Gwin Is Sentenced to
Die on June 27. . . Only Matters Apparently in Doubt Late This Afternoon Was
Date Judge Will Name for Execution. . . Great Crowd Present for Trial
Newton, May 26—(3:25 p.m.)—Tom Gwin, negro, was convicted of
committing a criminal assault upon a high school girl, in Catawba supreme court
this afternoon and sentenced to die in the electric chair at Raleigh on June
27.
The jury took the case at 3:10 following Judge Webb’s brief
charge and was out only 10 minutes.
Gwin will be taken to Raleigh at once, there to await his
execution.
Newton, May 26—The grand jury at noon today returned a true
bill against Tom Gwin, negro, charged with committing a criminal assault upon a
young high school girl, and Judge Jas. I. Webb, who is presiding over a special
term of Catawba superior court, adjourned the trial at noon until 1 this
afternoon.
The selection of a jury to hear the evidence and to pass
upon the guilt or innocence of Gwin was begun. Solicitor Hayes stated to the
Record’s representative this afternoon that he did not think it would require
much time to select a trial jury and it was expected that the case would be
disposed of some time this afternoon.
Judge Webb will hear any arguments that the solicitor and
defendant counsel may care to make, deliver his charge and send the jury out to
deliberate.
Thee does not appear to be the slightest doubt of Gwin’s
guilt and the only question this afternoon seemed to be the date set for the
execution. The crowd that was large this morning increased during the
afternoon, but there has not been any disturbance of any kind.
Five witnesses were examined this afternoon and the evidence
pointed unerringly to Gwin as the guilty brute. Several men said they saw Gwin
driving a team of mules on the day of the crime and a Mr. Miller said he saw
Gwin and his team about 100 yards from the young woman. Others testified to
seeing the wagon standing by the road.
The victim then took the stand. She was asked by Judge Webb
if Gwin was the assailant and she declared positively that he was. She had seen
him on several occasions. She said he knocked her off her bicycle on the
afternoon and threatened to kill her if she cried out. She hollered, but he
carried her into the woods.
Jurors Selected
Judge Webb charged the grand jury and warned the jurors and
the crowded court house of the penalty for mob violence in this state. He read
the law in the case and asserted that it would be enforced in his court. The
judge was impressive.
At 11 o’clock the officers arrived with Gwin. They drove the
car up against the court house and rushed the prisoner through a window into
the vault in the office of the clerk of court. There was a great commotion when
it was learned that Gwin had arrived, but no disturbance. Sheriff Isenhower,
many deputies and police officers and a number of soldiers are standing guard.
The grand jury was selected promptly and presented a bill of
indictment by Solicitor Hayes. J.W. Hollingsworth appears for the defendant.
W.A. Rudasill of Hickory is foreman of the grand jury, the
other members being Wade Bostian, W.L. Herman, J.H.L. Coulter, A.A. Spencer,
A.M. Hoke, H.L. Cline, J.B. Drum, T.E. Hyder, R.L. Moose, John R. Smyre, F.G. Coons,
F.L. Beatty, Frank Saunders, M.S. Smyre, T.E. Bowman, H.H. Abee and B.S. Cline.
Story of the Crime
The crime for which Tom Gwin, negro, faced trial in Catawba
supreme court today, was one of the most diabolical in the annals of this
county. On Tuesday afternoon, April 29, he is alleged to have waylaid a 16-year-old girl as she was
returning to her home three miles west of here from the Hickory graded school,
dragged her from her bicycle and carried her deep into the woods, where the
foul deed was accomplished. The negro had a large club which he waved in front
of the girl, and before releasing her threatened her with death if she
mentioned the affair.
It happened that several men had seen Gwin’s team standing
by the roadside just before a big rain storm came up; the victim also knew him
by sight and the officers had no difficulty in describing him so accurately
that officers arrested him without difficulty at the Burke county road camp at
Valdese, whither he had driven rapidly after the affair.
Chief Lentz, Sergeant Sigmon and Deputy Sheriff W.L. Eckard
of Hildebran made the arrest, carried the negro to Newton jail, and from there
he was again removed following an unsuccessful attempt of a mob of about 60 men
to remove him from a steel cell in which he had been confined. Jailed (says
jailed but I think it means jailor) J.O. Gilbert thwarted the mob at Newton,
the lights being turned on, and Sheriff Isenhower and other officers spiriting
Gwin out of the county for safe keeping. Gwin was taken to Lincolnton and the
next day removed to another county.
Governor Bickett ordered a special term of court to convene
today and assigned Judge Jas. L. Webb to preside.
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