The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-10-12
Tho Wife.Murderer Hanged.

William Wilson was hanged in the Jail
ward at eleven minutes after II o'clock on
Friday morning last. He was pronounced
dead in twenty. three minutes by Drs. J.
P. Duckett snd A. s. Todd, and in thirty
minutes from the drop he was cut down,
placed in cheap coffin and the coffin re-
moved to the street where his friends
| might take the corpse in charge.
Wilson'S case Is familiar to the people
Of tho County. On the morning OF May
10th last William, otherwise known as
her in few minutes, and then cut his
own throat, from which he soon recover
ed. Wilson's crime was particularly
cruel and revolving one. His victim was
woman quietly making child's gar
ment and totally unconscious OF the aw-
| tul fate awaiting her, his wife whom be
lad sworn to love and protect, his best
and bosom friend, the mother OF his chill
dren. And the mother was slain by the
father in the presence of their three or
four little children.
Wilson'S neighbors were justly indig-
nant at his shocking crime, and doubtless
would have hung him to the nearest tree
had he not been 80 severely wounded and
had not they been earnestly entreated to
allow the law to deal with the case.
They consented to this course. and
doubtless to their satisfaction as we'll as to
everybody's there were none of the laws
delays in administering punishment to
the guilty wretch.
He was tried at the June term Of Court
and promptly convicted OF murder by the
Jury. He was sentenced to be hanged on
October 7, 1892. In less thsn five months
from the day that his hand inflicted death
on hin wife the hand Of the law admins
tered the punishment Of death to him.
On Friday morning the writer visited
Wilson in his cell. he was different
looking man from what he was five
months ago. The defiant look had given
place to one Of utter despair. The OK
pressed desire Of wanting to be hung had
been eupplanted by terrible fear OF the
gallows and the life to come. His face
wore the expression Of man who was in
an agony of pain and had been for days.
He talked freely and spoke to those he
recognized as they came into his cell.
He gave detailed account of the murder
of his wife. He said he had thought of
killing her and himself number of times
before he did, but knew if he killed her
and not himself he would be hung, He
gave no cause for his crime. On the con.
trary, he said his wife was good and kind
to him, though he said masonry was at
the bottom of it, as his wife kept after him
to do two things, viz, to join the masons
and buy shot gun. He would not or could
not explain what he meant by that, e1-
cept to say some one had taught her lot
OF masonry. He said he was not q mason.
When asked what were his hopes for
the future he would generally reply in
voice OF agony and fear, "Men, it Is an
awful thing to 60 into the presence OF the
living God"
Sheriff Bolt came into the cell at some
time after 10 o'clock and asked the pris.
oner what hour he would name for tho
hanging 20 take place. he designated IL
o'clock, and asked the Sheriff how long
the fall would be. He was told 1t would
be about his length.
DR.. Frierson talked with him then and
road the 5lst Psalm. The doomed man
criod freely. Rev. G. B. Smith also talked
him q little later on the scaffold and
prayed for him. 1t is doubtful If the
unhappy murderer at any time expressed
the belief that be would be saved.
At near the appointed hour Wilson re.
ouested that the Sheriff be told to come
for him. The Sheriff appeared and read
the sentence Of death as passed by Judge
Fraser at the last Sessions.
The prisoners hands were then secured
behind him and black gown put on him
which reached below his feet. He was In
his shirt sleeves and asked to be hanged
that way, but of course that was not al
lowed. He was then escorted to the gal
lows between two guards and went quiet
". On the scaffold he made rambling
and incoherent talk Of several minutes
and then asked the ministers to pray for
him.
At the close OF the prayers the rope and
the black cap were adjusted, and while
this was being done and when the depu-
ties began leaving him, the intense excite
ment under which he had been laboring
all morning, become almost frantic and
his appeals for mercy and for God to be
with him were little less than wild
dread.
In the midst Of his cries the trap fell,
and the Scriptural command was fulfilled
which saws, "Whoso sheddeth mans
blood by man shall his blood be she'd"
A large crowd had gathered around the
Jail premises to witness the ghastly sight,
but Capt. Hills company kept them with
out prescribed limits and the peace and
quiet of the day were all that could be de-
sired.
The skillful manner in which the exc.
cution was performed and the general
management OF the affair were highly
creditable to Sheriff Bolt aud his assist.
ants.
When the body was carried to the street,
and Capt Hill had started his company
| for the armory, rush was made by the
hundreds of people standing around to see
| the corpse, and in few minutes strug-
CLING mass OF humanity, white and black
were striving for q look at the dead man.
Wilson's neck was broken and the rope
cut deeply into the flesh. That was due
| perhaps to the fact that his neck was ten
der from his recent wound.
Some friends were present in wagon
and took charge of the remains and car
ried them off.
Four years ago las! April Jap Davis was
| hanged here for the murder Of his wife.
He lay in await for her early one morning
and shot her as she was returning home
from her brothers house. He and Will
son were from the same general section,
both white men, both were hung for kill
| ing their wives and no other hanging has
taken place within the four years.
May the Juries of Anderson never fail
to condemn wife-murderers to the gal
| lows!
CentervlIlo Itemg.
Picking cotton and pulling corn Is the
order OF tne DAY. rou..o o.o