Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-18
CRUMPTON MUST HANG.
The President Declines to Interfere I'm
the Case.

tne S8bes
The President has declined to interfere in
the case Of Thomas Crumpton, the negro
murderer, and he will be hanged at the
District jail on Friday, the 9th instant.
between the hours of and u o'clock. This
is the case in which Representative Ray
ner interested himself. He was touched by
the convict's statement that he was willing
to die for his crime. provided his wife and
family were cared for after he was gone.
The Presidents Endorsement of the petit
ton for a communication of Crumpton's SEN
tence to Imprisonment for life is as fol-
lows:
II have fully examined the facts in this
case. so far as they have been presented to
me. and have considered the statements
made by the judge who tried and sentenced
the convict. and of the district attorney
who prosecuted the case. Roth of these
officials express the opinion that the verdict
of murder in the first degree was the verdict
called for by the evidence. and neither OF
them suggests any palliating circumstances.
1 can find nothing in the case to relieve II
Of the features of a deliberate and prefnedi-
tated murder, and therefore cannot justify
myself in interfering with the sentence OF
the court"
Surprise to His Friends.
The action Of the President was a COM
plete surprise to the friends and family Of
the condemned man. who had felt reason
ably certain that the sentence would be
committed to life imprisonment.
When Congressman Rayner of Baltimore
interested himself in the mans behalf. be-
cause of his pathetic appeal for his wife
and children during cold weather, his wife
and friends felt sure that he would at
least succeed in saving the life OF the con-
demned man. although the latter has not
been led to believe that such would be the
case. He has conducted himself in gen.
tlemanly way, and for several weeks has
devoted most of his time to religious duties.
Rev John Roberts of the colored Y. NJ. {.
A being his spiritual adviser. Crumpton
has been taking part in the religious serv-
ices held in the JAIL and he never misses
an opportunity of speaking from the steps
in the case, and asking forgiveness, as
we'll as to state his own case as a horrible
example of the evils of intemperance and
wrong doing.
Preparing for the End.
Crumpton's spiritual adviser was perhaps
the most sadly disappointed man among the
friends Of the condemned man when he
heard of the Presidents action. He had
been interested in the case. and had rem
dered every assistance possible to those who
took the case to the President.
The murder as heretofore printed in The
Star. was committed in South Washington
on the 18th day of June of last year, and
Crumpton was arrested on the evening of
the day he fired the fatal shot.
Soon after the summer recess of the court
the grand jury returned an indictment for
murder. and after a trial. lasting five days.
he was convicted.
Then the court sentenced him to hang on
the 27th of this month between the hours
of 8 and ~ O'Clock.
A motion for a new trial was made and
overruled.
An appeal to the higher court was made
and withdrawn for the reason. perhaps, that
the condemned mar was without funds.
Will Soon Set the Death Watch.
Now that the President has taken final
action in the case and the condemned mans
last hope is gone. preparations for his ex-
ecution next week will soon be made, and
the death watch will be put on duty
Rev. Roberts pays frequent visits to the
Jail and is much encouraged concerning his
spiritual welfare.