The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-09
VAN THOMPSON HANGED.
HIS HANDS WERE TWICE STAINED WITH
BLOOD.
He Acknowledges His Guilt in XIII.
ing Two Men for the Sole Pur.
pose of Robbery The Final
Scenes in the Official Tragedy.

Van Thomson was born In YORK county ]
and in gold mines at different places. H
was In Chester in December, 1889, and whe
the hands were paid off he resolved to posses
himself of the pay OF some other laborer, AM
cared little which OF his comrades might be
come a victim to his averice and suffer at hi
Inurderous hand. 1t so happened that b.
and Ephraim Laddls were together In sc
Main Street, on the Monticello road. Al
though he had pistol, he concluded not u
use IT., for reasons which would suggest them
selves. and utilized a rock with which h'
crused the head of Ephriam Ladds. Abou
sl5 in money was taken from his pocket ant
the body was left where the murder tool
place. The killing was so skilfully done, tha
Van Thompson had not been even suspected
of the crime. Several colored men were
however, suspected, and were arrested, bu
because OF lack OF evidence against them
they were released, and the affair had about
passed ont of mind, and no one OF late had q
thought of ever discovering the perpetrator.
Immediately after the perpetration OF this
deed Van Thompson left Chester, and In May
beville County on the g., c. d N. road, under
contract for Mr.. ]. A. Crawford, who after.
ward was one of the chief witnesses in the
| trial.
At the store OF Mr.. Benjamin In that neigh
borhood he met Jack Bracket, who was also
All axeman, and ready 10 cut crossties.
Bracket made an exhibition OF money at the
store, and Van Thompson resolved to take II
from him. They went to work on the bot.
toms of Coronaca Creek, Thompson intending
to Kill Bracket that day, but Bracket exhib.
tied bis pistol when he shot snake. Be.
cause he had the pistol Thompson postponed
his contemplated murder. The next day,
Bracket did not have his pistol, and while
they were sitting on the bank OF the stream:
pecting no harm, he struck him blow across
the head which crushed bis skull. Another
blow with the axe, and the deed was COM
plete. His pockets were searched and S4;2o
r IL E~~ 81, a.,
work. Brackett's body, his coat. his bucket
and his hat, we're put In the creek, under
some raft. The body was accidentally dis:
covered few days later. Thompson bad fed
from the place. The first night after the MUIR
der. he stayed with Boney Williams at Green.
wood. From there he went TO Newberry and
boarded few days with woman VINO lived
In Colonel Leyelrs yard. From there he went
to Columbia. Shelton and Union. Perhaps,
with a curiosity due to his crime. he succeed.
ed In Witnessing the hanging, of an at
Union. Being greatly troubled because Of his
crime he could not work, and roved from
when he was arrested under proclamation OF
the Governor. who had offered q reward for
his arrest.
HIS TRIAL AND CONVICTION.
He was ably defended by Mr.. Barber of the
Chester Bar and because Of the fear Of the
guilt of his client the trial was postponed sew.
eral times In the hope that ,s additional & ev'
finally, the prisoner had to come to trial.
The evidence was entirely circumstancial,
out II pointed unerringly to his guilt. At the
January term OF the Court he was convicted:
and sentenced to be hanged the fourth Of
March.
II any effort was made to stay the execu-
tion, or to commute the sentence, we are not
aware OF the fact.
Owing to the fact thai 1t has not been the
custom TO hang our own men for murder
there was felt some sympathy for the man
whose besi friend was perhaps the man whose
duty II was 10 execute him; He u was kindly
He received spiritual consolation from Rev.
the pastor IN charge OF the colOred
church. and spent much OF bis
time in reading the Scriptures, seemingly
God.
GETTING READY FOR THE EXECUTION.
For the murder OF John Bracket. Van
Thompson was executed at Abbeville, March
|, 1892.
On the morning OF the execution various
persons were ut the Jail among whom were
Rev. NJ. Dargan, Rev. Mcdaniel, and report |
.rs for the Greenville News and the Press and
Banner. The. ministers OF the gospel gave
spiritual consolation TO the condemned, who
asked the Reverend brethren to follow him 10
he scaffold.
Ill was placed black robe. The black cap
was also put on with the front thrown back. |
When the Sheriff intimated that he must |
asten his hands behind him, he handed the |
he opening in the CRATE, which were received |
BY the colored preacher, Thompson remark
ing that he was now done with them, and |
hat the preacher could return them TO those |
who had loaned them to him.
The prisoner talked OF death, which must
come to all, but said nothing OF the crime OF
which he was convicted, except that the sem
ence was just. He hoped for mercy.
A ffnr av,A- -ot,f f1oey hn rIc f,a arif
left the cell for little while, and returning
about twelve O'Clock, the shackles were put
lpon his feet, when the march to the scaffold
was commenced.
The scaffold Is the same which was made by
Sheriff Jones on which TO hang LOwndesville
In 1873 It was first erected In the
,pen air. and was made large enough to hang
men a. one Time but before the dsy
sentence OF seven OF them, and only three
we're hanged. Afterward the law required
executions 10 be private. The scaffold was
hen moved In little house in the Jail yard,
Ind until last Friday this instrument OF
leath has been called into use but once,
when Adam q negro from Mill
way, was hanged for the murder OF his wife.
rhe testimony In his case was circumstantial,
,ut 1t was unmistakable. His wife was
ound dead under tree near the house, with
/ limb lying on her. The difficulty In max
ng 1t appear that the limb fell from the tree
md killed her lay in the TACT. that the tree
vas OF one variety Of oak, and the limb was
II another variety. The plan didn't work TO
leceive, and the murderous husband was
hanged.
On reaching the scaffold, the Sheriff and the
prisoner ascended the steps. The Sheriff at
,nce adjusted the moose around his neck.
When that was done, the Sheriff intimated
hat II he desired he would have q few min.
ltes In which TO talk. The doomed man then
aid, substantially:
TALK ON THE SCAFFoLD.
You all see my condition. In a few min
ties will not be here. will be In the world
Il which we know 80 little. enter on that
Quincy relying on the word OF Jesus Christ
o comfort me and guide me in the land TO
which 60.
We have all got to die, and we will meet
gain ut the judgment day. l don't want
nybody else 70 be hanged. hope that may
re the last man to suffer death In that way.
trust that the lesson Of my death may
each the hearts OF others and restrain them
rom evil doing. have given 10 the preach
rs the text from which l wish them to
reach, aud have asked them to give It to
he editors so that they iaay publish 1t 10 the
world.
thought my case. like the Apostle Paul's,
orter bad, and l chose him as my leader
ince have been under sentence OF death.
II is sad to think how have trided with
ny opportunities and wasted my time.
ope that you all may follow Jesus. If you
blow him, no trouble will come, and happi.
.ess will be with you oil your life, but If you
ll0w Satap ho xpIl mn Won N ppu apd |