The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1896-01-17
HATHORN AND WADE HANGED

HATrIEsBURG, Miss, Jan. 8. The
hanging Of the two criminals, Davis
Hathorn and Thompson Wade, al
Augusta, Miss, to-day was witnessed
by over 1900 people from this Perry
and adjoining counties. They were
transported to Augusta from Hatties'
burg Tuesday in carriages, distance
Of 1S miles, in charge of Sheriff r. j.
Nixon and strong guard Of eight
picked men from this town. They
arrived at Augusta at u o'clock noon,
and were delivered at the Jail ut that
place
Hathorn commenced to offer up d
prayer that would be credit to any
OF the most proficient and learned
divines OF the land. This continued
until the late hour OF midnight, when
from exhaustion he retired and slept
soundly till morning. when breakfast
was served, Of which lie partook
heartily. A portion of his family
having arrived by this time, they
were admitted to the Jail with him,
where they remained till the hour OF
the execution. The pastor Of the
church at that place was then request.
ed by him to be called in, but he being
the father Of the girl that he had
wronged, he refused to have anything
to do with him, and no other minister
being on the ground he had to console
himself by Offering continuous
prayer himself until called upon to 60
to the gallows.
At II o'clock m. they were brought
from their cells and marched to the
scaffold, which had been erected In
the Jail yard. They walked with q
steady gait and without assistance.
They mounted the scaffOld and when
seated the death warrants were read
by Sheriff II. NJ. McCalum, and they
were asked il they had anything to
say. Hathorn replied that he would
request that the negro Wade be al.
lowed to speak first. Wade arose to
his feet and addressed the people as
his friends and brothers, insisting on
the fact that he was led to commit
the murder by undue influence Of
HathOrn, and knelt down and offered
up a prayer which consumed thirty
minutes.
Hathorn made talk Of forty min
utes, going through the details Of all
his wrong doings and asking forgive
ness Of all that he had ever wronged.
He then followed with very pathetic
prayer. When he arose the officers
commenced to tie his hands and feet
together with those OF the negro
Wade, and the black caps were placed
over their heads. Hathorn continued
to talk until he took the fatal leap.
He requested the sheriff to notify him
when he would be ready to cut the
rope. The drop fell at exactly l:30
o'clock p. m. The neck OF Hathorn
was instantly broken, but the negro
Wade seemed to be strangled to death
and was noticed to move in cOnyuls-
siOns for several moments. They were
pronounced dead after eighteen min.
utes had elapsed.
The bodies we're taken in charge BY
their friends. Hathorn requested to
be buried by the side Of his wife,
which was granted.
The crime for which Hathorn and
Wade were executed was the murder
of Mrs. Hathorn on October 7th last.
Hathorn had quarreled often with bis
wife, and he determined to get rid of
her. On the day OF the murder he
approached Wade and offered him $3.50
and pony to kill Mrs. HathOrn.
Wade at first refused, but upon being
Threatened with death he finally con.
sented to do Hathorn's bidding. Early
in the evening Wade approached the
house and meeting HathOrn received
his final instructions. The negro
walked around the house to window
through which he could see Mrs.
HathOrn seated In a chair. The latter
arose and reached for something on
the mantel, thus exposing her left
side to the negro, who fired a shotgun
charged with buckshOt, killing her
instantly. Wade was arrested and
made confession duplicating
Hathorn. Both men were tried on
November Goth and the jury, after
being out thirty minutes returned a
verdict OF guilty, and the men were
sentenced to be hanged to-day.
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