Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1905-04-08
NEGRO TO SWING is
RESULT OF TRIAL.
The Gallows Is ThorntOn's
Fate.
RAPIsT GIVEN A TRIAL FRIDAY
lobe Thornton is Adjudged Guilty of
Assaulting Miss Dlsmukes in Web
ster County and Sentenced to Death
on GalIows.

lobe Thornton, the black rapist, will
pay with his neck the penalty of the
helnous crime committed in Webster
county In December, 1903, when, like a
brute awaiting it's prey, he assaulted
Miss Margaret Dismukes in her home
near Preston after beating her into in
sensibility.
Such was the verdict of the jury, rem
dered at Preston yesterday.
And, covering in his steel cage the
now frightened beast thathe is, Thorn
ton awaits the coming of the hangman
on April 9th to choke him to death at
a ropes end.
The case was entered upon at 8
O'Clock yesterday and concluded at
p. m. with verdict.
There was not the slightest excite
ment at Preston among the good citi-
zens of Webster county. Theevldence
pointed concIusiveIy to the guilt of
Thornton, to say nothing of his many
confessions of the brutal crime, and all
were willing for the law to take its
course.
Thornton was brought back to Amer
icus Jail by the O'Clock train.
The trial yesterday was attended with
breathless interest, the courthouse be-
ing packed to it's capacity. But when
the. verdict was rendered the vast
throng dispersed without demonstra-
ton.
At daylight yesterday Sheriff Bell
and Chief Feagin took Thornton from
the Americas Jail and, placing him in
closed cab, drove quickly to the Sea-
board shops. There they boarded q
fast freight, and thirty minutes later
the prisoner was landed in Preston.
His case had been assigned for trial,
and all was in readiness.
Messrs. Stevens ard Souter, two wei
known lawyers of Preston, were ap.
pointed by Judge Littlejohn to repre-
sent lobe Thornton.
AS Is we'll known, the poor victim of
the black brute is still in the asylum
as the result of his fendish deed, but
the State produced sufficient evidence
from physician; ladies, friends of Miss
Dismukes, and officers of the law to
warrant the verdict rendered.
The defendant presented no testi-
mony beyond his own statement.
Thornton denied the crime, in his
statement, but half hour later, while
the jury was still out, he confessed it
to three men near him IN the court.
room. Besides these, Thornton had
previously confessed the crime to Sher-
if Bell and others in Americas.
He received the sentence with utter
indifference, and when returning to
Americas again talked of his black
deed, committed Is months ago.
Thornton, on the night of December
9th, 1908, concealed himself in the
Dismukes home near Preston during
the absence of the owner, and when she
returned he sprang upon her in the
darkened room, stifed her criee, beat
her into insensibility and then com.
mltted his hellish deed
Ten days later he was caught near
Americas by Sher ifs Bell and Gate
wood and Chief Feagin, even then with
discriminating evidence in the blood of
his victim stamped upon him. HIS trial
was long delayed, pending the hoped
for recovery of the lady.
She is hopelessly insane, it seems,
but there was sufficient evidence at
hand, nevertheless, wherewith to break
his black neck.