Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1920-06-22

Adjutant James Thompson, at the
head of prison work, who is in the
city in the interest of the Salvation
Army drive, is making some notable
history for the state, as well as saw
ing the lives Of a number of men
condemned to death, for it has beer
through his efforts that the death cells
at the Eddyvillc prison have beer
cleared of their human inhabitant'
after having been condemned to die
1t was Adjutant Thompson who LED
to the death chair the last man to be
put to death there, the negro taker
from Lexington, and it was while go
ing to the chair that he made a full
confession to the officer.
Two others who were waiting theii
turn for the fatal electric chair were
Saved through the efforts of the man
and will be allowed to live. After they
had gained Il reprieve, they explained
their appreciation as follows, the ap-
pending letter being verbatim, writ
ten at the prison June 10, 1920:
"Dcar Brother Thompson: would
feel myself very unappreciative in
deed we've | not to give you an ex-
preston Of my heart for what yor
have done for me, and in this testi,
mony Joe Hughes wishes to join. 9
To you and your untiring effort
we owe our lives and our freedom
from the electric chair. We realiz.
that if we had have had the admoni-
tions and good advice that you have
given us, taught to US in young boy
hoods days, our careers in life woult
have been quite different and We
would have today been enjoying ths
freedom of. the world and youthful
citizens. l,.,
"We were not blessed with the ear.
ly training of Christian home. Joe's
mother died when he was only an in
fant, and his father was not a Chris
tian. Neither of my parents was {
Christian. In early life we both chose
and associated with vile and wicked
boys, where we learned all of the al
lurements leading to reckless life
We engaged in all games of chance
craps, cardplaying, whisky drinking
and pistol toting, which all lead the
young man on the downward road tt
destruction, to Jail, penitentiary anc
as in our cases, to the electric chair
but through your coming into oul
lives and your prayers we have beer
snatched from this awful death.
"We feel that it has been Gods
will to spare our lives and in order
that your lessons may be the more
firmly Impressed upon our minds, nev.
r er to be effaced. He has permitted
us to witness the awful solemnity o.
the occasion, as eight victims of the
electric chair were led to their doom
and as each placed his hand between
the bars to bid US farewell to this
world, we knew not but that within
the next few days we would in like
manner extend our hands through th'
same bars to bid others goodbye a:
we were lead to the chair. But
Brother Thompson, we feel .tha
through your efforts and your pray
ers we have been spared for, wha
we hope, to be useful purpose.
MAY your teachings and that o
numerous other Salvation Arm.
brothers who have visited us in ou
lonely cell, never be effaced from ou
lives, that we shall ever cherish ant
nourish kindly feeling for the Sal
| walton Army and its noble corps o
| workers for the redemption 0 The out
cast an dthe downtrodden. To the ma
who feels he has not friend in tn
world has only to turn to your nobl
organization for relief. When tn
poor wretch has fallen so low tina
there seems no hope, we see the uni
form of the Salvation Army approach
ing with its outstretched hand t
comfort and console. May God cor
tinue to bless your efforts in the fu
ture as He has done in the past,
our prayer.
"CHARLES DOUTHITT,
| "JOSEPH HUGHES"