Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-08-08
History of the Crime for Which
Wilcher Was Hanged

W1ICher WAS Hangeu
The shooting of Henry j. Smith
at his home on Walkers Creek
Saturday night, February "a, 1906,
by Wilcher, his trial and conviction
are matters of recent happening,
and are familiar to all our readers
1t will be recalled that Wilcher had
a grievance against Smith, on &C.
count of what he considered
Smiths interference with his love
affairs. While in jail here he said
that Smith had come between him
and several women. At any rate,
he conceived that Smith was his
enemy, ard his subsequent actions
led one to believe that he attempt
ed to get rid of this enemy.
On the night of the murder Will
cher went to the home CT Smith
and tried to induce Smith to go
hunting with him. On Smiths
refusal, after sharp words about a
young woman, Wilcher fired the
fatal shot that killed Smith. He
then went to a nearby store and
boasted of his crime, saying that
he had several balls left for some
body else, and if anyone IN the
store wanted to "shufHe off this
mortal coil" he would gladly help
them start on that journey from
whose bourne no traveller returns,
1t was evident that Wilcher was
drinking. He afterwards said
that he had taken several drinks of
Lincolnshire" and other drinks of
wine.
The only three witnesses to the
tragedy were Wilcher, Mrs.Smith
wife of the murdered man, an6p
Harrison Hall, aged IA years.
brother of Mrs. Smith. After a
preliminary hearing before Magis'
trate Bolen, Wilcher was brought
to Jail in Lexington. He was indict-
ed for murder by the grand jury,
and his trial set for the April term
Of the Circuit Court. At the open
ing of the April court on the day
get fer Wilcher's trial, there was
q large crowd of men and women
from the vicinity of Walkers
Creek, attracted to Lexington by
their interest in the case. On ac-
count of a technicality, the case was
postponed to the June term of the
The Walkers Greek people
and others throughout the county
were greatly disappointed at the
postponement, and many thought
it was only suhterfuge in order
TO gain time for the prisoner.
At the opening of the June court
interest in the trial ran high, and
3 larger crowd was attracted to Lex
ington from Walkers Greek than in
April, the number being estimated
At fully three hundred. A rumor
was current at the time that seri-
,us trouble might be expected
should Wilcher not be found guilty
If the murder. The trial extended
through the week, and many
witnesses were examined. An able
iefense was put up for the prisoner,
put the jury on Thursday, June
I4th, brought in a verdict in ~
minutes after retiring of murder
n the first degree. Judge Letcher
IN the following Saturday pro-
bounced sentence of death upon
Wilcher, and fixed Friday, August
)rd, between 0 o'clock a. m. and 6
} clock p. M, as the time for the
execution. The prisoner received
he death sentence without any
expression of fear or
Tread, but presented the same
tolidity and Indifference that
characterized him during the trial.
After the sentence, Sheriff Mcrri-
on and Tailor jackson escorted
he prisoner back to the Jail, and
le was confined in one of the steel
,ages. He never left his cell until
he morning of his execution.
Wilcher was born and grew to
manhood on Kerr's Creek, but for
he past three years he made his
ZONE on Walkers Creek. He was
. son Of the late Thomas Wllcher.
lie hsd few advantages in early
ife, and in consequence he grew
lp without restraint, with bent
or idle and vicious habits. He
coveted the distinction of being
ecognized as a bully in his COM
nunity, and when under influence
# liquor, which was frequent, ne
vas regarded as dangerous man.
lie is survived by his widowed
mother and three brothers aud
hree sisters.
During the closing weeks OF his
his cell was never
Without flowers and religious
literature, and often delicacies to
at, which were furnished him
y sympathetic women of the
immunity, who desired to express
n this way their interest Ia his
piritual welfare.
Wilcher Makes a Statement