Executed
Tom Betts
Tom Betts was hanged at Jonesboro, Georgia, on November 4, 1881. According to the Savannah Morning News, he spent the night before in prayer and religious conversation, sang with those around him, and told the people held with him that he had obtained forgiveness of his sins. He was taken from the jail at noon and addressed a crowd the paper estimated at three to seven thousand before the drop fell at one o'clock. The paper reported that he was pronounced dead about ten minutes later.
Cause of death, as reported: Executed by the state
Reported by: the newspaper account of the hanging.