The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1891-11-04
WILLIAMSON HANGED
4 Four Times Murderer Pays the
Last Penalty.
ing on His LlD>-The Trial and
Crimes If the Executed Man.
Efforts to Secure Ciemency.


Sedallu, Mo Oct. 31-Thomas A.
Williamson was hanged in the jail
yar1 iii thi, city at ten clock this |
forenoon. Precisely at 1905 the
trap Was sprung, and six minutes
later life Was pronounced extinct.
The execution was performed by
Sheriff Ellis r Smith. assisted by
Sheriff \. Hornbrook, Of Cooper
county and Mat. Ayers Of Saline
county. There were seventyfve
persons present III tue enclosure sur
rounding the scaffold They COM
prised the twelve jurymen who con
victed Williamson, the medical ex
aminers. lawyers. officers and news
! paper men. The street IN front Of
the Jail was packed for block with
men. women and children. and the
tops of all high buildings i'll prox
unity TO the jail We're literally alive
with hooting men ana boys The
police had a hard time IN keeping
the crowd out Of the jail.
At the hour of 10 Williamson APP
peared il the yard supported on
either side by Father Murphy and
Sheriff Smith. When placed upon
the trap Sheriff Smith said: Uncle
Tom, have you anything to say"
The doomed man stood firmly, fac
ing the crowd Tears stood in his
eyes, but not a muscle moved Said
he: what l am going to say Is this:
l have been going down hill for
years; / am going to try to got to
heaven. Sheriff Smith has been
good to he ever since | have been
here To all who have been good
to me 1 am much obliged. Boys,
boys, take my advice and be good
or else it will go hard with you.
Sobs choked further utterances He
stepped back, the deputies strapped
his legs and arms, the black cap was
adjusted. and with a God have
/ mercy on your soul, Sheriff Smith
sprung the trap, and so Williamson
died. When he was pronounced
dead the body was cut down ant
turned over to an undertaken to b,
prepared for interment The funer
al took place at 3 O'Clock this after
/ noon from st. Vincent's Catholi,
, Church.
At 11:30 o'clock last night Viii
| hanson retired to rest. He slep
soundly until 3:25 this morning
when he arose and dressed. At
o clock the sacrament of the hoi,
communion was administered by Rev
: Father Murphy. The intervening
, hours were spent by Us condemned
, man in smoking and chatting will
the press representatives, who KEEP
him company. He bore up remark
ably we'll until one hour before the
: execution, when he had frequent
, spells of weeping. He SHOWED
| "nerve" and faced death bravely.
WILLIAMSON cR1MK.
williamson crime was the mur
> der of Jefferson and Charles Moore
father and son. on farm three mile
southeast of this city in May, 1890
The old man was SO years of age
his son IS. 1t was their custom te
l attend meetings of the Salvation
, Army in this city. 4 at one -
V these meetings they met Williamson
u. The latter was sited to share thei
' dwelling. He did so.
e May IA Williamson aud Charles
: Moore, the son. went out. osterSibl,
}. to repair some fencing. The formel
+ returned alon and told the old mai
=. his son had goue to visit relatives il
5 Barton county. Williamson as expla
1 nation Of lis disappearance was ?.
). cepte' In few days the neighbour
: noticed that the elder Moore has
: also disappeared. Sunday, May y
however, a farmer passing the hous
Y saw NJ one around and suspecte,
4 something "a7 Us. The myste
= rious disappearance of the Moore
}. then began to be discussed, and !