The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-08-04

r.
oncrS walked With steady tread and r APP
pea red the most collected OF the group.
"A TIe was Joined at the jail door by; Taev.
Dr. Charles Manly. pastor of the 3 Lex Lex
ington Baptist Church, his spiritual adj Id
visor, and together they assembled the
platform at $40 o. clock. ~ DR.. Mani y read
several Scripture selections, and offered &c
an earnest and sympathetic prayer Tor
the con demr1ed man. f3 n " lille u selections
from the Bible were being read, w lcher
stood facing tho northeast, and looked
out on a Landscape OF surpassing love-
Illness hill ana valley clothed Il in 4. the
rich verdure Of midsummer, while y the
blue mountains In the distance added
charm and lmpresslveness to the. scene nta,S
His Last Look OH Earth.
Ever ana anon the unfortunate man
raised his eyes to the blue heaYens, ana
his features implied that his soul was COM
munirg with his Creator in prayer. The
occasion was one OF great solemnity and
many persons for the first time looked
q. the execution OF a fellow mortal. 8s53ss
Standing IN the early morning haze,
Wilcher was asked by Sheriff Morrison
X he had any statement to make. He re-
Piled In steady voice that he had not.
Dr.. Manly then said that Wilcher had
yesterday afternoon made statement
to him for publication, which he then
read: III RI q 3s
B Following this the black cap was placed
head. the trap was sprung and q dull
thud told the story OF the death.
Neck Broken.
f As the heavy body shot through the
trap-door at ga o'clock, his neck
was broken, and not muscle
moved, not tremor OF the
body. Drs. Reid White and y. II. Laird
examined the body and prom oYnced life
extinct fifteen minutes after the drop.
but the body was left hanging until Z
o'clock. when 1t was taken down and re-,
moved to the undertaking establishment
OF Warner, Pole & CO., whore It will be
for burial. En- Il III II Il 3 s3 Z
4 The remains will be taken tomorrow to,
Roclkbridge Baths and buried in the old
Methodist cemetery at that place by the
side OF the grave OF a sister OF Wilchcr.
A Besides Sheriff Morrison and Deputies
Jackson and r.. u. Barger. Common
wealth's Attorney D. p. Moore and Cir
cult Clerk "A. T. Shields witnessed the
as represent atives OF the court
4 Wilcher rested we'll last night, He
went to bed shortly after II o. clock. and
got up this morning before o o'clock.
lust before the execution he ate q hearty
BREAKFAST. When seen at 8 O'clock by
your correspondent he seemed bright and
cheerful, and stated that he was ready
and anxious for the end. "A
z yYilcher leaves an aged mother and
several brothers and sisters. ana Q wide
connection In the county. IA
History Of. the Crime.
Z william II W!lcher. who to-day paid
the penalty for murder was young
man just entering his twenty-third year,
His early training was OF that loose.
which eventuates SO frequently
Into crime, Much OF his time was spent
In drinking, carouslng and hunting, This
Wild life could have but one ending and
That such as he met.
Y on the fateful night OF February a.
1905, Wilcher. orazed by excessive drink
Ing, and by what he onsidered bad treat
ment BY Smith, concocted the Schelne OF
Inviting Smith 10 60 hunting with him,
evidently with the intention Of shooting
him. i. !,
& He went to Smiths house and invited
hin, to 60 hunting. which smith declined.
Then ensued q short conversation, ending
In harsh words and finally the shooting
Il Smith by Wilcher, is5
s There were only three witnesses to-
The Tragedy. They were Wilcher MIS-
smith, wife OF the murdered man, and
Hall, aged II years, brother OF
Mrs, Smith, Mrs, Smiths testimony at
ia trial was corrobo by her brother,
Ind was. In brief. MS follows
y. The Shooting,
On that Saturday night, February 24til.
Nilchar came to their house and asked
smith to- 90 hunting with him. which he
declined. Wtloher then accused Smith teof
.alking about lin, giving IS his reason
,Wilcherl and Lucy fIail, AIRS, Smiths
Harsh words ensued. and Wllcher fired
"a smith, who was standing IN the door,
Ie3 fell, excaalming .Oh! nc ana expired
MN Fat ely. 81 Vi Il, Il S w d. d s8e
,Wilchsr left the house at once and went
~ q store near nv, and boasted Sof what
y NJ spass IN rssa s'ssa thst Ae hsa
ss ;a$ III }S Il