Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-01-04
FOR LIFE
Jim TootS Departs from
Fort Worth
On his WAY YESTERDAY TO THE
RusK PENITENTIARY.
TEN MEN IN CHAINS
DEPARTED TO THE rESIrENrrsrY
TO SERVE SENTENCES FOR
VARIOUS CRIMES,
roots Was Happy on the way ana
Life Seemed TO Him Yet
Worth Living.
TEN MEN IN CHAINS

Yesterday VIII ever be a memorable
day in the life of Jim Toots.
1t was the day which had been fixed
by the district court OF Tarrant county
upon which he was 10 have dangled In
death on scaflold In the county jail.
But Toots was very much alive yester-
day afternoon at o'clock, very probab-
iy tho last hour he Will ever spend,
not ON earth. but in Fort Worth.
At that time Toots was on the union
depot platform with heavy iron chain
encirling his neck, en- route for the
penltentiAry at Rusk. wlere he has
been condemned to dwell t'r the 70
mainder OF his natural existence, tho
ptils,ey Tor ius Iu4I-vf -. ei.,-s.i
Waller, the details OF which are famil-
lar 10 the public. Although Toots was
on his way to an Incarceration between
walls Of which under his circumstances
II night be said when he entered them
1t was to leave all hope behind yet
he never seemed to be in happier
frame OF being In his life lie was APP
parently In fine health, greeted the
crowd that I1i eSsed around hin with
smiles and lively chat, and smoked u
cigar with all the non-chalance OF
man OF leisure on an evening stroll.
roots Is by no means an Ideal murderer
In his personal appearance, and his
department at the moment Of departure
FOR life long existence In penltentiary
walls did not indicate that he had yet
ceased TO indulge in the Illusions of
hope.
Among those who arrived at the de-
pot before Toots' departure was Hon.
James w SwRyne, who has been his
attorney, and 10 whose untlring exer-
lions more than anything else doubtless
Toots owes his Immunity from suf-
fering the penalty OF death on yester.
day. Judging from his appearance life
is still sweet to Jim Toots, even though
his future on earth Is TO be euvironed
with iron bars and walls OF densest
stone, A large number Of those who
gathered around the group of ten men
bound together with heavy iron chains
were colored. many OF them were wo-
mon, an eager to see the cond inned
man Toots. of course. was the object
Of special Interest to the curious crowd,
and many hands were thrust forth TO
grasp his In a long farewell. Many
gave him cigars and with almost every
handshake he received a silver coin,
OF the group Of ten the only other
who had been convicted OF murder
was n young man named p. O. Sidwen,
who had been sentenced for ten years
from Bosquc county. Besides these
there were Steve Dill, Parker county.
burglary. two years: ". Homer and
Sam Homer, brothers, burglary, two
years and T. b. Mccullough. cattle
stealing. two years, the last three from
BrownwcOd. The Tarr3nt county men
Woo Hnrace WattN sam Foseett. upr.
ny Luke and Frank Mussc, all for bur
gary Tor Two years
The party was in charge OF peni-
Tertiary agent Mcconnell who took
them TO Dallas yesterday afternoon at
4:l0 o'clock, where they viii remain
for a day until Mr.. McConnell's return
from other points with additional CON
Yicts, when all will be taken TO the
penltentjary Mt Rusk.