Evening journal., 1897-02-19
WILLIS PUT TO DEATH.
The Big Colored Man Hanged
at New Castle.
FELL AT 1885, DEAD AT l245

Ahh n 1n'OO OhhO n A1'-S
SHERIFF. FLINN PROLONGED THE |
EXECUTION UNTIL THE LAST
MINUTE THAT A RAY OF HOPE |
EXISTED-WILLIs sAID GOOD
BYE EVERYBODY"
Thomas Willis, colored. was put to
death by hanging In New Castle Jail |
| yard at 1886 o'clock for the
murder Of his little daughter. Callie. in
! Mil Creek hundred On May 4. 1896
The execution was witnessed by only !
a few well-known citizens and repre-
sentatiyes of the press, beside the
sherin's jury and Jail onicials.
Sheriff Finn gave every possible
chance for executive clemency by wait
ing, after dispatches had been received
declaring that that there was no hope, |
until the Hop mail train coming up
the Delaware road had reached New
Castle. Then he gave up all hope,
The procession TO the gallows started
from cell No, 1, at 1894
With hands bound behind him, Will
lis walked between Sheriff Finn and
Night Warden John M. Hance The jury
summoned to witness the execution fol-
lowed.
Captain Israel Riding stood waiting
upon the gallows. Beside the three lead
ers of the procession there came on tn
gallows Rev. Samuel Ambrose, Rev. c..
A. Hall, John Way and Attorney
Whiteman.
GOODBYE, EVERYBODY
) Willis, in response to the sherih's us
ual request, did not make speech. but
Gin r,Isr oof1s ttfNr,l -
Captain Riding adjusted the black
cap and moose After Warden Hance
had attached the leg straps. Willis
said: Goodbye. Smittax. take care OF
yourself evidently addressing his
death-watch.
Sheriff Finn cut the rope al a signal
from Captain Riding and the heavy
man dropped with thud that shook
r the strong scaffold. There was a partial
dislooation of the neck
The physicians found that pulsations
ceased at 12.4115. The heart beat stop
ped at 12.45 and DR.. Black pronounced
I the man dead, and signed the usual GER
). tificate Of death
:, WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS.
\ Josiah Marvel. counsel for the con-
e demned man, Thomas Willis, appeared
in Superior Court this morning and
+ prayed fer a stay Of execution by means
+ OF a writ of habeas corpus. Mr.. Mar
n vel desired TO stay the execution until
It 8 o'clock, but the court refused the writ
n SCENE IN THE OLD JAIL
e At 10 O'Clock the Jail corridor wa.
filed with the witnesses to the execu
- ton Willis was brought down from
10 cell No 25 by Death Watches DAME
- Miller and John Smittax at S.45 and h
~ was placed in cell NO !, where Rev
- Samuel Ambrose was in waiting. viii
VI lis had his arm affectionately aroun,
~ the neck Of one of the death watches
is and smiled as he patted Miller on thu
n head'in response to his attempts tC
N cheer up the doomed man.
le CHAPLAIN AiUNSON ADVISES.
re Rev. +. N. Munson. IL d.. chaplain
of the National Guard of Delaware, en-
'e tered Willis cell at $50 10 administe
G and give advice to the condemned ne
le gro Rev. c. A. Hall. of New Castle
y and Private George s. Simmons of tn
Salvation Amy also arrived. and wer
81 admitted to tho CELL Rev n. b
IL Short. of Wilmington, came in at 1
ei O'clock.
10. DOCTORS AND CLERGY PRESENT
of The physicians in attendance wer
70 DR.. John J. Black, ajil physician; ID
n. Joseph r. Smith, cCroner's physician
4. Dr. Samuel Hitch, DR. c. Russell Jakel
N and DR.. Joseph r.. Jeifers of Whining
o. ton Dr. e. A. Richards, Of New Castle
il In being questioned for the certil
les cate, Willis said that he was but
OF years Old He weighed over 200 pound
SAD MESSAGE FOR WILLIS.
IT'S Prior to last evening. Willis had bee
ice in an unsettled state of mind over n
lg- frequent reports that he would be -
er, prieyed At 6 O'Clock last evening, th'
le- the man might be fully prepared f
ga the end, Sheriff Finn entered his &c
Dr.. and read TO him dispatch from COul
'se sci Josiah Marvel, which read as 70
10 lows:
%; Sheriff w r. Finn. New Castle, Del
on Governor refuses 20 interfere in Wi
)u- lis case Josiah Marvel
en- Dover Del. Feb. IS. 226 p. m.
en- The doomed man at once became
er- nervous that collapse seemed probabl
and Rev. Samuel Ambrose, his spiri
Vlll ual adviser was cent for and arriv
Ihe about $50 p m.
"Mr. Ambrose" said Willis, they
going to hang me, and / need lit
T. more consolation, more help. My fai
hat has been shaken"
'er- TEN, you must not bother abo
his what these people tell you about a !
res prieve. Get down here and get go
lief religion, because coed religion is &C
aw- to live by and better to die by. Op
for your heart to God. who giveth and W
was taketh away. Pray as a sinner year
ing for salvation, commanded
so minister.
em- And the men did pray alternate
the AS a result of the religious enthusias
re- Willis was wonderfully braced up, a
Mr.. Ambrose said: Il left him in 60
shape believing him a saved man.
- Counsel Harry Whiteman was a
Vest u,on n Vyi;s who then seemed resigr
d to his fate.
, l.. 81 believe you have done everythi
llns in your power" said the prisoner, "a
'eah | am perfectly satisfied nowto submit
my the law / have placed my hope IL