The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-20
Thornton Parker Hanged al Winchester
lG Attempted Assault on Mrs. Melton.
HG GOES TO HIS DEATH CALMLY.
The Doomed Man Sends Message
Through the Reporters 10 the O"ts'"o
Norld-Parker's Execution the Err"
Under Yirgiuia's New Law.


scanod here.
Parker. since his arrest and sentence,
had been am obcolcnt end respectful pris-
oner. bias slept fairly wei and had a
good appetite. After retiring last even
ing DE slept soundly until a. NJ, when
he arose and dressed go new suit of
clothes At 80 A. NJ. "a breakfast Of
fried ham and eggs French rolls cold
veal butter coffee ana milk. pickles,
cheese and crackers. prunes, custard pie.
lemon and l0liv cake was served TO his
order in 70 separate cell. Just after this
rspast religious services were hold by the
Ilcy. Harris, colored.
Ats.D A. 81. Sheriff Perry g.. Gore was
seen walking with two deputies toward
The 5an and was Joined boy The Times
correspondent. AT b.0 religious services
were commenced again in ne special
cell by reading the 18th chapter or J..
Corinthians. the prisoner paying close
attention. The 2Zd chapter of Revelation
was then read. and the hymn, "Am i
Soldier or Tine Cross" was sung.
All gN Sheriff Gore and his deputy en-
tor.I thc ceu. ana in o. clear loud voice
read the death warrant. AT IT'S CONE
pieuon Doe asked the prisoner IL he had
any statement or word 10 send his friends
before his execution. He replied that ne
aid not know that he had anything to
send them.
uls sprrCH TO TIE HEronTERs
Prayer was then offered by Rev Harris
during which he etid- ..Alny the report
ers present send such lines ana des-Ilp-
ti0ns OF this scene 20 the world that the
people seeing them may boz converted 10
Christ and Doc saved
AT the conclusion of the prayer the
HYMN Nearer 90 God" was sums a few
comfortlnc remarks were made 10y the
minister TO the prisoner.
The prisoner sent "a message to each
member of his family by the minister
AL gcU The reporters left the room ana
the prisoners arms were plnoneu henluu
lis back and the march TO the scanoid
was begun
During this trying march the most per-
Terf nerve was exhibited hy thc prisoner
Tie walked hv himself between the min
lister and the two deputies unattehu'I
over the bridge 10 the scuiiOld ana slcp-
ped upon the trap Tie was then asheu
ST. DE had anything TO say TO those pres
cnt ln cloar voice Doe told tnose pres
ent that he had IepoutCN ana warned
imam to keen themselves free from SIN.
and saiI. "I am tho man that / am, ana
j beg Gods pardon.
rur SCENE os rHr scArroiD.
-rbe Rev. Harris thon made short
rravor. after which "Ncarcr, My Cod 10
L.b.en was aue the spectators. lolnlNs
in tho SINGING. At 0Hi the black cap
...s. drawn over bis face and the moose
,,s4 adluafeI. a white handkerchief was
given him. which Doe dropped al eAaDlE
s.sb. An unseen hand DOB tnc lAh hll l"Hh
t,. t-lr. tho Noise from which 'oulo ''
heard outside tho prison "'li9'
wont to tnc rope end. ... a.,
,rhis was the nrsi man ln virginia w
cxris.a with his lfe upon tine ta"""',
,,nier the new law, ioI ih' '''"'
,t..,,nfld criminal assault on n woman.
-rh. s.anoiI whllc roufn-iooNlnN' '''
AS work thoroughly. ihefe was
...t.,.l .rerr. uo violent conioruous' ~
few twifchcs of toe tho.'. 80 ~
,,oe efU. AT 1890 tne l"7l N'9''N. "
,ts. had oonc and thc surgeon proc
nonuccd him dead. Az ".-' ''''
Wa lowered info tho co'hn' ,o,. .,.,.
A. no fifno dil the prisoner rNhihll aug
.,...... ttD.. fraDado. nut hc bad "a most WON
,.,,n sheriff Gore BIS t' ne
,.reratuiatetf ON having one "l 80,
,.r4.,iv executions. without ,,,.
1nrrlr over had in ihe N."' ,t.
rlnia. He was hfm u'' N'' no, oven
,,rf.onor upon whom Dee d'1 "o' '''"
rlacc shaehlos.
rMErns CniNf'
r,. n,ero Thornton Parker VINO
o.ee o,ecutcd n This city lo-nal 'o,
ottorntod criminal assault on MIS- "a'
Y Melton. of MIddlctoWn' ," ,.,,.
county. was of "a sinser'i' V"'e, ,,n
t...nfv-onc years olf. ana N'"iA WE"
,t.,,t f-, n0unda lle WAS born h "i-
...,.rr county. and came % frel'Il,N
,tth 1is fathor ana mother last 'hiisD
,,,s one vear His parents Wero slaves.
and were Iho property pe'uN,iF V'
TIroe and Alccna Compsih' ol 'u'p,p...
The case was made a ctu7, S',',,
hv ihe raDidltN with which hidl l"''"'
100 and conviction, and sentence ioi-
.' ..l.f the number of troops being
ecnt hare for his protection against Nhe
i,-nrhore and the sensational cispd',n
..rt thr Governor hy thc colonel oi inc
e,.orl Vireinia RoeImcnL VINO was mere
with his regiment for bis protection
Tho attempt ON Mrs. Melton was h"u'
TuceinV cNcuing. MarCn 'tn. iaiNvI N"'
err.sfcl thc following Friday, March
g.. AND Looked in ian ON tho following
r,idav. af li 4. NJ. he was indicted arr
,of.nei jury impanncllod. tried. COM
xIrted. and sentenced az few minutes
.ffer L.. NJ. the same day. ana the mill
itarv chat came here 90 guard him sent
home.
rHr VICTIMS STORY.
The atory of the crime os told boy Mrs.
Mary s. Melton. his Intended Ncum, on
Tho stand during thc trial. is as Follows
"On Tuesday evening" March oth, at
about $3.50 o'clock. as J came ln my ooor'
She prisoner grabbed me with my arms
down. and told me his purpose. telling me
~ aid not consent he would XIII me-
fa.d. please lct me So.
.sfn the struggle 90 free myself, 1 puu-
cd me cap from his face, and he said.
LET that cap alone. or 1 Will XIII YOU
lie then ran into the yard 20 arrange MS
,ap. and / closed and holted the door
"He sprung against ne door and sald,
Il will kui you if sou don't lei me III. j
viii not ask son bat twice more he
tried the door twice. lie then went TO the
window. and when ! heard him In my
bedroom. / ran out with my baby ana
Hcreamel for help.
Il cannot tell how long The struggle
LASTED. bat / think about fifteen min-
,tes when I next saw him bic was going
10 MiGdietcwn'
1ur MICRO WAS MASKED.
"He had black on his hands and
masked cap on bis face. His coat had
match on the left side about one foot
fou4 sewed with white thread" Crhe
description Of the coat corresponded with
the one worn by the prlsoner)
sAs soon as my husband returned ifom
oia work 1 told bin What had occurred.
.~rhe first time the prisoner was ar
,csted the crowd was great and excited.
= eouid not fully Identify him. bat as