Ch3 - Cedar Choppers Ep 10 Tom Young Last Public Hanging in Texas 1906
Manage episode 372357037 series 3413422
Emmett Shelton Sr. tells the sad story of an Early Westlaker, Tom Young. (Bless his heart, Emmett calls him Jim by mistake. A search of local newspapers from the time, verify his name was Tom Young.)
In 1906, Emmett's father's first (and worst) criminal case was the defense of a member of the Young Family from Westlake. Tom was charged with the brutal murder of a young girl who lived in his house in Florence where he was picking cotton. The family hired Emmett's father, John E., to represent Tom however, Tom was quickly found guilty.
Emmett tells of the spectacle of Last Public Hanging in Texas (Georgetown, March 30, 1906) thru the eyes of this father, as friend and defense atty, as well as the eyes of two curious Austin boys who aspired to be lawyers.
Tom's family brought Tom home to Westlake, by wagon, for burial in the Young Family Cemetary little more than 100 years ago.
For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake
Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.
81 episodes