Thomas Andrew Williamson

Thomas Andrew Williamson (April 23, 1831 – October 31, 1891) was a 19th-century American serial killer. First sentenced to death for an 1868 murder in Illinois, his sentence was commuted to 20 years imprisonment and he was released after serving 11 years. He then moved to Missouri, where he subsequently murdered his wife and two men in 1889 and 1890, respectively. He was convicted of the latter murders, sentenced to death again and executed in 1891.

Early life Williamson was born in Mackinaw Township, Illinois on April 23, 1831, one of five children to wealthy farmer Reuben W. Williamson. According to Thomas, his father was a harsh man who demanded hard work from his son from an early age. At the age of 10, he began to steal, committing numerous thefts around Tazewell County, and spending a majority of his evenings in Oakdale, where he was known as a miscreant.

After spending a majority of the following years bouncing between working for his father and uncle, Thomas was jailed for horse stealing in Centralia, where he spent a week. Upon his release, he decided to join the Union Army, thinking that the military life might do him good. He enlisted in the 7th Illinois Infantry Regiment, spending most of his time in Bald Knob. where they would play cards together. Everyone present drank heavily, and an altercation arose between the three men and Koch, who accused them of cheating. With the help of Shivler and Harket, Williamson proceeded to kill the old man, and they buried his body under the house. By the fall of 1889, the couple were living in a log cabin six miles outside Sedalia, but they abandoned it some time in September or October. Williamson moved to the city and worked various odd jobs, but strangely, his wife was nowhere to be found. When queried about her whereabouts, Thomas replied that she had gone to visit some relatives in Calhoun, Illinois, and would return shortly. At some point, Williamson became a member of the local Salvation Army branch, where he was sheltered. A search party was organized to find Jeff Moore. In the meantime, local police officers were alerted that an old man had attempted to commit suicide in Sicher's Park by ingesting a lethal dose of strychnine. Four officers were sent to the park, where they found Thomas Williamson lying on the ground, barely clinging onto life. He was immediately transported to the Salvation Army barracks, where he was given antidotes, and soon completely recovered. When asked about why he had attempted to die by suicide, he replied that he "had been tired of living" and wanted to meet God.

At the preliminary hearing, it was decided that the case would be postponed, as no attorney had been set for Williamson. During the hearings, it was noticed that the accused man was wearing a hat which eerily matched one worn by the late Charles Moore, and that the hat had an identical dent which corresponded to the head wound that the former had on his head. Thomas was officially indicted for the murders of Jeff and Charles Moore on November 30, 1890. When interviewed by reporters, he appeared indifferent and admitted to not having read the indictment, hinting at the hope that he might be acquitted of all charges. Justice Ryland ordered that no other trials be held at Pettis County while Williamson's lasted, as the case was considered high-profile.

After a two-week trial, the jury found Thomas Andrew Williamson guilty, and Justice Ryland sentenced the prisoner to death. An appeal was immediately lodged to the Supreme Court of Missouri, which was overruled and determined that no other appeals could be submitted by the prisoner. Upon hearing the verdict, Williamson appeared unmoved. His attorney, E. S. Smith, appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States, citing several reasons why the Pettis County verdict should be repealed and a new trial ordered. His appeal was approved, and Williamson's execution was temporarily postponed as per standard procedure in such cases.

On June 30, the Supreme Court announced their verdict: Williamson was guilty, and would hang on October 31. When reporters interviewed him regarding the decision, Williamson appeared unfazed, claiming that he didn't care how soon they would hang him, as he was ready to meet his maker. On October 22, Thomas wrote to the Governor, David R. Francis, asking to be hanged in public. On the day of his execution, a little before 10 o'clock, Thomas Williamson walked onto the scaffold, and admitted to all of his crimes to the parties present. His last words were reportedly: "I should have been hung thirty years ago." The noose was then adjusted and the black cap put on his head. Before he pulled the lever, the sheriff wished to Williamson that God have mercy on his soul. The trap was then sprung, and in sixteen minutes, the murderer was pronounced dead. Nobody claimed the remains, and so, Thomas Andrew Williamson was buried in a potter's field.