The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1902-12-26
CARDS, THEN DEATH
= DOOMED DeSERTER WHO p,Axrn
POKER AND WON.
preliminary to Ill. Execution
ne Iind His Winnings Di.tributea
S 'he Members Of the Sauad
ihat Shot Him to Denth.

-" winnings Distributed
among the Members of the Suuad
Ihnt Shot Him TO Death.
- - curious fact" said a mem.
Der OF Company \, Third MARYLAND
That military execution had q nocul,or
fascination for men who were daily
a't9stolned to see hundreds slain in
patt!e Men who shovel q breastwork
III Oh trench full Of slain comrades
ahd Chew bareback or eat salt pork
"hlie at the Job with q callousness
which only such frequent scenes or oc.
cerrehces would make possible In the
human heart became peculiarly sensI.
1--WE ana alive To the solemn parade
ana formal!ties OF a military execution
III our regiment we had a private
soldier sentenced TO be shot for desert.
Ing TO the enemy. His name was
thompson, and lie belonged TO Com.
pany X. This man Thompson had de-
serted of vedette post one night and
some two months afterward came into
our lines. whore members Of his own
company happened TO be on picket
duty. Thompson did not calculate on
this. His idea Ia coming In was to sur
render rs q Confederate soldier and be
sent north. 1t happened near to the
Weldon railroad. where our division Of
the Ninth corps was then posted. OF
course. On being recognized. he was
taken to Headquarters. and court
martial was Immediately convened. Ii
leaked out somehow that Thompson
was not the humble soldier he seemed.
but Confederate officer and spy. He
bad been an officer In the United States
navy before the war He resigned and
went south. where lie secured the com
mission of colonel Of infantry
Being q Marylander Of family, ef-
forts were made To save his life, but in
n quiet way. as his relatives feared TO
disclose lis real identity for fear he
would be hanged as spy instead of
shot as desertor Friday, the day
set fer 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 ut Washington.
was ON guard duty over him, and my
brother was one OF the detail OF twelve
men selected rs the firing squad. My
brother didn't like the job. and came
| to the tent where ! was on guard tc
consult with me how TO get out OF 1t
| Thomson overheard our conversation
and, knowing my brother by name. ht
broke In: Say. Tip, you must not bach
out. want you in the squad. rs
know you are dead shot and VII
save me from the sergeant
1T was the practice for the serGean
II the firing squad failed 10 Xii tn
doomed man with yollcy 10 place ~
muzzle q: l.s rifle against the tenpl'
OF the prisoner aai blow out his brains
after TIP hai consented the office
Of the guard permitted u 70 play caro-
with the prisoner He had 4 ron Q
hills. and we We're soon in a SIN POKE
| game. Two guards. including myseli
my brother TIP and Thompson. com
nosed tie quartet We played unit
gray daylight. and THOMPSON sklnne'
the parts OF every dollar. lie ha'
nhenoncual luck ard watched tn
game closvly
"ln the afternoon lie was TO cie. am
ohout noon be asked 10 see the heuten
AMI of The firing squad. Handing III
officer s.,0a he asked him to divide
equally among the men detai!eu
shoot him.
..The division was drawn UP am
,or,noa three sides OF a square, III
fourth side being open, where the sra'
OF Thompson was freshly dug In
hand played the dead march III aui
and Thompson. at the head or the III
ing squad, marched around the .i'.
sidas OF the square, with the comm II
,hich no WAS 10 be inclosod carried I'LL
mcdiately behind him. keach'ns ~
onen space, the coffin was SET 90"
Th,mn.ou seated himself on the e'u G
II facing the firing squad. about t"eN
n.ccs distant. The death warrant wa
read. and the chaplain tied ms hah'
kcrchicf over the prisoners eyes
watched Thompson. curious 10 note
h. would hear the reports OF the mu
kets that killed him. Presently near
the licutenant's low voice: 'heau!
Aim! Fire"
.In the next instant Thompson to-
plei back into his coffin dead ma
The reports Of the muskets he new
} hoard as saw him swiftly fall ov'
before | heard the guns crack. anu
| settled this disputed point TO III! Q"
.,usr,ct.on. and to that extent the e
ceution OF Thompson Interested il'e a.
no more. Washington PosI