Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-09-02
JONES' LAST FAREWELL.
He CONDEMNED MAN CON.
FESSED HIS CRIME.
(From the Raleigh Post.)

From the Raleigh Post.)
THOMAS Jones, the slayer of a family
OF SIX, one of whom was his paramount
and another child of his own, paid
the death penalty for his crime Friday
morning In Wake county jail-yard.
The farewell statement of the con.
demned man, as it was prepared for
the Post. is given herewith:
Raleigh. N. c.. Aug. 81, 1900.
To The Post:
These may be my last words. but
allow me to say the devil led me into
that crime by yealing to his will.
wicked thoughts found a home in my
heart and made me net or do that
dreadful crime after being n yictom
TO his Will in the commencement with
that woman. L would advise all who
may be anxious to read OF me. never
allow wicked thoughts to inhabit the
regions OF your hearts if you want to
be happy in this world ana the next
never do thing you know or feel to
DE wrong If you want to feel happy
even IN this World. 1t has been the
greatest burden of all of my life to-
even think about the doom that are
now before me. But after reading the
me- ana by following the advise he give
me- reel alright and only wish to die
IN Jesus Christ, through the Catholic
Church. / saw the crucinx i'm tho
hands or Father Griffin, the blessed
soul when dieing for sin. Truly l love
Rim and His priest also. And all OF
those who have been here and give me
advise l wish l could say word that
would make the world pause and direct
their attention where they can be paid
| Tor their good works. For three
months l. have been reading the Bible.
| Not one good promise have I found in
| IL Tor wicked men and women. The
| promises are TO those who do the will
of God.
would advise my friends to en-
prace the religion of our Lord and Sa-
viour Jesus Christ directly through the
Catholic Church, and let other PEOPLES
business and things alone. and ask the
better class of whites to be your
friends. Go to work. all OF you that
are vile, and into that you know are
wrong against God ana country Work
SIX days and go to church the seventh
dav of the week ana serve God Other
wise you are blotted out of bliss for
ever. The Lord has rights that you
must respect, and when you honestly
and truly respect them He will hold
you up.
My colored friends and all true
friends of good government. let whis-
key alone. Don't drink it. because
God forbids the use of it. Let cards
alone, and dice alone. Stay home at
night with your people or with soma
| one who are-your friends. Tell the
truth in all matters, and keep the Ten
commandments, and you may look for
no evil BE delight i'll all good work,
| but scorn wickedness just as you
would a dose of poison, for truly it Is
| poison to your souls and bodies, and Il
hell are prepared for all who continue
In sin all of their lives. L am truly
| glad to feel that God is merciful
God, and said Blessed are the mercy,
for they shall claim mercy I hope the
| good sisters and brethren Will continue
their work for God here in this prison.
thank Mr.. Scpark and Mr.. Ray and
| all who have done anything for me.
Cod grant them many happy days and
q home in heaven.
The papers were right in their state
ment concerning my body. 1t was the
request OF DR.. Goodwin to make the
| purchase. Mr.. Ray said | just as well
do so. because he doubted my remain
ing buried. And after n careful con-
sideration I decided not to be stolen
| from my grave. because did not want
| to be the cause OF another crime in no
| one The people must go to the de-
mands of God, because the devil has a
| larger influence upon the world than
you might suppose. Crime against
| God and His kingdom ere rapidly in
| All VINO are not
are sinners, and unless they are con-
| verified to God fearful doom may be
their fate.
L shall not leave this world with
bit of malice in my heart towards no
one, black or white. because I want all
| the world to come to Christ and be
saved. For He hath made of one
blood all nations OF the world. to dwell
| on all the face of the earth, and hath
| determined the times before appointed
and the bounds of their habtations"-
| Act IL chapter, &c verse. | want every
| body to love God and Father Griffin
and all who are working for God. He
Is a great priest of the Catholic
Church. He has been good to me and
! the two prisoners in the cell with me.
PRAYER.
o Lord, Lord. hear my voice. o let
thy ears be attentive to the voice OF
my supplications. If thou. o Lord.
| wilt mark iniquities, who shall stand
it? For with thee there is merciful
forgiveness, and Try reason of thy law
I have waited for thee, Lord. My
soul hath relied on his word My soul
hath hoped in the Lord. O Cod who
in thine unspeakable providence didst
choose mercy in place OF justice for
humanity. Remember the imperfection
of me and ali who are walking disor-
derby aid will not be reproved by thy
word. Give my race another of thy
rich mercy through the Catholic
Church. Let them love thee with all
of their hearts. soul, mind and
strength and their neighbors as Them
| selves. This I ask for Jesus, sake
y Amen. ir TIJONFA c. JOnr170