The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-31
TOM JONES WILL
PAY THE PENALTY
He Will Be Hanged Here To-
day for Murder.
HE KILLED ELLA JONES
And Then Burned the House to Con-
ceal His Awful Crime.
He VAlNLY TRIED THE INSANITY DODGE
He Was Convicted by the Evidence Of Laura
Jones, the Seven year-oId Daughter
Of His Victim.

just five months and one week ago,
Tom Jones killed a negro woman,
Ella Jones and her 10 year old daugh-
ter Ida.
They were killed as they slept in
bed, and after they had been slam the
house in which they lived was set on
fire by their murderer to hide his
crime.
In the house were six small chill
dren, four OF whom were roasted
alive. The other two escaped t. tell
who was the murderer oil their mother
and sisters. And on the evidence
given by these two children, Tom
Jones was convicted and today he
pays the penalty for his dreadful
crime.
Yesterday was trying day on the
condemned man. All day long there
were people at the Jail door begging
to see Tom Jones. Black and white
of every color and almost every condi-
ton, they came, actuated by cold and
morbid curiosity.
During the day 1000 people came
to see nina man, who, under or
binary circumstances is commonplace,
but who is now of interest because
his feet are treading the brink of
eternity. The Jail yard was crowded
and failing to see the prisoner. they
begged for a look at the galIows on
which he is to die. For today be-
tween the hours of 10 and 2, Tom
Jones Will pay the penalty of his
crime All the arrangements for his
execution have been completed, and
ic hn
springing OF the fatal trap. The gal
lows upon which he is to die was
complete in every detail a week ago
He has disposed of his body to ply
Sician for ten dollars, and with that
amount proceeded to make himsen
comfortable during the last week on
earth; his ideas of comfort being
meals from a restaurant and a con-
slant supply of ice water. He has
$3.50 of the money yet
He yesterday held several CONVERSE
tions with his confessor, Father Grit
fin, who last Monday administered
the rite of baptism to him, and who
today will stand by him on the scat
fold when the drop falls. Tom says
that he is ready to go, and a greasy
much be-thumbed Catholic Catechism
is his constant companion.
deputy that he wanted to see his step
father, Alex Farrar. Mr.. Separk tried
to get word to Farrar yesterday but
owing to the lateness of the request
1T is doubtful if he will succeed in get
ting him here in time to see Tom alive.
Tom expressed q desire for shave
and to have his hair cut yesterday,
and it was done late in the afternoon.
At the same time he was taken from
his cell, in which he has been con-
fined with two other criminals, and
will be placed in cell by himself.
He will remain there with his death
watch until Sheriff Page reads him
the death warrant and leads him to
the gallows.
The crime for which Tom is to die
today was committed on the 23d day
of last March and it's history is well
known, the people of the county be-
ing shocked at so red handed crime
being committed in their midst Tom
Jones murdered his paramour and
her daughter, Ida, with an axe, and
to hide his crime, set IRE to the house
in which were six of the dead wo-
mans little children. Four of these
children, one of which was a young
babe, were burned to death in the
flames and two others escaped to send
their mothers murderer to the gal
lows he so richly deserves. The case
was tried at a term of court beginning
just about one week after the com
mission of the crime. The plea set up
by the defense was insanity. SO en-
tirely did the prisoners counsel rely
on this plea that in his argument he
admitted that his client did kill and
burn LA Jones as charged in the in
dictment, but added that he was crazy
when he did it, and therefore not
guilty in the sight of God and man.
The Negroes appearance in the court
room, had there been less than life
and death in the balance, would have
been ridiculous. His diminutive APP
pearance was accumulated by his
dresS-a coat many sizes too large,
reaching almost to his knees with the
sleeves rolled up over his wrist, trous-
ers turned up at the bottom, yet limp
ly dragging on the floor when he
stood up, and a black derby many
sizes too large. And not once, as he
sat before the jury, little to the rear
of his lawyer, did he manifest any in
terest in the proceedings. Not once
during the whole trial did he speak
to his lawyer. "Stolid and stunned, a
brother to the OK" he stared at the
wall, seeing nothing-a veritable
dumb beast, with the "emptiness of
ages on his face
The evidence against him was con-
elusive as to his Quilt. The testimony
of seven year old Laura JONES' the
only eye eyewitness to the tragedy. ]
as she told the story of that awful
night at her humble home made an
lrrefacable impression upon the jury.
She had lain as if asleep while Tom
Jones had killed her mother and sis
ter and set the house afire and left.
then she took her brother Sid and
went to house for aid. And later. |
on the witness stand, her testimony |
was unshakable, over and over the |
story. ending as it began
What is your name?" Mr.. Pou be-