Evening journal., 1920-10-28
hanging SET
FOR TOMORROW
contInued from FIrsl pase

AaNUiINAfu lINNA NAiNN ihhHl
OF Ernest Thomas. the
20-year-old negro. sentenced to for
fch his lie on the ganovs az The I
County Workhouse tomorrow morn /
Ing, for felonious assault on Mrs.
Emma Talley. a 53-ycar-old white /
woman. OF Rlackbird hundred. No
word OF any rcprieNe had been re-
ceiVcd 40 The WorkhOuse up 20 81
o'clock this afternoon.
Thomas is about the most uncpn- |
Cerned prisoner under death SIM
ienrc ever known al The wOrkhOuse.
Last night On 'Glcc Club. composed
OF prisoners at the institution. went
20 Thomas cell door and asked II ne
would like them % sing Tor him.
Deed I do" The condemned man
responded without least trace OF
emotion other than Joy. The elee
club struck mp hymn, considering
that ABOUT the most appropriate
thing 10 could offer. Then 10 sang
another hymn. Thomas listened
with attention. After the second
] hymn the prisoner suddenly amazed
everyone present by asking for the
old plantation melody, concerning
/ the bulldog aud hullfrog.
As the singers compiled with his
strange request, Thomas rolled
about on his cot laughing heartily
slapping his thighs with his hands
and crying. "Oh, good. Amt hal
! great"
This morning when Thomas was
asked hy Warden plummer what no
Wanted for breakfast hc replied;
please gimme an OF south n
hrcakfas hoe cakes, an mo lasses
and sausage. Lot OF lasses. please
Warden Plummer compiled with
Thomas request and the iatter ate
greedlly. Then he expressed MS
thanks yoluably.
Since Thomas has been placed In a
death cell and has been under the
nicht and day guard OF a death watch,
warden plummer has supplied nis
meals from his own table. There Is
no little interest In what the con
demned man will ask for tomorrow
morning which may be his last mea
The prisoner has completed whai
he called This history of his lifc. II,
dictated the oplsile. Which begln'
from his birth and details his child
hood. and career as a farm boy, Aitel
4 he had finished debating. Thoma
nsked-that Mrs plummer, wife OF m
warden. witness his signature. ch'
. complied and ne said he was happy
Every arranccmcnt has been com
nloted hy the warden for the eNccu
lion. which Is set FOR 10 O'Clock 20
morrow morning. Rope and weight
of me ralloWs have been thorougnl
tested and the fatal trap sprung '
see that 10 Is working freely. =.
The warden does not conceal nj
FEELINGS ihat Thomas Is or low. ut
r gree OF mentality. lie reiterated 20
day that ihe prisoner had lhe min
lof a child of eight.
Governor Townsend sometime ag
e received a petition from negro resi-
n ldents asking him 10 stay. the eXecu
a ltion OF Thomas In order that The lat
u lior's mental condition might he IN
u lqnired into. 10 being alleged That IN
= Voufh Is weak minded. 10 Is under
4 stood the Govcrnor had two phys
= clans one an alicnisi, 20 oXamln
d Thomas and they reported they fOun
IN he Is not Of unsOund mind.
r. IL Is known Governor Townsend ht
" been giving the deepest considerable
,e Thomas says he Is not afraid TO d
and has requested Warden Plumm
10 10 walk to the scanOld with him ar
of hold his hand.
= CAPTAIN John 2. Rosoman. OF U
m Volunteers OF America, who has be-
/ giving Thomas religious consolatlo
5 said Today that the prisoner was
calm as could be expected or ar
q man within the shadow Of the ga
ri lows.
"A Thomas asks me 20 stay In his q
,d with him as much as is possible an
i'm talk with him and read 10 him fro
ut Inc Bible" said Captain Rosema
"Hls mentality is not high, as ] kno
%. from hours OF contact Win him..
ie fact. he has the mind OF boy
n eight.
Il "Only yesterday. Thomas said
Il. me. There's only one thing, CAPITAL
Il ask for when the time comes.
~ want 10 look around over the peoI