The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-10-29
Vaughn Has Confessed;
Was Sentenced To Die
DATE OF EXECUTION
FIXED DECEMBER 20
PLEADS IN VAIN FOR HIS LIFE
PLEA DENIED.
Accused, in Effort. to Escape. Death
Penalty, Admits Guilt in State
ment to Jury.

Greenyille, Oct. 26.-T. U. Vaughn,
on trial for alleged immortality during
his term as superintendent Of the Odd
Fellows Home here, was put on the
stand by his lawyers today and made
clean confession of his awful crime.
The trial was brought to sensa-,
tional close when Vaughn broke DOWN
and confessed ALL He named two 9TH
'er victims in addition to those included
in the indictment. The jury was out
but four minutes and made no recon-
mendation for mercy, the verdict car
rying the death penalty.
Tears streamed oown the face Of
Judge Purdy, named by Governor
Blease as special judge for this trial.
Many jurors, court officials and spec
tators alike made no pretence of hiding
their tears as Vaughn, pale and brok-
en-, acknowledged his crime. Some jur-
ors wept aloud.
Sentence Pronounced.
In the afternoon Judge Purdy, be-
fore sentencing Vaughn, overruled a
motion for a new trial, which was ar
gued by one OF Vaughn's lawyers, after
his client made his confession. Judge
Purdy, in sentencing Vaughn to death
in the electric chair, set December 20
as the date for his execution
When court opened there was no in
tination that the accused would make
a confession. His attorney had fought
stubbornly since the beginning of the
case to break down the strong evidences
developed by the prosecutions little
girl witnesses.
Immediately after court opened to-
day attorneys of both sides consulted,
resulting in an agreement to let Vauhn
confess in an effort to save his own
life, and that the case would go to
the jury without argument.
II have acted devilishly, have act
ed shanyelessly," began Vaughn. "The
devil tempted me and l have fallen"
He pleaded eloquently but vainly with
the jury to save his life. Vaughn beg
ged the jury to spare his life, not so
much for his sake as for his wife and
little daughter
Neither Mrs. Vaughn nor her daugh-
ter were in court today, though they
had been with the accused since the
trial opened. He was formerly assist
ant superintendent of the First Bap-
tist church Sunday school, one Of the
largest and most fashionable in this
city. He was a ministerial student and
frequently occupied pulpits of churches
in and around Greenville He owns
considerable property.
Vaughn's Confession.
Facing the jury, Vaughn made his
confession. In all, his statement makes
three thousand words Briefly sum
married. it is as follows:
Gentlemen, it is useless to say that
in this instance | am greatly humili-
ated, and for months and months |
have had agonizing hours over the
whole matter. l wish to say this in
the outset, that | have never wished
to conceal one whit Of the truth when
the time came to make clear state
ment. have been so cautious in thes9
particulars that some have inferred
that | had denied my guilt. | know
that some have had that impression,
but knew that was guilty and would
tell it at the proper time. For that
reason l have mad impressions taa: !.
were unfavorable to me.
''I want to say here and now that
| am going to assume full responsible
ity. | want to take it off of that girl.
| want to say that I have loved the
girl always, but that love has been
misdirected and misused. don't think
the girl will deny today the reality
of my love in many respects, yet my
conduct towards her would make her
take the position towards me which
she now takes, and Justly takes.
"As superintendent Of the orphan
age, had entire control Of her I