Thomas Andrew Williamson

Overview

Thomas Andrew Williamson (April 23, 1831 – October 31, 1891) was a notorious 19th-century American serial killer whose life and crimes reveal a dark tapestry of violence, deceit, and a disturbing spiral into murder. Initially sentenced to death for an 1868 murder in Illinois, his sentence was commuted to 20 years in prison. After serving 11 years, he was released, only to commit further heinous acts in Missouri, including the murders of his wife and two others. Eventually convicted of these crimes, Williamson faced execution in 1891, marking the end of his twisted legacy.

Quick Facts

• Born: April 23, 1831, Mackinaw Township, Illinois, U.S.
• Died: October 31, 1891 (aged 60), Sedalia, Missouri, U.S.
• Cause of Death: Execution by hanging
• Other Names: "Uncle Tom"
• Convictions:
  • Illinois: Murder
  • Missouri: First-degree murder
• Criminal Penalty:
  • Illinois: Death; commuted to 20 years imprisonment
  • Missouri: Death
• Victims: 4
• Span of Crimes: 1868; 1889 – 1890
• Country: United States
• States: Illinois and Missouri
• Date Apprehended: 1890

Early Life

Williamson was born into a well-to-do family in Mackinaw Township, Illinois, one of five children of a wealthy farmer, Reuben W. Williamson. Yet, his early years were marred by a harsh upbringing; his father demanded hard work from him from a very young age. By just 10 years old, Thomas had embarked on a path of petty crime, stealing around Tazewell County and spending his evenings in Oakdale, earning a reputation as a local miscreant.

By age 13, Williamson's criminality escalated when he attempted to rob a store in Pekin. Although he was caught, he managed to evade serious punishment after being found not guilty at trial. However, life took a turn when, at 22, he was struck by a severe illness that left him partially paralyzed.

His tumultuous early adulthood saw him shuffle between working for family and getting jailed for horse theft in Centralia, where he served a week. Hoping for a fresh start, he enlisted in the Union Army, joining the 7th Illinois Infantry Regiment. He claimed to have fought in significant battles, including the Siege of Vicksburg and the Battle of Gettysburg, but also resumed his thieving ways, pilfering from fellow soldiers.

The Murders

Williamson's first major crime occurred in 1868 when he, along with a brother-in-law and a friend, decided to visit an elderly German man named August Koch in Delavan. What began as a night of card-playing and drinking quickly devolved into chaos. Accused of cheating, Williamson and his accomplices brutally murdered Koch and buried his body beneath the house.

Although all three men were initially sentenced to hang, Williamson's attorney managed to persuade then-Governor Richard J. Oglesby to commute their sentences. Thus, Williamson spent 11 years in prison, where he worked to earn money before being released on April 1, 1879.

After his release, Williamson moved to Missouri, where he married 57-year-old Susan Kerk in January 1877. Their life together was fraught with poverty, prompting them to travel around selling goods. By late 1889, they were living in a log cabin near Sedalia, but Susan soon went mysteriously missing. Williamson claimed she had died and was buried in Illinois, but his story raised eyebrows among locals, especially after he forbade anyone from digging in a certain area of the cabin, claiming he had planted parsnips there.

The Moore Murders and Capture

In May 1890, Williamson found employment on a farm owned by Jefferson "Jeff" Moore and his son Charles. However, Charles vanished without a trace, and soon after, Jeff himself also went missing. Suspicion fell on Williamson when neighbors noticed his odd behavior, especially after he was seen hauling dirt to the house.

The investigation took a sinister turn when Williamson attempted suicide by ingesting strychnine. He was found barely alive and taken to a Salvation Army barracks, where he recovered. Meanwhile, a search party was formed, leading to the gruesome discovery of both Jeff and Charles Moore's bodies, both of whom had suffered fatal head injuries from an axe and were buried on the farm.

As the pieces of this horrifying puzzle fell into place, authorities quickly connected Williamson to the murders, and he was arrested to prevent a lynching. Following a tip from Dan Clossier, who had purchased the log cabin, the remains of Susan Kerk were discovered, curled up and hidden in the fetal position. The investigation confirmed that she had also met a violent end.

Trial and Execution

While awaiting trial, Williamson confessed to killing the Moores but claimed he was hired for $300. However, his shifting narrative included a plea of guilt as an accomplice rather than the murderer. The preliminary hearing was postponed due to a lack of legal representation, but as the evidence mounted, it became increasingly clear that Williamson was the prime suspect.

During the hearings, a striking piece of evidence emerged: Williamson was wearing a hat that matched the description of one belonging to Charles Moore, bearing a dent that coincided with the fatal head wound of the deceased. This connection would prove damning.

On November 30, 1890, Williamson was formally indicted for the murders of Jeff and Charles Moore. Throughout the trial, which lasted two weeks, he displayed indifference, even admitting to reporters that he hadn’t read the indictment. The jury ultimately found him guilty, and Justice Ryland sentenced him to death.

Williamson’s legal team made attempts to appeal the verdict to the Supreme Court of Missouri, but their efforts were dismissed. When the Supreme Court upheld the conviction, Williamson remained unrepentant, stating he was ready to meet his maker.

On October 22, 1891, just days before his execution, Williamson requested a public hanging. On the fateful day of October 31, he walked to the gallows, confessed to his crimes before the witnesses, and infamously stated, "I should have been hung thirty years ago." With that, the noose was tightened, the trapdoor sprang open, and Thomas Andrew Williamson was pronounced dead within minutes, buried in a potter's field with no one to claim his remains.

Sources

• "MET HIS JUST DESERTS AT LAST". Indianapolis Journal. November 1, 1891.
• "CRIME STAINED". Sedalia Weekly Bazoo. October 20, 1891.
• "WILLIAMSON AGAIN". Sedalia Weekly Bazoo. June 17, 1890.
• "NOT A NOVICE IN CRIME". The Wichita Eagle. June 6, 1890.
• "SUICIDE AND MURDER". Sedalia Weekly Bazoo. June 3, 1890.
• "SEDALIA'S HORROR". Baxter Spring News. May 31, 1890.
• "UNCLE TOM'S CRIME". Indian Chieftain. May 29, 1890.
• "A WHOLESALE SLAYER". Custer Weekly Chronicle. June 7, 1890.
• "A MURDERER IN COURT". The True Northerner. June 4, 1890.
• "INDICTED FOR MURDER". Sedalia Weekly Bazoo. November 18, 1890.
• "The Lexington Intelligencer shorts section". The Lexington Intelligencer. January 31, 1891.
• "CONDEMNED TO DIE". Sedalia Weekly Bazoo. February 10, 1891.
• "WILLIAMSON'S CASE". Sedalia Weekly Bazoo. June 9, 1891.
• "'Chariton Courier' news section". Chariton Courier. July 30, 1891.
• "POSSIBLE LEASE OF LIFE". Sedalia Weekly Bazoo. August 4, 1891.
• "WILL HANG". Sedalia Weekly Bazoo. July 7, 1891.
• "READY TO BE HANGED". Evening Capital Journal. October 22, 1891.

Wikipedia Article on Thomas Andrew Williamson