Davick Services recommends the Facebook Group "West Texas History & Memories" for history, famous people, old photos, stories, unclaimed estates and genealogy of the Western Half of Texas . . . Check it out and join the conversation

Shortly before he was hanged, Tom Wright made written statements where he exonerates Frank Leslie, outlines his theory of a plot by Gus Blassengame and Green Harrison, that led to both Constable Adam's death and his hanging. He thanks A. P. Hickey, J. D. Jackson and Bob Smallwood for kindness they showed him while in prison. He forgives those who wronged him and asks forgiveness for himself.

"I wish in connection with my statement which I made sometime back which was published in one of our county papers that Frank Leslie who stands charged as accomplice in the killing of John Adams in Dublin, that he had nothing to do with it. I asked him to go and get me a gun to keep at my house to defend myself. I told him that Adams was slipping around my house the night before trying to shoot through the window. He said he would try to get something to defend myself with. He went to town and came back without the gun and when he got back he was pretty full of liquor, and I asked him to go up to Bob Snead, and see if he could get his gun, and he went and got the gun and brought it to my house as I have already stated. And my wife had told me that we were out of coffee and meat and after I got the gun I decided to go and get what was needed.

I had taken the gun and having the shells already, I went to town, and after we started Frank said; ";Tom, if I was you I would not go. You may get killed. Adams will be on the look out for you and may have others to watch and he will hide and kill you if he sees you coming.”

Stephenville, Nov. 1899

To my friends and the public in general:
When you know that I have been convicted to pay the death penalty for the killing of John Adams and on the 18th day of December, 1897. I have been very badly treated in this matter as you all know who knows about how I was prosecuted in the court of Erath County. Only having Mr. R. H. McCain as my counsel and he being new in the case, he could do nothing, and the state had eight or ten against him and they overruled every bill of exception that he made and in fact everything in their own way and then Mr. McCain died and left me here. I hired Judge Hurt of Dallas to argue my case before the court of appeals which he never done and has not returned the money. And if that is a fair trial I should not like to have any more trials in this court.

The jurors being fixed to hang us both, especially one, I. A. Griffith who swore he had formed no opinion in the case. And I proved by two as good men as are in the county that they heard him express his opinion and said there ought to be a double hanging in Erath County, and I was told by F. W. Freeman that Will Nugent that he had saw Colling, George and Griffith talking together in a new building that he was building for Mr. George and they was talking about my case, but they fixed me now and it is too late to help me any how.

No Hard Feelings
But I want the world to know what they have done; but I hope God will forgive them for I am sure that I will forgive them. But I pray they may never do any other poor man as they have done me, and the false witnesses that swore my life away, I want you all to know that I die with no ill feelings toward you all and I forgive you all. And I pray; forgiveness for my sins and I believe those who done it. I have more respect for you and your dear families as to call any names as you all know who you are. And as some of you have relations I love and respect. And I hope to meet you all in heaven where we will have peace. And I hope the people will not look down on my dear family and scorn them for what I have done and for the way I had to die, and don’t throw it up to my little children. If you see them doing wrong please correct them, and if my little boy starts down hill please do not kick him further down. Give him a lift or say something to him to lead him in the right direction.

If there was more of that kind of work done in the world it would be better. Less crime and better people. I hope the good people will do what they can to help my poor family get along and also poor Mrs. Adams and her little children to get through the world, for his family or mine could not help what we done. If they could I am sure they would have done so, and I hope my enemies will forgive me, if I have ever done them any harm.

How This All Came About

Friends, I want to tell you one and all how this all came about. Four or five days before the killing took place I was in the Blind Tiger one day belonging to Gus Blassengame and there was four or five persons in there. And Mr. George Thompson was amongst them and he was pretty drunk and spending his money free over the bar, and had fifteen dollars in currency, and ten dollars silver bill, the other a five dollar greenback bill. And while the money was being thrown around each got a small piece torn off the corner and was dropped on the floor. I picked them up and put them in my pocket. About that time I saw a man get the money and step out the door. It was not long until Thompson missed the money and was going on and cursing about somebody robbing him. Pretty soon I saw Mr. Green Harrison and told him all about what I seen and who had the money.

