The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-01
NECK BROKEN BY FALL
Father Griffin Spent the Morning In
Jones Cell.
JONES FIRM AND CALM ON PLATFORM
After Few Struggles All Was Over. He Died
in Five Minutes After the Drop Fell,
Body Taken to Mr.. Browns
Establishment.

Tom Jones. the negro murderer was
hanged in the court house yard here yes
terday.
He did not make any statement, but
through Father Griffin he thanked all the
officers who had been connected with his
trial, the sheriff and his deputies, and
all who had shown him any kindness.
Then, after having repeated brief pray
er after Father Griffin he stepped on the
trap door and was sent into eternity.
The trap was sprung at 1929, six minutes
later there was no pulse, thirteen min
utes later his heart had ceased to beat,
and at the end. fifteen minutes he was
lowered into his coffin
On his last night alive he slept we'll
going ITO sleep about eleven o'clock and
waking about g. Shortly afterward Father
Griffin was admitted to his cell and stay
ed with him until the execution was over
All the morning people were gathering
around the Jail. The space in front of
the Jail had been roped off but they
crowded Through the court house corri-
doris and into the sheriffs office begging
for tickets to the hanging Not less than
one Thousand such requests were made
and refused. And long before 10 o'clock
there was a mob waiting just to get
glimpse of the condemned man as he went
to the gallows. Windows, tops of houses,
telephone poles, trees and everything that
gave vantage point, bore human fruit.
At 1912 Sheriff Page, Deputies Separk
and Riddick. Drs. j. w. MCGEE. Jr., and
j. l.. McCullers and the newspaper re-
porters entered the jail Tom was brought
N s1f ic coll infO OP l,
Jail, and the death warrant was read TO
him. He was dressed in a black suit
of clothes the size for a 16-year-old boy
and was accompanied by Father Griffin.
Mr.. Page said: Tom, | have come to
read the death warrant as the law di-
reefs" During the reading of the war
rant Toms eyes wandered from one to
another of the group before him, but
always returning to a crucifix Father
Griffin, who stood directly before him,
held. When the reading of the war
rant was complete, Deputy Riddick, said:
ITEM, do you want to tell the others
good-bye?" He said he did. and he was
lead around to the cage he had until the
day before occupied, and shook hands with
his old cell mates "Good-b don't
grieve for me- he said. And he looked
much happier than the two negroes he
told goodbye, both of whom will, in all
probability meet the same fate Tom was
then facing. He PASSED Mr.. Beckwith,
his counsel. in the corridor: Goodbye,
Tom said he. Il am sorry it has come
to this and l did all | could for you"
Good bye, Mr.. Beckwith'' was all Tom
said.
Bareheaded, the entire party marched
out of the Jail and around into the en-
IL . IT, &oJ~z
place. Tom went UP the steps between
Sheriffs Seoark and Riddick. with step
firm as if it were a gala occasion. He
had requested that no hand cuffs be
placed upon him and his request was
respected. On the scaffold were. besides
the condemned man. Sheriff Page, Depu-
ties Senark and Riddick, Squire Barbee
and Father Griffin. Tom bowed to his
knees and repeated short prayer after
Father Griffin. The prayer is known as
the "Act of Contrition," and is as follows
80, my God, 1 am heartily sorry for my
sins, | detest them above all things, be-
cause they displease thee. 0 my God,
who art most worthy of my love. / ask
pardon of nv sins in the name of Jesus
Christ, my Lord and Saviour, amen He
was handed a little silver cruciix, which
he kissed twice fervently
He then arose ard shook hands with |
all those on the scaffold, and Father
Griffin stepped forward and said: tom |
Jones asks me to say to the officers, the |
sheriff, the jailer and all who have done |
him any act of service that he is very
grateful; that he is sorry for the harm |
he has done in this world and throws
himself on the mercy of God and asks to |
be forgiven The deputies then proceed
ed to bind Tom. Just as the black cap
was being adjusted, for the only time dur
ing the ordeal he showed signs of waver-
ing. Father Griffin said TON, remem-
her," and he braced himself The moose
was then slipped over his head, and ex-
actly at 1929 O'Clock the trap was sprung
and Tom dropped down four feet. His neck
was broken by the fall. For a moment
there was no motion. but the body then
began turning round and round, the head
jerked to one side by the rope In a
moment the bound hands began to twitch,
and the labored effort of the lungs in the
struggle to expel the imprisoned air
shook his body. There was also a slight
spasmodic movement of the legs. About
five minutes after the drop the body shook
with one convulsive spasm, and then rest
ed quiet. 1t was the passing of Tom
Jones. There was no further move
ment save the continual turning round
and round of the body.
While he hung there the people in the
cell crowded up almost touching the body.
One man had a kodak and took picture |
after picture of the body as it went
round. The deputies tried to send the
crowd back, but they paid no attention,
and crowded and pushed closer. One man
wanted to touch the body, and they all
were pushing and struggling to get |
near ITO the dangling turning body. At
1912 the body, which had been pronounced
dead by the physician, was lowered into
its coffin. and was taken to the UNDER
taking establishment. The body will bel