Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-27
CRUMPT0N HANGED
The Murderer of David Shanklin
Meets His Punishment.
THE SCENE At TIE DISTRICT JAIL
The Fatal Rope Nearly Broken by
the Fall.
AN INTERRUPTED PRAYER

Thomas Crumpton was hanged in the Dis
trict Jail this morning for the murder On
| the 9th of June last of David Shanklin.
Crumpton's actions and conduct on his
last day on earth were those Of the ordinary
Jail prisoner He seemed as little uncon-
cerned about his fate as did any one in the
| prison, and 1t was not until his wife called
| to bid him farewell that he showed any
| signs of grief or weakening. She called
about 10 o'clock and was given a seat in
| front of his cell. in the south wing Of the
| building. Together they talked Of the past.
present and future. and the mention of the
| children never failed to bring tears to the
| eyes Of Crumpton, who frequently sobbed,
''Oh, my children. my dear children"
About 1 o'clock she kissed him for the
last time and left the prison in company
with female friend. In the evening Rev.
w. ]. Howard, pastor of the Zion Baptist
Church. and Mr.. John Roberts of the colored
YIN C.A., the condemned mans spiritual adj
visers, called. and with them was Mr..
James W. Payne. well-known singer.
They remained all night
During the earlier hours Of the evening
Crumpton read the Bible and joined in the
| singing Of a number Of hymns, each time
selecting the particular passage of Scripture
| or hymn.
About o'clock he retired to rest, and had
| an hours sleep. getting up shortly after 10
o'clock, in time to greet his fellow murderer,
Augustus Jenkins, who was declared guilty
last evening.
Praise God. didn't think he was
guilty., said Crumpton, when he heard the
| news. But" he added. there are two
| sides to every story, and it's hard for a
| man to tell both sides. thought told the
right story OF my own case, but l guess 1
| didn't although thought acted in self
| defense"
The Early Morning.
| 1t was after midnight when Crumpton
again retired, and then he slept soundly un-
til o'clock this morning. when ne got up
and renewed his religious exercises. At z
o'clock he drank a large cup Of tea. and
| soon afterward he cleaned plate of five
slices Of milk toast. two eggs and a slice Of
ham, and drank pint of milk.
About O'Clock those who were to attend
| the execution began to arrive and among
them was Mr.. r. French. one of the law
yers who defended Crumpton. With him
| was a young woman, carrying in her arms
| the eighteen-months-old child of Crumpton.
The woman Is a niece of Crumptons wife.
| Did Not See His Child.
The child's father had expressed desire
to see his youngest child, but DR.. Howard
| thought 1t unwise to permit him to do SO
| for fear the sight of the child would un-
| nerve him.
The ministers have gotten his mind of
worldly things" the woman was told. He
| Is serene, and 1t is best that he should re-
| main So"
His spiritual advisers went to his cell
about o'clock and spoke to him concern
| ing his feeling toward the court, jury and
others who figured in the case. intending
this as the last talk with him concerning
earthly matters.
What is your feeling toward the court.
| the jury and others? DR.. Howard asked
him.
IT believe" he responded, that the Judge
| instructed the jury right. but the jury was
| misled by George Williams. who gave
| false statement. but have nothing against
any others; 1 am at peace with all man
kind"
His Last Statement.
Crumpton, according to his own state
ment, went to school only three days in his
entire life. but he managed to learn to read
and write. During the days of his confine-
| ment, after his conviction of murder, he
spent much of his time reading religious
books and writing notes and letters to and
| about his friends. He seemed extremely
| grateful to his friends and the guards at the
jail and never wrote a letter without saying
good things about them.
| Last evening, when visited by a Star re-
porter, he wrote statement for the benefit
Of those who had ministered to him and the
/ guards who had looked after his safe keep
Ing. This statement, he said, he would
probably read from the scaffold, although
he seemed anxious to tell his hearers his
side Of the story Of Shanklin's murder.
His statement as written by himself,
reads:
ITO the dear beloved brothers and friends
Of the Union Mission: T am thankful to
| wife and dear children. Brothers Wheeler
Bailey, Swartout and congregation, may
God bless you all forever more, until you
shall meet me on the other side Of the river
| Christ says, I am He that liveth and was
dead. and behold, / am alive forever more,
and have the keys of hell and death
And the Lord shall deliver me from
| every evil work and will preserve me unto
His heavenly kingdom, to whom be glory
forever and ever.
YEA, though 1 walk through the valley
Of the shadow of death. I fear no evil. for
| Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff
they comfort me.
MAY peace be with you all forever more,
my minister, Brother John Roberts.
MY counsel, Mr.. G. X. and R. French
thanks be to the living God, have finished
| my course and will soon dwell with all who
has made their peace with my Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ.
THE officers of the building have treated
me with the greatest courtesy and every
respect. May God bless them all.
Goodbye. Yours in Christ. T. c."
Besides this he wrote another statement,
covering three sheets of foolscap, and this
he expressed desire to read from the
scaffold, but his spiritual adviser thought
| he had better read a shorter statement, If
any. and SO he prepared the following:
Relations:
81 am He that liveth' and was dead, and
behold am alive forever more and have
the keys of hell and death.
And the Lord shall deliver me from
every evil and will preserve me unto His
heavenly kingdom, to whom be glory for
ever and ever. Amen.
"Yea, though / walk through the valley
of the shadow of death, will fear no evil,
for Thou are with me, Thy rod and Thy
staff they comfort me-
This his advisers concluded he should
read from the scaffold.
His Requests.
Even this morning the condemned man
INDUCED in note writing, intending to re-
member those who had befriended him.
A short note was addressed to his wife,
in which he said goodbye to her and told
her to get his clothing from the Jail after
his execution. He also directed her to
turn over to the Rev. Mr.. Roberts a coin
he has had for many years.
Three suits of black clothes were received
at the Jail, and the condemned Ian Sc