounced
life extinct IN five minutes. He was cut
down in twenty minutes and placed IN
neat coffin. His neck was broken, and he
died without n struggle. Never was there
greater nerve exhibited.
HISTORY Oh TIT CRIME.
On Saturday night. October Is, 1887,
there was at the residence of Sam. Jones
(colored), just outside of the corporate
limits of the town. a "cake-cutting," at
which had assembled large crowd OF ne
eroes. Whiskey, boisterous talk, and gen
eral disorder were the cardinal features OF
the occasion.
About 1 o'clock when the Sambos and d.
nahs were cutting the "pigeon-wing the
"Georgie buck" and other popular dances
among the southern negroes, two pistol
shots rang out on the stiffness OF the nlght
in rapid succession. This not beng I'M
usual. the dance continued, but jim
Davis, a strong. athletic colored man,
was prone upon the ground with
the large artery leading to the heart severed
by bullet. and Thomas Wilson was fleeing
with the brand of Cain upon him.. Oiacers
soon reached the place stopped the dance,
made some arrests, and took charge OF the
corpse. An inquest was held on SUNDAY,
the verdict of the jury being Jim Davis
was deliberately murdered by Thomas
Wilson. The evidence was overwhelming.
Bad whisbey and worse women were the
cause OF the tragedy.
ARRESTED.
Wilson was arrested IN few DAYS in
Patrick county. He confessed his crime.
was indicted. elected to be tried in the
Circuit Court. The court appointed George
ID. Gravely and S. A. Anderson, two OF the
ablest lawyers in this district, 10 defend
him. He was vigorously prosecuted by
w. II. Gravely. and was convicted at the
October term. 1888.
AGAIN CONVICTED.
The verdict was set aside on a techni-
cality and he was convicted again at the
MAY term, 1899. The case then went to
the Supreme Court, was affirmed, and the
prisoner resentenced at the June term,
1890. Failing to have his sentence COM
muted by the Governor he paid the penalty
of his crime to-day. Wilson was twenty
three years old. weighed LIS pounds. was
of ginger-cake color, and had previously
borne good character.
Jim Davis, who was killed, was a splen-
did young man, quiet and peaceabie.