This Blog post is a continuation of the 4 November Blog Post entitled - Gilbert J. Dease and his Nephew John Ryan Charged with Murder. This blog post contains details from the trial.
THE THOMAS MURDER
INTEREST IN THE TRIAL INCREASES
Dease and Ryan Testify In Their Own behalf and Give a Detailed Account of the Fight With Thomas.
Mobile, Jan. 18. -- (Special)-The trial of Gilbert J. Dease and John J. Ryan for the killing of Deputy Sheriff J. Westley Thomas in Whistler on July 10th, 1893, gathers interest as it proceeds. It has been characterized by a large attendance of spectators ever since the taking of the testimony began on Tuesday, but today, and especially tonight, the court-room, was crowded to suffocation so much so that Judge Semmes adjourned the court an hour earlier than usual. The attendance has been larger and the interest, greater than on any similar occasion for many years and probably has never been exceeded. Among those present at the trial, is Colonel John J. Ryan, Sr. of Ellisville, Miss., and his wife, father and mother, of one of the defendants and J. K. Almon, editor of The Canton, (Miss) Democrat and wife the latter being a sister of defendant Ryan.
The feature of the proceedings of this the Fourth day of the trial was the telling the story of the killing by the defendants Dease and Ryan. The early hours, and in tact nearly all the morning session, was taken up by the introduction by the defense of a large number of character witnesses as to the general reputation, Thomas, Dease and Ryan.
The preponderance of evidence adduced was to the effect the general reputation of Deputy Sheriff Thomas was that of a bad, desperate man, while the general reputation of the defendants Dease and Ryan were excellent.
About 2 o'clock Gilbert J. Dease took the stand in his own behalf.
His direct and cross examination continued for two hours. After detailing minutely his arrest by Thomas on the fatal night, his giving bond and Thomas Kyan and himself drinking together, the witness said, they started from his house to the village. On the way Thomas said: "People said I couldn't take you, but I can take any d---d man." Dease replied that anybody could take him as he was a peaceable law-abiding man. Thomas replied, "You are a liar; you are hiding John Connors from me now." Dease protested that he was not, when Thomas reiterated his, former statement, adding, "I’ll do you just like I did Mike Fincher." Thomas had killed Fincher just a week before. As Thomas made this last remark, he made a movement as if to draw a weapon. Witness backed away saying. "Don't do that, Wes." Thomas continued to advance, when witness pulled his pistol (a 45-calibre Colt's revolver) and began firing. He tired six shots Very rapidly and Thomas was attacking him all the time witness was firing. When the pistol was empty, he clubbed it and hit Thomas over the head and shoulders.
Then he stumbled and Thomas fell on him. Witness reversed the pistol and continued to beat Thomas over the head. Ryan took no part in the fight and only pulled Thomas off of Dease. Witness- was satisfied Thomas died while on top of him.
Dease then described the flight of himself and Ryan into Mississippi.
The defense tried to show by asking Dease's intentions that he and Ryan were going after money to employ lawyer to defend them, but Judge Semmes said the Supreme Court had ruled that a witness could not testify as to his Intentions and overruled all questions in that direction, to which the defense excepted.
Ryan followed Dease and corroborated his statement in all the most essential particulars.
Neither of the defendants saw Thomas with a pistol or any other weapon. It has been previously testified that no weapon was found on Thomas's body.
Tomorrow the State will examine witnesses in rebuttal. [1]
Sentencing:
"...having heard the Evidence and the Charge of the Court on this Twenty Second 1 day of January 1894 say on the other we the Jury and this Defendant Gilbert J. Dease guilty of under in the second degree and further kind that he be imprisonment in the Penitentiary for (10) years, and further find the defendant John Ryan not Guilty it is ordered that the defendant Gilbert J Dease be remanded to Jail to amend the further action of the Court and that the State of Alabama ... {Mobile, AL City Court, Criminal, Minutes Book No. 16, 1893-1896; FILM #1945141}[2]
Commutation:
Before retiring from office Gov. Jones, of Alabama, commuted the sentence of Gilbert J, Dease from ten years one year. Dease's term will now expire in January next.[3] The Mississippi Press, Pascagoula, Mississippi, Fri, Dec 21, 1894, Page 1, Column 3.
Gilbert J. Dease is my 2nd Cousin 3X Removed.
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1. "THE THOMAS MURDER," Local News, The Montgomery Advertiser, Montgomery, Alabama, 19 January 1894, Page 2, Column 1; Digital On-Line Archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/ : online November 2024); https://www.newspapers.com/.
2. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSYD-HQCX-7
3. "Commutation:," Local; News, The Mississippi Press, Pascagoula, Mississippi, 21 December 1894, Page 1, Column 3; Digital On-Line Archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/: online November 2024); https://www.newspapers.com/.
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