He said ";I will go and make him give it up.” He went to the man and asked him to give up the money. He told the man what I had told him. He cursed me for everything he could think of and said that I was a liar, that he did not get the money. He went back to the Blind Tiger, and while he was gone Harrison found the money in one corner of the money drawer with some papers over it. He took the money and came to me and asked me if I could identify or describe it.

I told him I could, which I did as I have already stated, and told him that I had the corners of both bills in my pocket. He took the pieces and fitted both to the bills and they fitted alright. He then went and told Adams all about it, and Adams came and took me before the court and I told what I saw. Mr. Adams arrested the man and put him under bond. Then these two fixed up the plot to get shed of me and Adams both.

They knew that Adams and myself were not on good terms, and Blassengame and the other party told Adams that I had tried to hire him (Blassengame) to kill him (Adams), and Adams took Blassengame before a notary public and he made affidavit that I had offered him a horse, bridle and saddle, Winchester, and $50 in money to kill him and said there was three men in the house and heard it. He went to the men and told them what he had done, and told them they must get in the middle of the road and swear it; that he was after that damned son of a bitch and he would break his neck. But when he tried to prove this he failed on two of them.

But a fellow who was working for him swore he heard us talking about Adams, but he did not understand it all, which I know he did not, for nothing of the kind was ever talked between us.It was a lie from start to finish. They wanted to get shed of “dear old John” so one could run the Blind Tiger and the other would be constable which he wanted but the commissioners court did not appoint him. They thought I would go in the Blind Tiger business again, and they wanted to get shed of me on that account and so I would not be witness in the money case. That was the way the three fixed it to get shed of the both of us. Then to get shed of the case that was against him for selling whiskey, he was a good witness for the state, and that was the starting of the trouble.

I want to call your attention to the fact as a great many who know me know that I was convicted here in 1891 for arson — burning of a Mexican tent that was reported to have smallpox in it. The citizens offered a reward of $485.00 for the arrest and conviction of the guilty parties, and Adams arrested me and convicted me to states prison for six years and got the reward. I was pardoned after serving two years and six months. I know who done it but I was innocent myself of the charge and was in bed asleep when it was done. I tried to keep the boys from doing it. As soon as I got home from the pen Adams commenced on me again and kept it up until the killing took place. So I have told you all the truth So good-bve to all I hope to meet you all in a better world.

I want to thank the good Christian people for the kindness they have shown me since I have been in prison, and especially Bob Smallwood. He has been to see me several times and I have got the greatest confidence in his religion. I have almost been raised with him and I am glad for the change there has been in the man for the last few years. He gave me several good talks, and I honestly believe he is a changed man and he has made a great change in me.

Mr. J. D. Jackson has made me several talks which was highly appreciated by me. I hope the people of this country will forgive me for the way I have lived. I feel God has forgiven me. I don’t know malice against no one on earth. Mr. A. P. Hickey, one of the death guards, has been one of the faithfulest men I ever saw. He has been kind and good and civil to me in every way. He has been on duty about seven months and he is a perfect gentleman in every way. I don’t feel like I deserve hanging for the crime I committed, but I will take all of that over to the Lord and let Him be the judge. I hope the Lord will forgive the people that have mistreated me in the trouble as I freely forgive all. So I will close by saying, Good-bye forever, and hoping you will win a home in heaven.

Your friend,

T. A. Wright

     Supporters' Letter to Governor

      Tom Wright's Final Statement

Sins of the Pioneers: Crimes & Scandals in a Small Texas Town has more about this and other historical events in Erath County. You can find it in our Books about Erath County section.