Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-30

own room ana iu tiic ihiuos "
death had cooIly washed his body. He
had scrubbed the floor around his bed
with soap and water, but the tell-tale
human fluid could not DO rubbed from
the soft pine boards, and his footprints
showed where he had stalked through
the rooms and hall to see If his bloody
deed was successful.
HIS SEVERAL TRIALS
Bit by bit the evidence accumulated
against him, until on his first trial In
January. 1888, his counsel could oifer
nothing to break down the iron cham OF
evidence. His conviction was rapid, but
when the Supreme Court justice set aside
the verdict upon a technicallty the peo-
pie became Justly restless. IL was not
until August, 1889, that a final trial was
given. resulting in verdict OF guilty.
All motions for a new trial have since
been refused. and at last, after years OF
waiting, the law-abiding and law. LOVING
people OF this section have seen this hui
man butcher meet fate which seems
entirely too hight for his offence.
HIS LAST NIGHT.
Thomas G.. Voolfolk paid the death
penalty on Che gnllows here to-day IN
the presence Of crowd OF 5000 people.
The condemned man enjoyed a good
nights sleep last night he received
visitors up TO 10 O'Clock, chatting gho-
ly with his callers OIL any subject that
happened 10 come up. In response 10
all injuries rs to his guilt he steadiastiy
protested his innocence, at the same
time declaring that he was tired
of Jail life. did not want reprleve,
and was ready TO die. From 2 O'Clock
A. NJ. to 4 he slept soundly. This morn
ing nj s he was turned from ms cell INTO
the Jail corridor where he talked Tor
some time with party OF newspaper,
men. laughing at his own wittlcisIns ana
making frequent sarcastic remarks. he
then took a bath and was shaved ana
dressed in new suit OF solid black.
STILL PROTESTED HIS INNocENCE.
For an hour he was closeted with Dr.
F.. W. Warren, OF Macon, and Pastors
Brewton and Moorehouse, of Perry, his
spiritual advisers. To them Voolfolk
| nrofessed 10 have made his peace with
God and to believe that he would go to
Heaven when he died. Again he de-
clared, "Before God I'm innocent OF
this crime.
Tom ate a hearty breakfast, carrying
on n laughing conversation with his
guards while he ate and consuming his
usual amount of food with evident
relish.
THE DEATH-EscoRT.
At / o'clock the doomed man was
escorted from the jail to the scaffold,
which had been erected IN a little valley
near the town. forming natural amphi-
theatre with the scaffoh as the centre.
HIS DYING DECLARATION.
Voolfolk assembled the gallows with q
firm step and faced the vast crowd I'M
hinchingly. Prayerswere offered by the
officiating ministers. Then a written
statement. signed by Voolfolk, was read
in which he offered it as his dying decla-
ration that he did not take the life OF his
father. or any member OF his fathers
family. nor did he know who was guilty
of the crime.
Voolfolk then offered up a fervent
prnyer TO God in his own behalf. IN
which he renewed his protestatlons OF
innocence.
STRANGLED.
Just before the trap was sprung he
begged the Sheriff to let hin have Just
five minutes longer, but the request was
not granted, and at 81 Z. NJ the drop
fell. Death resulted from strangulatlon,
the pulse ceasing to beat at eleven MIN
utes after the fall.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
TBy Associated press.l
PERRY. GA, October 29.-Thornas q.
Voolfolk was hanged here to-day for
numbering nine persons, all members OF
his fathers family, on August g, 1887.
The doomed man slept well last night
from 2 o'clock until 4. He got up at 3
and had long interview with party OF
newspaper men, with whom he conversed
for half an hour,
LAUGHING AND EXCHANGING JOKES,
and being seemingly absolutely undis-
turbed by his approaching death. After
the departure OF his visitors he bathed
and shaved and put on a new suit OF
clothes. He was then visited by several
of his relatives, whom he babe farewell
without betraying any emotion.
HOPES TO MEET HIS MINISTER'S IN HEAVEN.
Later he was closeted with his spiritual
advisers, to whom he protested his belief
in his salvation and his perfect hope OF n
future life, telling the ministers that he
hoped TO meet them in Heaven, For
| several hours thereafter Voolfolk was
left alone, and devoted the time to medi-
tation and prayer.
EscoBTsD TO THE GALLONS.
About o'clock he was conveyed I'M
der escort of the local military to gal
lows which had been built in little val
lev in the outskirts of the town. Seven
or eight thousand people swarmed upon
the hill-sides around to watch the execu
ton. On the gallows Voolfolk was COO
and composed. After the ministers had
prayed he himself prayed fervently, de-
claring his innocence in bis invocation
HR AssEvERATEs HIS INNOCENCE.
A written statement signed by Wool
folk was read, in which he gave it as his
diving declaration that he was innocent
OF the crime for which he was being
executed. At 1871 the drop fell.
HE DIES OF STANDARDIZATION.
, The fall failed to break his neck, an(
death resulted from strangulation, hi
, pulse continuing TO beat for clever
minutes after the fall. twenty-five
minutes later the body was cut down.
s ruc ,vcorcpN yOaAccO COMPANY