San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-13

ably reeved-to notice how calm she waS and, not
wishing to pry upon the woman while she was dress
ing retired glad that could tell my assistants and
the officers present that believed all would go WELL
as Mrs. Thompson bearing up so satisfactorily.
Events were to turn out very, very differently
from what anticipated.
The execution shed was quite ready. It's
only item of furniture besides the grim cross beam
and coil of rope and the lever beside the trap-doors
was a chair. This was not for the doomed woman,
but for the chaplain. The reverend gentleman had
previously made point of seeing me and asking if
could accommodate him with chair, as he was ad-
dicted to fits of dizziness.
My assistants and filed in the remaining period
of waiting in room. Then at 1855 we went
to the prison centre to meet the governor, as had
been previously arranged between US.
There other officers there also, and they all
looked very haggard. We made a gloomy, silent
crowd as we stood there waiting with the governor
holding his watch in his hand, measuring out the
fast-fying minutes of Mrs. ThompsonS life.
About three minutes to nine eerie sound
reached us. 1t was a low moan from the condemned
cell. 1t startled me perhaps more than it did the
others The officers were apparently already
that Mrs. Thompsons had suddenly given
way. But my last glimpse of her had been so reas-
surfing that this new development came as great
shock.
1t came to my knowledge afterward that Mrs.
Thompson managed to nbble piece of buttered
toast and an apple after she dressed, and re-
the hour fixed for execution.
Why she had so suddenly fallen to pieces could
not understand but in view of the arrangements
made between the governor and myself the previous
evening that the condemned woman should have
stiff dose of brandy still believed that she would
pull herself together in the final moments. This,
however not to be. Instead, we were to wit
a scene that will never fade from my memory,
although may not be able to describe it adequately
here.
At one minute to nine o'clock we walked to the
condemned cell. Waiting for no other signal.
stepped inside
Mrs. Thompson in a state of complete emo
tonal collapse and had absolutely lost all control of
herself. When | entered the chaplain was striving
to help her with consoling words and the two ward
reSses were Secondng his efforts bravely. Indeed
I've often wondered since then how those two female
officers stood the terrific ordeal, for there were
strong men peering in from the corridor who after
ward confessed that they had had great difficulty
themselves in refraining from breaking down.
Understanding my beckoning nod, the chaplain
left Mrs Thompsons side and the wardresses practi-
cally lifted the sobbing to her feet for she
was totally unable to stand unaided:
My own feelings were beyond description. The
woman's cries and semi demented body movements
almost unnerved me, but told myself that my only
humane course to work swiftly and cut Mrs.
Thompson's agony short possible. So, pulling
myself together quickly pinoned her hands behind
her back.
By this time the poor womans cries were being
botted out by the Inconsistencies which merci-
e. nn~I Pass