Houston County GaArchives News.....WOOLFOLK GUILTY, HIS TRIAL ENDED AT PERRY, GA., WITH THE ABOVE VERDICT July 4, 1889
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Phyllis Thompson http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002524 August 24, 2005, 6:02 pm

The Georgia Enterprise July 4, 1889
     On Monday, the jury in the case of the WOOLFOLK murder declared as their 
verdict, after having retired for only forty-five minutes, that Tom Woolfolk 
was guilty. The jury was called, and Foreman JOE FREDERICK gave it to Solicitor 
FELTON, who slowly and distinctly said: “We, the jury, find the defendant 
guilty.” A poll of the jury was asked for by the defense, and so ordered. Each 
juror said the verdict was his. The verdict was received in absolute silence, 
very few having left the courtroom while the jury was out. Though the verdict 
is in accordance with the convictions of the people, there was positively no 
demonstration of approval when rendered, except possibly the pleased expression 
on the expectant faces. R. S. and J. W. WOOLFOLK, cousins of the prisoner, left 
the courthouse and town after the jury retired and before the verdict was 
rendered. The aggregate exact time occupied by the argument on both sides, 
after the evidence was all in, was thirty-five minutes; by the prosecution 
thirteen hours and twenty-nine minutes, by the defense eighteen hours and six 
minutes.
     When court opened on Tuesday morning, Judge GUSTON asked the prisoner if 
he had anything to say, why sentence of death should not be passed upon him. 
With subdued emotion and hands clasped tremblingly in front, WOOLFOLK 
answered: “Nothing, except that I am an innocent man.” Captain RUTHERFORD then 
asked that sentence be postponed until a motion for a new trial could be 
perfected, as the case would be carried to the supreme court if a new trial is 
not granted. This request was denied, and Judge GUSTON proceeded to pass 
sentence, which provides that THOMAS G. WOOLFOLK shall be hung in Houston 
County on the 16th of August next, between 10 a. m. and 8 p.m. in an enclosure, 
in which no spectators will be admitted, save the relatives and friends 
designated by the condemned, the guards chosen by the sheriff, and Drs. M. W. 
HAYS and C. R. MANN, examining physicians.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/houston/newspapers/woolfolk747gnw.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/

File size: 2.7 Kb