Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-14
DOUBLE EXECUTION.
CALVIN AND THOMAS colsY PAY THE
PENALTY OF THEIR CRIME.
The Cold Hooded Murder Of Samuel Tuck
or. the Hebrew pcdler. Avcnged--Ap-
peal Tor Mercy at the Last Moment.

Thomas and Calvin Colcy were hanged
here to-day. They were quite stolid and
Indifferent until this morning, and not
until they were on the scafrold did they
show any emotion Sheriff Kcarncy read
the death warrant 10 them at about IL
o'clock. At about 1885, with the witnesses
selected 20 view the execution. he pro-
recded to the Jail. and at once the pro-
cession came down the steps In front and
proceeded 20 the enclosure where the
rcaffold was erected. The Coleys walked
Erect and firm. and had no shaekles or
handcufs on them. After reaching the
scaffold the Rev MIR. Morton read certain
passages OF Scripture and led in prayer.
GALS STATEMENT.
Being given an opportunity TO make
biatement Cal. asked that Rev. Mr.. Pin
hell should preach their funeral sermon at
iheir home tomorrow. and then said that
ne had heard that Judge Bynum, who
iried his case. had said that II they could
yet new trial they would he found
guilty In only the second degree. Tom
made no statement.
CRIED PITEOUSLY.
They shook hands with Mr.. Morton and
Ehcrin Kearney and the moose was adj
)usted. their arms and legs tied. and the
black cap drawn over their heads. When
This was done they both broke down and
rried piteously for mercy.
DEAD.
At lis the trigger was drawn and the
traps fell. The drop was about six feet.
Ind the necks Of both were instantly
broken.
Their bodies were given 10 their friends
10 be carried 10 the home of their parents
ln Nash county. The execution was car
ried out without hitch and was perfectly
well managed
MILITARY on DUTY.
on account of rumors that the friends
Of the Coleys would make an attempt 10
break Jail and rescue them, the Franklin
Rifles have been on guard duty at the
3ail for the past two nights. and were
also on duty at the execution.
The crowd In town was estimated at not
less than 1900 but the execution was
strictly private and in accordance with
The law. The military maintained guard
line forty feet from the Jail on all sides
HISTORY OF THE CRIME
The crime for which Thomas and Calvin
Coley were executed was the murder Of
Russian Hebrew pedler named
Samuel Tucker on the night Of Thursday.
June 30. 1892. The Jew went on the after
noon Of this day to a small house in Gold
Mine township. Franklin county. in which
lived Pinky and Lucy wilkins. These
were women OF loose character. having "A
slight admxture Of African blood They
were natives of the adjoining county
Of Nash. as were the Coleys, also, but
my had all recently come TO Franklin
county. The peder expected to pass the
night here. About SHUTDOWN one of the
COleys also came TO the house. and later
the other one came The Colcys were
khite, unlearned. and very ignorant.
SEIZED AND KILLED
About 10 o'clock. after the pedler had
been lying across the bed with his coat
of. he got up TO get some water, and
while just outside the door the Coleys
fciLed him, oyerpOwered and threw MN
down: and while Tom held him down on
the ground Cal. got an axe and struck
him on the back Of the head, fracturing
the skull and producing Inconsistencies.
though not instant death. He struggled |
and grOaned for about ten minutes before
death came The murlerers picked up
his body and carried IT. FIRST one and then
the other, accompanied by both women,
To thick piece Of woods about 80 yards !
from the house. where they threw 1t down
left il. They burned his clothes, pack.
and such things as they did not want.
and took the other things. including Sl69
and his pistol (which was in his coat
pocket and packed them in trunks ana
on the second morning thereafter July 90
went to LOuisburg, and thence TO Nor
folk. Va Here Cal. and Iinkey lived "a
husband and VIE, and also Tom ana
Lucy But the latter two remained only |
N Ha.. y q
money being spent. they came back near |
the place they had gone from. The He !
brews business taking him here, there
and everywhere. his absence was not |
noticed and nothing was known about |
the foul murder which had been com |
mitted until the Christmas holidays OF |
last year
BODY DISCOVERED.
on Saturday before Christmas Irving |
King and Lit Wester were hunting tur- !
keys and came upon the skeleton. ana |
even then II was not suspected as to who |
had been murdered, but the neiShbors |
talked the matter over and at last con- !
cluded that Tom (whO had returned and |
was living near there had killed Cal. |
ana hid him i'm the woods. When Lucy |
NIkins heard this she said she knew |
this was not so. as she had letter only |
a few days before from Cal. who was in |
Norfolk. and after this she told some one
about the murder. As soon as this was
known Tom took to the woods. but was
captured on the last day of the year and
brought TO Louisburg 10 Jail, together
with Lucy.
Cal. and Pinky were captured in Nor
folk and brought here under requisition
papers few days later.
THE TRIAL.
They were tried at the January term,
1884, OF the Franklin Superior Court
the State being represented by Solicitor
John T.. Woodland. Hon. Charles NJ. Cooke,
and II. NJ. Smith. Jr., ESQ., of Richmond.
They were unable to employ counsel,
and Hon. John Gray Bynum. judge pre-
siding. assigned as counsel Messrs. f. 5.
Spruil and W NJ. Person one day was
Consumed in getting a jury. and on the
next night at about 10 o'clock the case
was given TO the jury. The jury was di-
vided for about a day. as part Of them
were opposed 10 capital punishment. but
they finally brought in verdict OF
guilty. -
on Saturday night at about 10 O'Clock
the Coleys were sentenced 20 be hanged
on March 2. 1894, but they appealed. and
the Supreme Court having affirmed the
. Judgment OF the lower court. they were
sentenced by Governor Carr 10 be hanged
Today.
The women were not tried for the
crime. though IL is the general opinion
that one Of them Pinky) was as guilty as
either OF the Coleys. but the State thought
1t safer TO use them as witnesses. and
thus be sure Of a conviction as to Tom
and Cal
The murder was one OF great cruelty,
md was for the purpose Of robbery.
Various Hebrew societies were very
much interested in the prosecution OF the
case. Mr.. :. Stern president Of the Sir
Moses Montefore Congregation. OF Rich
mond was present during the trial
An Escaped Convict Recaptured.
WELDON. y. G., July l3.-(Special)-
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