The Gazette
August 26, 1896

Last Wednesday morning Mose Wilson, colored, was put on trial for his life before the district court under the grave charge of murdering Tom and Caroline Franklin last April. A jury was very quickly impaneled and the evidence heard which was conclusive as to Wilson’s guilt. Being charged by the court, the jury retired and after a few minutes deliberation brought in an unqualified verdict of guilty.

Under that finding the only penalty that the judge could give the defendant was to be hanged.

Thursday morning Mose Wilson was brought into court to receive his sentence. When the awful words condemning him to be hanged by the neck until dead were pronounced no visible change came over the prisoner’s countenance. At that trying moment, as well as during the entire trial, Wilson manifested the most stolid indifference as to to his terrific doom. The date of his execution will be fixed by Governor Foster. This is the first time the judicial sentence of has been pronounced by the courts of our parish since the Meltons were convicted. On June 19, 1885, they suffered the death penalty for the murder of Mr. J. W. Cherry, which crime was committed in April 1884.