Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-11-26
THOMAE EXECUTED
Continued from page 1

Thomas said that he wanted the boys
at the workhouse to live up TO the honor
system, stating that before, they were
kept in their cells day and night, while
now they are allowed many privileges and
are even used on road work"
THE DEATH MARCH.
Thomas was attired sin black suit,
with a black tie, donning this clothing
this morning. At 1890 the members of
the jury and the witnesses passed through
the tunnel to the workhouse to the prison
enclosure, where the gallows had been
erected In a moment Thomas appeared
with two guards accompanying him, in
addition to Warden Plummer and the
| spiritual advisers.
Before the cap was placed about his
head by one of the guards Thomas was
asked whether he had anything to say
and in clear voice said,
Tell the world I'm ready TO go.
The cap was then placed about his
head and at 1892 the trap was sprung,
tho body dropping to almost foot with
in the ground There was but one qulver
Of the body and that was moment after
the trap had been sprung.
The physicians in attendance were:
| DIR. +. III. Davies, DIR. John Ball and DR..
! W Allldfil " LII Afttifs At ib-Oo tits pAf-
sicians reported that the heart was still
| strong and few minutes later they re-
/ ported that the pulse had reached 100,
| At 1851 y DIR. Davies officially announc-
| cd that the Negro was dead
The body was then cut from the gal
| lows and taken in charge of Coroner Isaac
| >. Bullock and Deputy Coroner Harvey
| +. Nichols. A bouquet of American Beauty
roses, which Thomas had asked for and
which were presented by Mrs. Plummer,
were placed with the body, which was
removed TO the morgue In this city.
/ Warden Plummer was greatly affected
! by the hanging and following the execution
said that although Thomas had been bad
outside the prison, he had been model
1 prisoner since being placed in the work
| house, several months ago.
The jurors were; Harry A. Bickta,
John s Lattomus, William r. Warren,
! Fred Fleetwood, Joseph c. Galloway,
! Ralph L. White, James K. Hsey, III. K.
/ Barron, Walter II. Hartlove, Thomas B.
! Haugh. William Lyons, Jr, and Llcuten-
ant William II. Biggans of the railroad
| police.
The witnesses were: Rev Father James
NJ. Grant, Captain John +. Roseman,
Harry Gregg, Coroner Isaac s. Bullock.
DR. H. y Arnett. Charles Cross, James
Crautter. Captain William Palmer Of the
railroad police Constable George Whiting
ton. several wurkhouse guards and three
newspaper men.
Thomas was originally sentenced 10 be
hanged DC tobeI %, but he was reprieved
for two weeks, while medical experts IN
Quired into his mental condition. He was
again feprieved until today, while the
physicians continued their examination
During the prayer services by Captain
Roseman, forgiveness was also asked for
Lem Price, in addition to Thomas.
PARDON BOARD DIDN'T INTERFERE.
The appeal for the Communication Of
his sentence to life Imprisonment was
rejected by the Board OF Pardons at
meeting in Dover "Wednesday.
Owing TO the vacancy existing on the
board, due 70 the death of Lieutenant
Governor Eliason, there were only four
members and a vote on the question of
committing Thomas sentence resulted
IN tie.
Physicians testified homas was men
tallv defective. but refused 10 say he vas
insane. All Of the doctors admitted the
youth knew the difference between right
and wrong
Judge Daniel .. Hastings represented
Thomas in the appeal TO the Board of
Pardons He produced witnesses from
kennett Square. Pa, where Thomas had
lived prior to coming 70 Delaware. All
testified they had considered the youth
simple or silly" but not insane.
Judge Hastings produced let ters from sew
cral jurymen stating that had the mental
deficiency point been emphasized in
the trial they would not have rendered q
verdict Of death, but would have rec
commended mercy
The members Of the Board OF Pardons
are Chancellor CHARLES NJ. Curtis Everett
G. johnson, Secretary Of State; George |
NJ Fisher. State Treasurer and Daniel I.
F. Thompson, State Auditor.
Mrs. Emma Talley, the white woman I
who was the victim Of the assault tes-
titled as 70 the assault
OPINIONS or THE PHYSICIANS.
A letter from Rev. c. l. Hubbard, |
pastor Of St. Pauls NJ. K Church vii |
mington, expressed the belief that the |
Negro did not realize the enormity of the |
crime, and that he evidently was not nor |
nlally developed.
Michael J. Monahan, Harry McDon- |
aid Louis b. Eastburn of Kennett Square /
testified that they knew Thomas when /
he worked around Kennett Square and /
tlldL llS WIS CpIlslt1bTS2 pie anu s1AsN
DR. Theodore H. Weisenberg, Of the
University Of Pennsylvania, an expert /
of nerve and mental diseases, gave a
lengthy testimony as TO the examina-
tions made by him and his conclusions
He said the Negros low order of men
tality was brought about by his immoral
and abhorent practices as youth, which
he had continued practically all Of his life |
But he believed Thomas knew right from
wrong and that he was not insane. He
cLassed him as a moral inbecile; moral
defective
DR. Davies testified that he had ex-
amined Thomas separately and with Dr.
Neisenberg and DR. Tomlinson, the
workhouse physician and corroborated
fully the testimony of the other two ply
sicians, as 10 the mental and moral con
dition Of Thomas
DIR. Robert ". Tomlinson. Work
house physician, gave the opinion that
Thomas was not mentally strong, that
be showed a seeming Stiffness, but that he
believed he knew right from wrong and
was not insane.
Thomas was calm during his last night
ia prison-and his last night alive for
that matter
Good night warden, you've been
friend TO me. | did wrong, but / never
had a chance were the parting words of
the Negro just before he retired last night,
in addressing Warden Plummer. Turning
TO Lem Price, IN an adjoining cell, who is
to be harged December ., Thomas called