The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-26
THOMAS v: PRICE
SENTENCED T0DIE
His Doom Pronounced by Judge
Crute Amid the Roar Of Thunder
OCTOBER TENTH THE FATAL DAY
He Protested His Innocence. ana De
clared That lie Had Not Received
Justice-An Affecting Scene in
the County Courthouse.

TARMVILLE, VA, August Z0.-spe-
cial-Iate this afternoon IAoma5 w.
Price was brought from his prison cen
and conducted 20 the courthouse, WI nc
he was sentenced 10 oc hanged iof tne
murder Of Hail Carter on the MOI hiNs
of July 18th last. Tho awful words OF
the Judge were spoken amidst the roar
OK one of the worst thunder storms tA@'
has visited this city in many years.
There were not more than dozen per-
sons present. 70 not belng generaliy
known That the Court would pronounce
seutecc to-day The darkened room from
the heavy. hanging clouds, and the scat
tered few present made the scene an
the more solemn as the last and slddesl
act of the trial court was performed
Clerk ThacketOn commanded the gray
haired prisoner 40 stand up and enquired
u he had anything 20 say why Judgment
should not now be pronounced against
him. Looking tho Court square IN the
face, 1lr. Price said;
INNOCENT or MURDER.
"ycs sir. I am innocent of the crime
for which I am 10 be hung
Then. turning his eyes heavenward, he
continued:
before God I'm Heaven, In whose pres
enoo 1 soon must come, l am innoceh.
of murder and have not received JUS
tce."
Lies repeated several times that he had
not received justice. The Court hesi-
Eating TO see ii the prisoner had any
thing more 90 say. the old man Hited
his voice aloud in prayer, invoking de
vine strength that he might not bear III
will towards any man. lie then asked
Judge Crute III be might draw nearer
that he might hear the words on MS
sentence, and also III DE might not keep
his seat The Judge agreed, ana the
prisoner took mp chair and seated NM
self very near 10 the bench, from when
position he listened closely 10 every Word
which fcll from the lps OF the Court
Judge Cru,e spoke as follows:
THE SENTENCE.
"AIr Price. 10 me this is the saddest
duty NJ my official life extending through
three ard into fourth term. have nad
10 pronounce the death sentence I'm more
cases than one but never before have /
been called upon tO>say 90 one whom l
had known for nearly a lifetime ana
whose family I have known. that on q
given day thou shalt die You nave
been carefully and praycrfully tried by
as good a jury as was ever empannellel
in this Commonwealth. You have had
tho strong arm of the law 20 produce
prosecuted bv an attorney whose earnest
effort was to bring 20 light the whole
truth. and who. Notwithstanding the
great ability with which he performed
that duty, yet was absolutely free from
bitterness and who was actuated by a
desire 10 DO you justice. In your behalf
Won had as your counsel one who, IN the
opinion of tlis Court, is second TO no
one I'm our state. and who exercised a
degree of fidelity energy and aollly
that [ have never seen eQualled. ] haNo
carefully and with ell the ability mat
God has given me striven to do my whole
duty IN this case. I can see nothing but
Justice and truth I'm all Of the proceed
ings. and this being true. IL Is my very
sad duty 20 say 10 yout hat the sentence
OF the Court is that on the tenth day OF
October 1898. al the usual place OF eN-
ecution IN the jail yard Of this county
between the hours Of $ A. NJ and =.
NJ. You be hanged by the neck until
dead. by the proper officers. have
given you every day on earth that The
Jaw permits me, and I trust, with the
aid OF the Christian people OF our com
munity. that you viii use every day in
"a sincere humble and earnest desire 10
prepare 70 meet your God
INVOKED THEIR PRAYERS.
When the last words had fallen from
tho Court Mr.. Price arose from his seat
and extended his hand 10 Judge Crute
asking him 60 pray for him and 10 como
20 the fan and see him. Judge Crute
promised 20 do So
Then the detected old man walked over
20 Commemorative Attorney watkins
and. holding out hls trembling hand.
with quivering lips said:
asa I haven't a thing IN this world
against you nor against any other man
living Won't YOU pray for me2'
Judge watkins. with n heart fun OF
tendcrest emotions. said:
eyes. Mr. Price. 7 have been praying
FOR YOU and will continue to-
After shaking hands with tho rest OF
tho spectators the poor unfortunate was
returned 10 HIS lonely cell