Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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A MURDERER'S STORY. Confession of a Negro Who Was Hanged in Newberry Many Years Ago. Following is the confession of Wil liam R. Thompson. made February 14th, 1876. in regard to the killing of Mr. Reed, and robbing and burning the store. at Pomaria, Newberry county, South Carolina, on the night of December 24th. 1875. It was fur nished The Herald and News by a gentleman of Pomaria who perserved one of the copies printed - at . that tine: On Thursday the 23rd of Dec. 1875, I, William R. Thompson and Alf Roof talked at the depot about killing Mr. Reed and robbing the store. And we went there Thurs day night to carry it through. but some one stayed in the store all night with Mr. Reed. and that pre vented it. Friday evening we went down to the depot, or at least Alf Roof did, sometime after dinner, and I went down afterwards to mail a letter, about train time. ' I found Alf Roof down there at the depot. He said "Everything.is all right." He said we would get him (Mr. Reed) to night between the house (Mr. Hollo way's) and the store as he goes to supper. We went down there when it was first dark. Alf Roof stationed himself at the path through the cotton patch in the fence corner by the road, and I went down to the depot to see if there was any one there. I had my four shooter pistol and two barrels were loaded with cartridges. Ali Roof had my double barreled gun, the same as was shown in the court at the trial, atid it was loaded with 6 or 7 balls of Alf Roof's pistol moulds. I loaded it on Friday evening. I had my four shooter when we went down on Thursday evening to the depot, and Alf Roof had his pistol. Neither of us had Cal. Wilson's army pistol; it had been broken for some time. We, Cal and I, shot mark often, and it was out of ,order. We were in our nat ural clothing, and not disguised. Ali Roof was in the fence corner at the road where the path comes into the cotton patch. on this Friday night for the purpose of waylaying and killing Mr. Reed. as Mr. Reed came from supper or as he was going or coming either way. Alf Roof had my double-barreled gun. I went to the depot to see if any one was there and I found some body in the store trading, bu did not know who it was. I stayed right at the well inside of the yard of the rail road house for z5 or 20 minutes. About that time Tucker ICoon, Joe Sligh and Paul Alstin came out of the store. They came out and -went up the path toward where Alf Roof was. They knew nothing of this thing, and had no connection with it whatever to my knowledge. In 1o or 15 minutes more Wade Cook came out of the store. He went to wards the railroad and in the direc tion of his home. He had no con nection with it. and knew nothing about it to my knowledge. , I stayed at the wvell all this time. After Wade Cook had gone. 'I went up the path where Alf Roof was, I found Alf Roof in the same fence corner where I had left him. near the path at the road. I said to Alf Roof. "they are all gone now, and there is no one there but Mr. Reed. and if he don't conme along soon you must come down to the store in 10 or 15 nminutes." AIf Roof said he saw three men pass, and he asked me if I knew who they were. I told him. no. I did not know. I only found out who they were iromi the testimony which they gave in before the coroner's in quest. I did not know any of them as they came out of the store, but found out in this way afterwards. I went on back to the store and staved there until AlI Roof came down. But shortly before Alf came down to the store Reed came out of the store and walked do"'n around the dejot. and went back again into the store. Presently Aif Roof came down to where I was, at the gate leading into the cotton patch. We consulted there ho.w we would do to get Mr. Reed out of the store. I told him I would go down to the depot and make a fuss there at the door like as if I was breaking in, and Mr. Reed would then come out. Alf Roof said, "Well! but I can't shoot hi now I feel so excite! that I cannot shoot. I told him to give me the gun, and he should go and make the fuss, and I would shot him. Ali Roof went down to the railroad and knocked upon the depot. Alf had his pistol. I had my pistol and my gun. Mr. Reed was in the store, and was hammering as if he was opening some boxes or something of that kind. When he heard the noise of Alf Roof's knocking, he came to the door-to the side door at the back end of the store near the chim ney. I was standing inside the cot ton patch. by the fence near the gate about 30 feet from the store house. Mr. Reed came to the door and open For Semi-Weekly... .... .......... ed the door, and I shot him. I fired once. I aimed off hand at the white breast of -his shirt. Then Mr. Reed fired with his shot gun. Then I fired again. Then he bursted a cap on the other barrel of his gun, but it did not go off. Then Mr. Reed slammed the door shut. .I then went off, looking for Alf Roof. I went around the depot, and down the railroad as far as the switch. I then came back, and went up