The Galveston Daily News
Galveston, Texas
Sunday, February 21, 1869
pg 2

The trial of Blackmore and Thompson, for the murder of the Missouri traveler, will commence at Sherman next Monday;
and from evidence in our possession - and which would be made public but for the fact that some of their confederates
in crime might assassinate the principal witnesses to prevent their testimony going into court - we presume the
work will be short in ridding the earth of these two blood-stained villains.



The Galveston Daily News
Galveston, Texas
Saturday February 27, 1869
pg 2

Texas News
Blackmore and Thompson, the men who murdered the stranger from Missouri a few weeks since above Mantua, have
been convicted of murder in the first degree, and sentenced to be hung on Friday, the 20th day of March next.



The Galveston Daily News
Galveston, Texas
Friday, March 5, 1869
pg 2

TEXAS MATTERS

The people of Grayson county are determined that Thompson and Blackmore (who confessed in open court the murder
of the Missourian, each charging the other with plotting the deed,) shall not escape the penalty of their crime. They were sentenced to be hung in Sherman on the 20th inst., and the law-abiding citizens of that county have organized a company of picked men to guard them until the day of their execution.
The name of the murdered man was Wilson, from near Rolla, Missouri.



The Galveston Daily News
Galveston, Texas
Wednesday, March 24, 1869
pg 2

The Sherman Courier announces with pleasure that some troops have arrived at that place to help guard the prisoners.
We suppose the prisoners are Blackmore and Thompson, sentenced to be hung on the 26th inst. for the murder of the
unfortunate traveler, Wilson.



The Galveston Daily News
Galveston, Texas
Sunday, April 4, 1869
pg 2

The Sherman Courier says that on Friday, the 26th inst. at 1:30 p.m., John Thompson and Wm. O. Blackmore, convicted at
the late term of the District Court, for the murder of the stranger Wilson, expiated the crime upon the gallows. An immense
crowd witnessed the execution.



The Galveston Daily News
Galveston, Texas
Wednesday April 14, 1869
pg 1

From our Evening Edition of yesterday
The Hanging of Thompson and Blackmore - Their Last Words

The Sherman (Texas) Courier of the 3d is almost entirely filled with the details of the hanging of Thompson and Blackmore for the murder of the Missourian in Grayson county, on the 24th of January last.
While Blackmore appeared, says the Courier, to accept his fate with quiet and even prayerful resignation, Thompson, though deeply affected, met his with stern determination.
As the drop fell the neck of Blackmore was dislocated, and he died almost immediately. The fall failed to break Thompson's neck, nor did the cord draw sufficiently to stop immediate respiration; he lived half an hour, and his death was terrible.
The Courier says that during their confinement, the prisoners were frequently visited by Rev. W. P. Petty, M. Y. Brockett and others, who labored earnestly for their spiritual good, and lively hopes are entertained that Blackmore received pardon in
the sight of God, while no one, we suppose, would be wiling to say that even Thompson was not penitent. They were accompanied to the very edge of the dark waters of death by the Rev. Mr. Petty, who in the presence of the assembled thousands, in a very appropriate prayer, commended the souls of the unfortunate men to a Allwise and merciful God. Mr. Petty, also, while with them on the scaffold, read the dying declaration of each.
They both admitted their guilt and the justice of their punishment. Their dying advice is well worth the thoughtful consideration of the youth of the country. We publish below the confession of Thompson in full:
"I am to die to-day, and my sentence is just. I desire to live, for life is sweet; and I can't say I am afraid to die, but am not willing to die. As I pass off before you, however, and join the uncounted company beyond the flood, I desire to administer a warning to the young men of my country, that they may turn to good account:
"I have lived long enough to attest from my own experience that a man's circumstances are inexorable, and that they make him what he is. No man is independent of the company he keeps; he may vainly think so, but before he is aware of it, that company, be it good or bad, has moulded him into its own image. Young men, these words, issuing from the trembling lips of a dying man, are worthy of earnest attention.
While yet a boy, I mingled in bad company, and I can see now, too late to improve the lesson it brings however, that my mind and morals took on a bias, that like the hand of unyielding destiny has led me to this sad and solemn hour of my profitless history. I played at cards and soon was led into gambling. I took the social glass with my friends, but soon I detected the presence of a fondness for the exhilarating stimulant. It grew into a habit with me, and not unfrequently I was beastly or wildly intoxicated. I was an habitual and persistent Sabbath-breaker; and often without the knowledge or consent of my parents, would steal off from home to play at cards, or fish on Sundays. I have lived a wild and wicked life. While the war was going on, I was with very wicked company, and did many things along with my comrades, I ought not have done.
After the war was concluded by a peace, I went back to my home in Missouri, but I was pursued and driven away from home; from political differences and private prejudices, I could not live there in peace. I then came to Texas - thinking I would make this State my home; but not long afterwards, I went back to Missouri, but I could not stay. Last fall I returned to Texas and felt almost desperate. I had been to your State but a short time when I aided in the commission of the Crime for which I am presently to suffer and die. I am deeply sorry I did it, but I can't undo it now. As to Mrs. Mallow, with whom I was boarding, she is a good woman, and entirely innocent of any connection whatever with our crime. I thought for awhile that I was safe
in the wickedness I had done - that no one would accuse me of doing the deed; but somehow the eye of God seemed to be upon me, and my sin has found me out. I do believe that a man's sins, sooner or later, blood hound-like, will scent him up and hunt him down. I have been running in sin a long time, but it has overtaken me at last.
And now young mem, as I turn away from you to die, let me beseech you to avoid drinking, swearing, Sabbath-breaking and gambling, the sins which first started me down the hill of crime, amid the shadows of whose base I must surrender the life I am unworthy to keep. I hope none of you will feel bitter towards me when I am gone. To give up the life I have forfeited is
the highest price I could pay for my sins; and as the promised flowers of a coming spring shall presently bloom over my sleeping form, as the perfume-laden breezes are to sing my only lullaby, as I can't now brush the tears from the cheeks of the widow and orphans whom I have helped to deprive - the one of a husband and the other of a father, and as I would
live better if my life could be spared - I pray you do not send your personal hatreds into the grave after me. My friends, akind but long farewell! JOHN THOMPSON.



Sherman Daily Democrat
Friday April 16, 1915
pg 4

Other Hangings in County
The first legal hanging of which there is any record took place in Sherman, at the window of the old court house, in 1869,
when Blackmore and Thompson paid  the extreme penalty for murder. They were convicted of murdering a man in  the
southern part of the county near the Collin county line. The man was a Missourian and Blackmore and Thompson, two
young men, followed him out from McKinney, after having seen him with a large sum of money.