Evening journal., 1896-11-14
SENTENCED TO HANG.
Court Tells Thomas Willis He
Must Die on February 10.
GOVERNOR MAY SAVE HIS LIFE

COUNSEL FOR DEFENCE WITH.
DRAWS MOTIONS FOR A NEW
TRIAL, FEARING TO RISK HIS
LIFE AGAIN BEFORE A JURY.
The adjourned session OF oyer and
Terminer and Of fGeneral Sessions Court
adjourned without day after some inn
portant business this morning, but the
November term will open on Monday
morning at 10 o'clock.
After court had reconvened this
morning Deputy Attorney-G General
Cooper addressed the court, stating
that this was the last day allowed for
argument for a new trial in the case
Of the State VS.. Thomas Willis, colored.
He moved that Thomas Willis, having
been convicted Of murder in the first
degree, be brought before the bar Of the
court and sentenced.
Josiah Marvel, for the defence, said:
IF it please the court, l withdraw
my motion for new trial and submit
to the court passing sentence. ct is
understood by this that counsel for de-
fence has obtained some encourage
ment from the governor for commu-
tation OF Willis sentence.)
Willis was brought into court be-
tween Tipstaves Williams and Girls
som. The court said:
Thomas Willis stand up!" Prisoner
slowly arose. Thomas, you are in
dicted by the grand jury OF this county
for murder in first degree. Upon that
I'D It,t,a F.t.
tial trial, and your counsel urged for
you every plea that in their judgment
they could possibly advance for your
defence. The jury rendered a verdict OF
guilty, and the court is now about to
pass sentence upon you for that crime.
Have you anything to say before the
court passes the sentence?"
Willis-"No sir"
Chief Justice Lore-"Thomas, the
sentence OF the court is that you,
Thomas Willis, be now taken from the
bar OF this court TO the public prison
OF New Castle county, unto the place
from whence you came, and that you
be there safely and securely. kept in
custody until Friday, the 18th day OF
February, in the year OF our Lord
/ 1897; and that on that day, between
/ the hours of 10 o'clock in the morn
/ ing and 3 o'clock in the afternoon, you
/ be taken to some convenient place of
/ private execution within the precincts
of the prison enclosure. and that you
be then and there hanged by the neck
until you be dead, and may God have
mercy upon your soul.
you are now committed to the Gus
tody of the sheriff OF New Castle count.
until this sentence be carried into exc
cution."
IN SUPERIOR COURT.
Attorneys Harry Emmons and T
Bayard Heisel appeared In Superior
Court for advice as to further pro
cedure in the Zachariah T. Dennis case
The costs in this case would far ex
ceed the $3.50 set aside for the payment
of costs, and Mr.. Emmons movod thai
the amount be raised to $3.50, the taking
of testimony having consumed a large
part of the Summer The motion was
opposed by Mr.. Heisel. The court re
served its decision, but ordered defend.
ant to pay $1,000 alimony. The de
cision of the costs will be handed
down on Monday, November %.
Upon application Of the deputy at
torney-general the case Of Christie
pher Bonash, charged with desertiol
and non-support, was continued unit
next term, defendants counsel agree
ing to have his client pay $3.50 weel
until that time.
CIVIL LIST ON MONDAY
Chief Justice Lore announced to tn
reporters that on Monday afternoon, a