The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-11
DIES WITH PRAYER ON LIPS
Thurman Kncel. to Prny, Helps to Adj
Just Rope, and In Hanged.
III 10, b1,r rIt,,oa lni, 1
Especial TO Tho Times Dispatch.
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NORFOLK. VA, April 1O.--Without
visible tremor, and assisting the Off
GERS of the law in adjusting the moose,
with a firm belief that he had made
peace with God, Leo c. Thurman, tried
and convicted of the brutal murder of
Walter p. Dolsen, a discharged ma
rine, was hanged this morning at sos
in the yard of the city iail.
The execution passed off without a
hitch. The condemned mans neck is
said to have been broken. and he was
pronounced dead IN ten minutes. He
made no statement on the scaffold be-
yond the utterance of feryent prayer,
preceding the final prayer OF the Rev.
Father Walsh. his spiritual adviser
The condemned mans last night on
earth was spent In writing letters 10
his mother. sister and friends. He
ate hearty suppel and late in the
night received and read letter from,
his mother and sister. 1t was 1
o'clock this morning when he laid
down. seemingly in the best of spirits,
and asking the death watch to arouse
him promptly at 6 A. NJ In few
minutes he was. to all appearances,
fast asleep.
1t was with some little difficulty that
the condemned man was aroused at 5
o'clock. But he was on his feet
promptly and quickly dressed, taking
pains TO make his personal appearance
neat He declined anything to eat. but
later called for cup Of coffee and a
cigarette. Attorney James G. Martin
called few minutes later and held a
private conference with Thurman.
The nature of their interview was
not given out. Father Walsh, his spir-
itual adviser. came early, and for
twenty minutes was closeted with the
prisoner, receiving his final confession
and administering communion. He
went through the ordeal we'll and
seemed to gather inspiration for his
last moments on earth.
Following several moments of chat
with those to officiate at the execution
Deputy Sergeant Gray announced at
$50 that the time had arrived. and
the march to the scaffo1d. less than a
minutes walk from the jail. was taken
up. Again the prisoner showed his
nervousness by the rapid and lngthy
strides he took. the deputies and wit
nesses having to almost trot to keep
up with him. He was not handcuffed,
at his own request. and mounted the
scaffold quickly
Kneeling on the rough boards of the
structure, Thurman offered up a fer
vent and intelligent prayer. asking God
70 bless ana save him. Everybody
was visibly affected. those who had
been Intimately associated with him
during his long confinement in Jail
broke down and wept. Jumping to his
feet, Thurman assisted in the adjust
ing OF the rope about his neck and
stepped on the trap. The Rev. Father
Walsh offered a fervent prayer in be-
half of the condemned man. and stepped
to one side.
1t was SOS when there was an omi-
nous click; the doors OF the scafold
swung down, and Thurman's body shot
downward. The execution was wit
messed by the Rev Father Walsh
James G. Martin, his attorney: Sheriff
Lawler and two deputies. Sheriff Crom-
well. OF Norfolk county; DR.. 3. NJ. Ba-
ker, the Jail physician, and newspaper
reporters. Less than dozen outsiders
were present.
II is believed that the manuscript
left by the dead man. and which is to
be opened tomorrow by Sheriff Law
Ter. James G.. Martin and Charles G.
kizer at l0:30 A. NJ. will be further
confession of his crime. in which he
will exonerate Walter P. Dolsen from
the accusations made in a previous
However. this is mere con-
lecture. Mr.. Kizer declares that the
dead man told him 1t was new state
ment. He asks that 1t be published and
SOLD, the proceeds to go to his mother.