The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-11-01
VAUGHN CONFE5ES:
SENTENCED @ DIE.
TRIAL AT GREENVLE COMES
TO DRAMATICLOSE.
Accused, in Effort Escape Death
Penalty, Admits tilt, and Pleads
In Vain for His fe-Taken to the
Penitentiary We're He Will Be
Electrocuted oDecember goth.

Greenville, O 26.-T. u. Vaughn,
on trial for aged immortality dur
ing his term superintendent of the
Odd Yellowstone here, was put on
the stand his lawyers today and
made cle confession of his awful
crime.
The tri was brought to a sensa-
tional Gle. when Vaughn broke
down ar. confessed all. He named
two otr victims in addition to
those iluded in the indictment. The
jury Is out but four minutes and
madelo recommendation for mercy,
the rdict carrying the deaJn penalty.
~T.rs streamed down the face of
JXe Purdy, named by Governor
hse as special Judge for this trial.
My jurors, Court officials and spec
tors alike made no pretence of hid
g their tears as Vaughn, pale and
roken, acknowledged his crime. Some
Jurors wept aloud
Sentenced 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, af-
ter his client made his confession.
Judge Purdy, in sentencing Vaughn to
death in the electric chair, set De-
cember 20 as the date for his execu-
tion
When court opened there was no in
timation that the accused would make
a confession. His attorney had fought
stubbornly since the beginning of the
case to break down the strong evil
dence developed by the prosecutions
little girl witnesses.
Immediately after court opened to-
day attorneys of bottle sides consulted,
resulting in an agreement to let
Vaughn confess in an effort to save
his own life and that the case would
go to the jury without argument.
81 have acted devilishly, have act
ed shamelessly," began Vaughn. "The
devil tempted me and I have fallen"
He pleaded eloquently but vainly with
the jury to save his life. Vaughn
begged the jury to spare his life, not
so much for his sake as for his wife
and little daughter.
Neither Mrs. Vaughn nor her
daughter were in court today, though
they had been, with the accused since
the trial opened. He was formerly
assistant superintendent of the First
Baptist church Sunday School, one of
the largest and most fashionable in
this city. He was ministerial stu
dent 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
summarized it is as follows:
"Gentlemen, it is useless to say that
in this instance I am greatly humili-
ated, and for months and months
have had agonizing hours over the
whole matter. I wish to say this in
the outset, that l have never wished
to conceal one whit of the truth when
the time came to make clear state
ment. have been so cautious in
these particulars that some have in
ferred that | had denied my guilt.
know that some have had that impress
sion, but l knew that 1 was guilty
and would tell it at the proper time.
For that reason I have made impress
sions that were unfavorable to me.
81 want to say here and now that
am going to assume full response
bllity. want to take it off of that
girl. l want to say that l have loved
the girl always, but that love has
been misdirected and missused. 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.
GAS superintendent of the Orphan
age, | had entire control of her. I
realize that now. l did not at the
time realize just what I was doing.
do now. l did it under circum-
stances about which would not care
to go into details here. At the very
point l thought myself the strongest,
L found myself the weakest. / found
that the Devil had attacked me with
a more subtle and powerful tempta>
tlon in the very place l thought II
could not be tempted. cannot now
go into the details of the circum>
stances surrounding me when / fell,
and l now assume full responsibility