}
ing, Willson summoned some neighbors, telling them that his wife
ick,-but -when-they~arrived-she-was dead and it was obvious that
she chad been dead for some time, An autopsy was berformed that day
which found that she had died of manual suffocation and he was
arrested and charged with the murder that night. His SHHKK 15-year-
old daughter, who was to die before his execution, testified against
him, saying that she had heard her parents arguing about another
woman and then had heard her mother making unnatural sounds, Con-
victed and sentenced to die, Willson's execution was delayed by an
appeal to the Court of Appeals which upheld the conviction, He was
a model prisoner, making hair watch chains and selling them and his
photograph to raise money for his funeral, saying that he did not
wish to be a financial: burden oh the County, He was hanged XKXAX
from a gallows BSKEXEWKERA erected behind a barricade in the jail
yard at Albion on June 27, 1888, He met his death calmly and his
las t words, wpoken when he was asked if he had anything to sayy
were: "I have note" ;
Paper "The Only legal Execution in Orleans County XEKEXHAKXHRXER
Hanging of George We Willson," by Donald Le Smith, 19 East Union Ste
MSR IE Holley; New York
ing, Willson summoned some neighbors, telling them that his wife
was—sick,-but-when-they—arrived-she-was-dead and it was obvious that
she -had been dead for some time. An autopsy was herformed that day
which found that she had died of manual suffocation and he was
arrested and charged with the murder that night. His MHHRK 15-year-
old daughter, who was to die before his execution, testified against
him, saying that she had heard her parents arguing about another
woman and then had heard her mother making unnatural sounds, Con-
victed and sentenced to die, Willson's execution was delayed by an
appeal to the Court of Appeals which upheld the conviction. He was
a model prisoner, making hair watch chains and selling them and his
photograph to raise money for his funeral, saying that he did not
wish to be a financial:burden oh the County, He was hanged LKXHX
from a gallows ESKEKEWKXBA erected behind a barricade in the jail
yard at Albion on June 27, 1888, He met his death calmly and his
las t words, wpoken when he was asked if he had anything to sayy
were: "I have not." ; :
Faper "The Only Legal Execution in Orleans ,Count SXEMEXHARIKEKER
Hanging of George We Willson," by Donald if Smithy 19 East Union gee J
XSEIK Holley, New York
ing, Willson summoned some neighbors, telling them that his wife
Lok, but a 4 he-was-dead and it was~obvious that|
she had been dead for some time. An autopsy was herformed that day
which found that she had died of manual suffocation and he was
arrested and charged with the murder that night, His BA%KK 15-year-
old daughter, who was to die before his execution, testified against
him, saying that she had heard her parents arguing about another
woman and then had heard her mother making unnatural sounds. Con-
victed and sentenced to die, Willson's execution was delayed by an
appeal to the Court of Appeals which upheld the conviction, He was
a model prisoner, making hair watch chains and selling then and his
photograph to raise money for his funeral, saying that he did not
wish to be a financial-burden on the County, He was hanged KkiaX
from a gallows ESKEXKSOREA erected behind a barricade in the jail
yard at Albion on June 27, 1868, He met his death calmly and his
das t words, spoken when he was asked if he had anything to say,
were: "I have not.
reper ne Ouly Tegal. Bxecution in Orleans ,CountyS XKEIGRINQKER
Hanging of George W. Willson," by Donald Le Smithy 19 cast tees, ae
MSEHE Holley, New York
ng, Vien eamaned sone engin, tl3ing 1
ei Se vk sae
Bei at Gear aia aa ara Wp tact hte Ee]
WILLSON, George W,
Willson, an illiterate white man born in Cattaraugus Co., Ne Ye, in
1852, moved at an early mage to Albion , Orleans Co., where he married
Alice Pierson and worked as a farm laborer, In 1883, he became a
gardner, coachman and custodian for Ezra IT. Coann, President of an
Albion bank, and he, Alice and their daughter moved into a house on
Washington Ste In March, 1886, Willson began having an affair with
a 17-year-old servant girl, Iaura Thompson, Mrs, Willson discovered
the relationship and, on Jan, li, 1887, she wrote a note to Miss
Thompson's father informing him of the affair. Mr. Thompson went to
the house of Laurats employer and warned her of the consequences of
having an affair with a married mane On Jan. 17, Alice went to the
bank and talked with Mr, Coann, asking him to intercede with her hus~
band. That afternoon, Coamn told Willson that h§ he did not begin to
qact like a good family man, he would be forced to discharge him. On
the night of January 18, Willson slipped into XAFHAXE Laura's room at
the home of her employer and remained there until 2 o'clock the next
morning when he went home. Alice was waiting up for him and they be~
pan quarreling, Finally he smothered her to death with a tewell, As
© Weighed over 200
fable to put up only
6-27-1836
pounds and she weighed barely 100 pounds, she was
the feeblist resistance, At 5 o'clock that morn-
WILLSON, George W. ie s 4] , / ned
Willson, an illiterate white man born in Cattaraugus Co., Ne Yey in
1852, moved at an early wage to Albion , Orleans Co, » where he married
Alice Pierson and worked as a farm laborer, In 1883, he became a
gardner, coachman and custodian for Ezra T,. Coann, President of an
Albion bank, and he 3 Alice and their daughter moved into a house on
Washington St. In March, 1886, Willson began having an affair with
a 17-year-old servant girl, Laura Thompson, Mrs. Willson discovered
the relationship and, on Jan, 1h, 1887, she wrote a note to Miss
Thompson's father informing him of the affair. Mr, Thompson went to
the house of Laurats employer and warned her of the consequences of
having an affair with a married man. On Jan. 17, Alice went to the
bank and talked with Mr, Coann, asking him to intercede with her hus-
band. That afternoon, Coann told Willson that h€ he did not begin to
qgact like a good family man, he would be forced to discharge him. On
the night of January 18, Willson slipped into THERE Laura's room at
the “home of her employer and remained there until 2 o'clock the next
morning when he went home, Alice was waiting up for him and they be-
gan quarreling, F inally he smothered her to death with a tewell, As
he weighed over 200 pounds and she weighed barely 100 Pounds, she was
| ‘able to put up only the feeblist resistance, At 5 o'clock that morn-
WILSON, George We
621-1838
Willson,
1852,
th Mr, Coann, asking
That afternoon, Coann told Willson that ME he did not begin to
‘orced to discharge him. On
jon slipped into
an quarreling, Finally he smother.
fie weigied orgs oFG anes ‘and
‘able to put up only the feeblist resistance,
ae
AG
a
i
