Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-27


OF the scaffold. and there the pace was less
ened.
Ascending the long stairway Crumpton
stood facing the crowd of spectators while
the Rev. Howard read the familiar words Of
the twenty-third Psalm.
Mr.. Payne and the ministers then sang
the hymn. Have Mercy on Me, Oh, Jesus"
An Unfinished Prayer.
In the meantime the moose was adjusted
and the black cap drawn. Instead Of read
ing the statement prepared in the morning
Crumpton delivered prayer in a tone Of
voice which showed clearly that he was I'M
der the strong influence of his recent relig-
ious instruction.
'"Oh. Lord" he began, "bless us by Thy
holy love. Come and preach the Gospel to
fulfill Thy words, and command that all
may have life eternal and happiness for
ever.
II thank Thee this morning that Thou
hast given me the privilege to repent for
my sins in Washington in the name of the
Son and Thee. Heavenly Father bless this
congregation that is here. Oh, God, our
Heavenly Father, prepare them to meet
Thee in Thy kingdom.
BLESS this entire building. and when
Thou hast seen ft that Thy arrow be
walls, who will not yield to Thy call, strike
them with the hammer of jeremiah.
"Oh, God. I rejoice in this"
The Drop.
Just then Warden Leonard drew from his
pocket his handkerchief, which signal was
responded by the opening of the trap, and
all that was mortal of Thomas Crumpton
was suspended from the cross beam by a
partly broken rope.
1t was feared that the rope would give
way entirely after 1t was seen that the fall
mad broken 1t partly in two, but as a pre-
cautfonary measure a new rope was tied
about the hanging form.
There was hardly a motion Of the body,
and the absence of the twitching that usu-
any Iolows the drop was noticeable.
Death Came Quickly.
Conclusion had killed the man. so the
Jail physician. DR.. McWilliams. said, and
even IL the rope had broken in two and
the man had been again suspended, he
said, they would have hung a dead man.
The drop fell at 1:12, and 1t was twenty
eight minutes before the heart ceased
beating.
Three minutes later the body was lowered
to coffin that had been brought there
by Undertaken Harvey.
Drs. McWilliams, Beatty and Bovee made
an examination Of the body and a differ
ence of opinion resulted as to whether or
| not the neck was broken.
Rev. DIR. Williams pronounced benedic-
ton and went through the usual form of
consigning the body to the grave.
After the crowd of spectators and others
naQ departed the BODY was removed to
Mr.. Harvey's undertaking establishment
and was afterward taken to Graceland
cemetery and inferred In a lot given by
Mrs. Dewey, employer Of Mrs. Crumpton.
Crumptcn's Life.
Thomas Crumpton was born forty three
years ago. His parents at that time lived
in shanty just north Of Rockville not far
from where a band Of Coxeyites are now
camping, preparatory to their march to the
national capital When Thomas was a
small boy his parents made their way to
this city and lived here till they died. So
far is known, Thomas never did any,
thing of which his parents had reason to
be proud. In his earlier days he was sent
or as a seaman in the service Of Uncle
Sam, and upon his return to this city he
had an experience in police circles which
resulted in his being sent to the peniten-
tiary for eighteen months, minus about FIVE
months for good behavior. He had been
arrested for some trivial offense, but when
under arrest he bit one Of the ears of Po-
lice Sergeant Mulhall. The sergeant will
carry the mark to his grave.
rms experience was the result of strong
drink. Afterward he married, and for a
time he did much better than he did during
his single days and made home happy fer
his wife and the three children born to
them.
His Crime.
Nearly two years ago, when he lived in
house where David Shanklin resided,
there was some trouble between the fami-
lies. which was never settled, although the
families soon afterward went to live in
separate houses.
Crumpton went to a house on Delaware
avenue between 1 and streets southwest
In the locality known as "Bloodfield," and
next door to him resided David Shanklin
and his family. For months there was not
an angry word passed between them. but
on Saturday, the 10th of June last Mrs
Shanklin went to her former home in vir-
ginia. leaving her husband to care for the
home and himself
This gave Crumpton an opportunity to
settle the old score between them without
interference On the part of Shanklin's wife.
AND SO the following day, Sunday, the men
met on dangerous ground and renewed the
hostilities started nearly year before.
On that fatal morning Shanklin and sew
erai friends were seated on the doorsteps
IN 'front.' OF his home, when Crumpton, who
had been drinking, came out. Shanklin,
VINO was not more than twenty-four years
oid, was peaceably Inclined and spoke to
Crumpton In friendly way But the lat
ter was In bad humor and he resented
Shanklin's intended friendliness. He ad-
vanced on Shanklin and there was a fight.
IN which the former was worsted. but not
badly treated. Friends who were present
separated the men and Crumpton, NUT
tering threats, went in the house and took
nap. Before going he made the remark /:
Il have been In the penitentiary once and
4
When he arose he put his head out the
secord-story window and remarked: I'll
make some - crawl on his hands and
knees before night"
Leaving his house he walked down to
the office of the Columbia Supply Com
pany, where he was employed and took a
loaded pistol without asking permission of
anyone. Returning home he found Shank
lin and friend named George Williams
seated on the front perch.
Throw up your head" were his words Of
warning, but before Shanklin could move
Crumpton pulled the trigger and sent a bull
let into his victims abdomen. The fatally
wounded man jumped to his feet and ran
into the side alley. Williams, fearing he
would get similar treatment, followed the
wounded man, and as the two men were
passing in the direction of the back yard
a second shot was fired
Shanklin was helped to his home and SUBJ
sequently sent to the Emergency Hospital
where he died before midnight
That night Crumpton was captured nv
Policemen Fathers and Mulvey
His Trial and Conviction.
His trial. conviction and sentence fol-
lowed. An appeal to the higher court was
noted. but was subsequently withdrawn
and today the sentence Of the court was
carried out
An appeal made by the condemned man
for his wife and children during the severe
winter attracted the attention of Congress
man Rayner, who interested himself and
had the facts presented to the President
A complete review of the case was made
but the President could find no reason for