Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-02-04
EARLY MORNING HANGING
"Bully" Adams Slayer Dies
on the Scaffold.
HE MEETS DEATH HEROICALLY
Great Crowds Want to See
the Hanging.
The First Execution in Kent County,
Md, Since the Cosden Murderers Were
Hanged, in 1S51--Thomas Thompson,
Colored, Hanged for the Murder OF
William Adams.
spec al correspondence aazette and journal

Spec al Correspondence Gazette and Journal
CHEsTERTowN, ND, Jan. 3d.
Thomas Thompson, colored, the MUIR
derer OF William Adams, also colored,
paid the penalty of his crime on the
gallows at $50 o'clock this morning.
To avoid any possibility of trouble,
though no trouble whatever was appre-
hended, and to avoid rush which, for
some days past it has been known would
come to town to witness the execution,
Sheriff Plummer made the hour early,
and late developments have shown that
his fears in the latter case were we'll
founded. For several days past nerv-
GUS excitement has pervaded the col
orod community, and many whites had
shown an inordinate desire to witness
the hanging.
All of yesterday squads of curious
colored people hovered near the Jail and
throngs of white men were anxsously
trying to secure tickets OF admission,
and if not successful, to secure al sight
of the fatal scaffold, the first erected in
the county since the execution Of the
three Cosden murderers in 1851.
The prisoner bore the ordeal oA tho
preparations for his death bravely and
was bright and gave a weldomc
called, stating that he had no feafsof,
death and was ready to die. Even the
saving and hammering in the building
of the scaffold, which could be plainly
heard by him, had no Oppressive effects
but he cheerily stated that it made no
difference to him. Several weeks ago
he stated to the death-watch that he
wauld be brave TO the end and would
give no more trouble than possible.
The crime for which Thompson suf-
fered death was the murder of William,
alias BULLY" Adams, on the streets of
Chestertown, about IL O'Clock on the
night of August 22d, 1891. Adams was
originally of Salisbury, Nd, but hid
worked for several years around the
wharves and in the packing houses bf
Baltimore. Year before last he came 10
Kent county as peach pluck and
secured work on farms near Chestek-
town, but returned to the CITY in thle
fall. He came over again last summdr
and picked peaches for William Brownl
near Chestertown, and had been in th9
county only about two weeks before hiA
death. Z,
Among other acquaintance formed
was Thompson, with whom it appears,
though it was not shown at the trial, he,
had an alteration in regard to a game,
of "crap." On the night of August 22d,
while hundreds of peach plucks or
tramps, both white and colored, were on
the streets, Thompson deliberately sought J
Adams out, treated him to cigars and
cider, enticed him to a dark and at the
time comparatively deserted street. and
without word of warning or an init.
nation of the deadly assault with one
thrust of knife cut two ribs entirely in
two and penetrated the heart causing
wound large enough to admit
the ends of two fingers, killing his VIC
tim instantly. Thompson escaped in
the darkness and tramped to CLAYTON,
and from there to Wilmington, Del,
and was at both places offered money
with which to make his escape, but in
several days was arrested while return
ing to Chestertown TO surrender himself
to the officers. His trial and conviction
followed the fall term of the circuit
court and he was placed in jail, securely
leg-ironed and was apparently resigned
TO his fate, but on Saturday, December
10Th. Sheriff Plummer made the startling
discovery that his prisoner had sawed
both leg-irons off, had tied the useless
chains with strings to keep them from
falling off until the proper time arrived
to attempt to escape. lie was then
made donbly secure.
Twenty minutes after the drop fell
the body was cut down by order of the
Jail physician, Dr. w. Frank Hines,
who gave as his opinion that death was
instantaneous and resulted from dislo-
cation of the neck.
Guards to the number of at least,50
surrounded the scaffold during the exc
cution.
a CONNECTICUT EXECUTION.
LITcHFIELD, Conn, Jan. 29.-An-
drew Borjesen, the murderer of Emma
Anderson, was hanged in the Jail here
this forenoon. The drop fell at 1880
o'clock, and the victim OF the law was
dead in II minutes thereafter.
Delaware War Claim.
Senator Gray has introduced in the