The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-25
| Do NOT EXPECT TO
HANG, SAYS WILCOX
| Expected the Verdict, He
Continues
IT MAY BE FOR THE BEST
I Might Have Fared Worse Had it
Been Lighter,
KNEW THE FEELING AGAINST NE
But There Are Enough Things in the Trial to
Give Ne a New Hearing. Grounds
on Which AydIett viii
Ask II.
1T MAY BE FOR THE BEST
I Might Have Fared Worse Had il
Been Lighter.
KNEW THE FEELING AGAINST NE
Especial to News and observer.)

tcDocldl
Norfolk, Va, March 24.-With one
month more to live, according to Judge
Jones sentence, Jim Wilcox sat in his
steel bound cage this afternoon and
talked about his fate. 1t was the first
time he had given an interview since the
trial began. Reserved always and cold
as chiseled marble Jim had, through
his attorney, kept away the newspaper
men. Today after the reserve were
away and he had said that many things
printed in the papers were lies, the
doomed man talked about his sentence.
He was clad in an undershirt and dark
trousers and his feet propped against
the bars. were on level with his head.
''Yes, | expected the verdict he be-
gan, through most people though it
would be in the second degree. / was
prepared for the worse. and as 1 stood up
there and heard the courts sentence of
death l was not surprised. I know the
feeling against me. 1t may be for the
best, for perhaps I should have Jared
worse had the jury's verdict been lighter.
But 1 do not expect to hang. There
are enough things about the trial to give
me a new hearing. The fact that so
many people left the building when my
plea was being closed, and thereby
meant to influence the jury. is one ground
on which / should have a new trial. The
judge told them about that Saturday
night. New York detective, who was
down here before the body was found.
did me dirty trick. He said he wanted
a statement for my good, but l was
suspicious and wouldn't go to his hotel
as he asked me, and would not go to talk
with him, but when l did make a state
ment in Mr.. Aydletts office the man
pretended to take it down, but not one
word was printed in the paper he claim
ed to represent. What he did print was
all against me.
Il hive been prosecuted by some peo-
pie. With all the public feeling against
me- the crowd influencing the jury by it's
action, / did not expect a different ver-
dict. | was not so much affected by the
sentence, because I expected it and was
prepared for the worst
Asked if he played cards Sunday to
While away the time Wilcox asked how
could he since there was no one else in
the cell.
1t was reported about the city that he
and other prisoners had a game. A
Sunday said he played game of set
back for fun
Wilcox was questioned about the re-
port that he meant to commit suicide.
His words and bearing gave no intima-
tion of a desire for self destruction. He
said they had talked about taking away
from the cell the knife and fork with
which he ate. but he remarked that if he
wanted to die soon he could butt out his
brains against the bars, but he did not
care to die yet
Wilcox was offered refreshments. He
declared he did not smoke cigars, that
some of them were lying about the cell
now, but he accepted three packages of
cigarettes and bottle of whiskey.
Being told the whiskey was not drugged
Jim said he was not afraid, but he had
found broken glass in food sent from
restaurant He refused to eat it.
Wilcox seemingly has no concern for
the future. Cold and emotionless but
brave always, he talks about the case
with no more interest than an outsider.
Former Sheriff Wilcox, Jim's father,
says he does not believe Jim knows any
thing about the crime He told him the
day the verdict was brought to make nc
sign whether he were convicted or freed.
The father says he thinks that if an ac-
quittal had been rendered the accused
would have been killed before he got
from the court room to Jail. He saw
the great crowd waiting in the shade
outside and he knew they were deter
mined men. Asked about his wife, Mrs.
Wilcox, he said she took the sentence
better than he expected. He told her az
soon as he got home from the court house
that the worst had come. He decided
that was the better plen.
Continued on Page Five.)