The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-11-12
CARDS, THEN DEATH
A DOOMED osseRTeR WHO PLAYED
POKER AND WON.

He Had His winnings Distributed
Among the Members of the squad
That shot Him 60 Death.
ut Is curious fact" said mem.
ber OF Company 4. Third Maryland.
"that military execution had peculiar
fascination for men who were daily
accustomed to see hundreds slain I'm
battle. Men who shovel a breastwork
I'm on a trench full of slain comrades
and chew hardtack or eat salt pork
while at the Job with a callousncss
which only such frequent scenes or oc-
surrences would make possible in the
human heart became peculiarly sensi.
tive and alive TO the solemn parade
and formalIties Of n military execution.
"In our regiment we had private
soldier sentenced TO be shot for desert
ing TO the enemy. His name was
Thompson. and he 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, where members Of his own
company happened TO be on picket
duty. Thompson did not calculate on
this. His idea In coming IN was TO sur.
render as n Confederate soldier and be
sent north. IL happened near to the
Weldon railroad. where our division OF
the Ninth corps wns 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 a Confederate officer and spy. He
had been an officer In the United States
navy before the war. lie resigned and
went south, where he secured the COM
mission Of colonel OF infantry.
"Being a Marylander OF family. ef-
forts were made 60 save his life, but I'm
a quiet way. as his relatives feared TO
disclose his real identity for fear he
would be hanged as a spy instead OF
shot as a 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. I
was or guard duty over him, and my
brother was one OF the detail OF twelve
men selected as the firing squad. My
brother didn't like the job, and came
TO the tent where | was on guard TO
consult with me how 10 get out of IT,
Thompson overheard our conversation,
and, knowing my brother by name. he
broke in: Say, Tip. you must not back
out. l want you In the squad, as l
know you are dead shot and will
save me from the sergeant
''It was the practice for the sergeant
81 the firing squad failed to kill the
doomed man with a vollcy TO place the
muxzle OF his rife 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. lie had roll of
bills, and we We're 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
phNhNhNhai AuNh ohh NaANhNu aAS
game closely.
"1n the afternoon he was TO die, and
about noon he asked TO see the lieuten-
ant Of the firing squad. Handing the
officer $500, he asked him TO divide II
equally among the men detailed to
shoot him.
The division was drawn up and
formed three sides OF a square, the
fourth side being open. where the grave
OF Thompson was freshly dug. The
band played the dead march I'm saul,
and Thompson, at the head OF the fir
ing squad. marched around the three
sides OF the square, with the coffin in
which he was TO be inclosed carried i'm.
mediately behind him. Reaching the
open space. the coffin was set down
Thompson seated himself on the end OF
II. facing the firing squad, about twelve
PAGES distant. The death warrant was
read. and the chaplain tied his hand
kerchlef over the prisoners eyes.
watched Thompson. curious 10 note Il
he would hear the reports OF the mus
kets that killed him. Presently hearC
the lieutenant's low voice; Ready
Aml Fire!
I'm the next instant Thompson top
pied back into his coffin dead man
The reports OF the muskets he neye
heard. as | saw him swiftly fall owe
before l heard the guns crack, and 81
settled this disputed point TO my Owl
satisfaction, and TO that extent the ex
ecution OF Thompson interested me an,
no more" Washington Post
To Thread n Hair Through "a Walnut
10 mass n hair through Ualnu