Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-11-21
CARDS, THEN DEATH
A DOOMED oEseRTeR WHO PLAYED
POKER AND WON.
As Preliminary to His Execution
He Had His Winnings Distributed
Among the Members of the squad
That Shot Him TO Death.

1T Is curious fact" said a mem.
Der OF Company A, Third Maryland
that military execution had peculiar
fascination for men who were daily
accustomed to see hundreds slain in
battle. Men who shovel breastwork
In on a trench full OF slain comrades
and chew bareback or eat salt pork
while at the job with a callousness
which only such frequent scenes or o..
currences would make possible i'm the
human heart became peculiarly sensl.
i've and alive 10 the solemn parade
and formalties OF military execution.
In orr regiment we had a private
soldier sentenced TO be shot for desert
Ing to the enemy. His name was
Thompson, and he belonged To Com.
pany Is. This man Thompson had de.
serted or vedette post one night and
! some two months afterward came into
| our lines, where members of his own
company happened TO be on picket
duty Thompson did not calculate on
TINS. His idea In coming in was TO sur.
render as Confederate soldier and be
sent north. II happened near TO the
Weldon railroad, where our division of
the Ninth corps was then posted or
course, on being recognized he was
taken TO headquarters and a court
martial was Immediately convened. II
leaked out somehow that Thompson
was not the humble soldier he seemed
but Confederate officer and spy. lie
had been an officer i'm the United States
navy before the war. He resigned and
went south. where he secured the com.
mission Of colonel Of infantry
Being a Marylander Of family. Of
forts were made 10 save his life. but in
quiet way, as his relatives feared TO
disclose his real identity for fear he
would be hanged as spy instead OF
shot as deserter. Friday, the day
set for execution in the Army Of the
Potomac, came around too soon for
Thompson and his relatives. The night
previous he had been Informed that all
efforts had failed at Washington. |
was ON guard duty over him, and my
brother was one Of the detail of twelve I
men selected as the firing squad. Ny |
brother didn't like the lob and came (
10 the tent where | was on guard TO /
consult with me how 10 get out Of ii. |
Thompson overheard our conversation. I
and, knowing my brother 10y name. he /
broke i'm: Say, Tip, you must not back F.
out ! want you in the squad as | .
know you are a dead shot aud will .
save me from the sergeant
1T was the practice for the sergeant
If the firing squad failed TO Kill the
doomed man with volley TO place the
of his rifle against the temple
Of the prisoner and blow out his brains
After Tip had consented the officer
Of the guard permitted US to play cards
with the prisoner. He had a roll OF
bills. and we were soon i'm stiff poker
game. Two guards, including myself.
my brother Tip and Thompson. com
posed the quartet. We played until
gray daylight, and Thompson skinned
the party OF every dollar. He had
luck and watched the
game closely.
"ln the afternoon he was to die. and
about noon he asked to see the lieuten-
ant of the firing squad. Handing the !
officer 5000, he asked him to divide it
equally among the men detailed to
shoot him.
THE division was drawn up and !
ormed three sides Of a square, the
ourth side being open, where the grave
# Thompson was freshly dug The
'and played the dead march I'm SAUL
nd Thompson, at the head of the fir
ng squad, marched around the three
ides OF the square, with the coffin I'm
which he was TO be inclosed carried i'm
1ediately behind him. Reaching the
pen space, the coffin was set down.
thompson seated himself ON the end OF
: facing the firing squad, about twelve
aces distant The death warrant was {
cad, and the chaplain tied his hand {
erchief over the prisoners eyes. il
'atched Thompson, curious TO note IL I
e would hear the reports of the mus I
cts that killed him. Presently heard q
le lieutenants low voice: Ready! !,
i'm! Fire" y
I'm the next instant Thompson top n
led back into his coffin a dead man. 8,
he reports Of the muskets he never o
card, as ! saw him swiftly fall over II
efore | heard the guns crack, and 20
settled this disputed point to my own
and 10 that extent the ex.
'ution Of Thompson interested me and u