The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-14
ELECTROCUTED.
Dink Wilson Pays the Penalty for the
Murder Of Detective Harvey.


AUBURN, n. ", Nav 14.--Dink Wilson,
the murderer OF Detective James Harvey,
or Syracuse, was electrocuted at Auburn
prison at II :43 today.
The crime for which Dink Wilson paid
the death penalty today, was the murder
OF Detective James Harvey the oldest
officer on the Syracuse police force, on
July 81, last.
Early in the preceding month, as
was afterwards developed, a burglary had
been committed i'm this city, in which
about 1000 had been secured and the
police were informed that three
men were sesn I'm restaurant Just before
and after this burglary, and that they had
paid for their meals in small change. As
considerable small coin was taken from
the safe OF the store that was robbed this
was clue.
Daniel Savage, the waiter i'm the restau-
rant, who had .spotted" the men, was
should at once communicate With
headquarters. On the morning OF
July 81, two of the three men appeared in
the restaurant and we're quickly identified
by Savage, who communicated with the
police station, as he had been directed
To do.
Detective Harvey went on, upon the case.
He waited until tho two men came out of
the restaurant. The detective fol-
lowed for some distance and stepped
up TO them az they stopped iD a
doorway. The men, after a minutes con-
versation seemed willing TO accompany
him and the detective did not even take
hold ofthe men, as they walked toward
the police station,
AT a point in the street wit hin few
rods OF the central police Office there was
heap OF building material on the side
walk, TO get around which the men
stepped out into the street. Here the de-
foo n h.t l<..
When they reached the middle Of the
street, one man jerked back and taking a
big revolver from his pocket struck the
detective on the head.
The other man jerked away and there
was a cry "Lct 'er CO." Thereupon one
OF them took aim at the head OF the de-
tective who was just recovering from the
effects OF the blow. and fired, and the de-
tective fell dead in his tracks.
Df tho two men. one escaped but the
other was captured and identified as Dink
Wilson, who two years before had blown
up with dynamite and robbed
a train of a large sum OF money, ut
Glendale, bio. Ills companion, who
proved TO be his brother, Charles, was
soon after arrested in Buffalo and brought
10 syracuse for trial. where he is now in
jail under indictment for murder i'm the
first degree.
Dink Wilson was tried last September.
~. AtOf efcht VI biit br1t law ftfs
IN the state, was assigned by the court
TO defend him. He was convicted
under the law that where person
engaged in committing q felony kills
another, he Is guilty OF murder in the
irst degree, though premed :tation and
delibcratIon be not shown.
The men, having been arrested for a
felony, were committing another felony
in escaping at the time Harvey was shot
Whether Dink or Charles fired the fatal
shot was not considered by the jury,
Justice McLennan sentenced Dink Wilson
to die in the week beginning Dec. IL.
The condemned mans counsel appealed
TO the court OF appeals on the usual
grounds, but the decision Of the trial
court was sustained.
Wilson was brought back to Syracuse
and his electrocution fixed for the week
begininning March II. Wilson then
broke with his attorney, and John
ID. Teller of Auburn was selected by
Wilson's brothers who had come east
from Salt Lake City, to look into the con-
demned mans case.
Early in March, Judge Teller obtained
reprieve from Governor Flower to May
Ia. Next en- appeal of newly discovered
evidence was taken to Justice Williams
of Watertown. The Justice decided the
evidence cumulative, and denied q new
trial.
An appeal was made to Governor
Flower to commute the sentence TO impris-
onment for life, and the Governor wrotethe
trial justices and after: receiving their
answer refused to interfere