the path through the cotton patch. I then came down along the fence inside the cotton patch. as far as the road that leads to the store, looking for Alf Roof. I then went back along the fence, the same way that I came, to the path, and then came down the path to the store. When I got to the store, I stood there 5 or io minnutes, I then took the no tion to go home without going into the store. I took up the path leading through the cotton patch towards the Academy. -I went up the path to the fork, and took the right hand path, and went up as far as Mr. Hollo way's old gin house, thinking that I would go home. I thought Alf Roof had gone home and I would go too. I stopped at the gin house and con sulted with myself, and not feeling satisfied, I came down the path to the store. When I came to the store. I went to the door where 1 had shot MN-Ir. Rood, and pushed the door open. I saw )!. Reed lying inside of the door as id, with his gun between his legs. with his hands holding the barrel of the gun. I then pulled the door shut, and walked around the depot yard and whistled a time or two for Alf Roof. I got no answer from him, and I went back to the store and I set my gun down, pulled my shoes off, and set gun and shoes down beside the fence near the back door. I went to the door., pushed it opep and went in. Mr. Reed lay near the door, slightly on his right side, with his feet towards the door, and three or four feet from the door sill. I took the keys out of his right pocket-a bunch of keys and the safe key-put the bunch of keys back into his pocket. I then went into the store, unlocked the safe, took the money out. all that I saw in the safe and a gold watch. I had the candle that was burning on the mantel-piece. I shut the safe and locked it. leaving the liey in the safe. I then got some splinters of light wood that were already split on a box near the door. I lit them with the andle, puit them on one side of the shelf. by the partition door that leads from the stone to the back room. I put the candle on the mantelpiece and left it burning; then I went out and pulled the door shut. I went on out and got my shoes and gun and went on home. I went up the path by the old 'gin house towards the Academy. When I got home no one was there but my wife: the others had left for the fire. The tre had commenced to show through the roof i when 1 got to the Acadepy. I went into my house, got a little cotton sack. put the money and watch into it. and went back into the old field and hid it in the straw by the branch 1oo yards froim my hounse. I then went on to the tire. When I got to the ire the store was burned down. and the section house was burning and another little hious<- was burning. I set none on tire but the store. T staid there about an hotur. I found Alf Roof there. I left in company udth AIf Roof. We took down the railroad. and took a near cut for home. As we went home AIf Roof said to me that he was afraid .I wotld not set the store on nire, and that they might detect the bullets in the body of Mr. Reed as fiting his pistol moulds. He asked me what I did with the money. I told him I had hid it out. He said let it be until the ex citement all dies out and then we will divide it. I let the money stay out two days-until Sunday evening, when it lookedA lie rain. T was afraid it would get wet and rot. I took it up and put it in my house, at the same place where it was found. The money was in packages. I did not tell my wife about the money. I did not use any of the money nor do I know of any one else taking any. I did not tell my wife anything about the whole transaction. Cal. Wilson had no connection with and -io knowledge of the trans actinn. whatever. so far as I know. He asked me on Saturday evening after it had happened. if I knew any thing about the whole transaction. I told him-No. Cal had no connec ti,,n with it whatever. If he knew anything about it. I do not know it. Neither had Paul Alstin nor Tu:cker Coon nor Joe Sligh noi Wade Cook anything to do with it, n.,r had any one else any knowledge of i. whatever. Alf Roof and I, my self. were alone connected in the whole unfor.unate affair.' This confession is made to be made public after I am dead and gone. W. R. Thompson, In presence of H. W. Kuhns. R. A. Fair, George Johnstone, J. J. Car rington. First Car-So she went and got coupled to the smoker? Second Car-Yes; she thought she could reform hir, you know.-New York Sun. Winthrop College Scholarship & Entrance Examination. The Examination for the award of vacant scholarships in Winthrop Col lege and for the admission o new students will be held at the County Cou;t House on Friday, July 8th, at 9 A. M. Applicants must not be less than fifteen years of age. Whenschol arships are vacated after July 8, they will be awarded to those making the highest average at this examination. Scholarships are worth $100 and free tuition. The next session will open September 21, 1904. For further in formation and catalogue address Pres. D. B. Johnson, Rock Hill. S. C. EW3MY 1171 IA of Newberry, S. C. CrZganiecL 189a. Capital - - - $50,000 Surplus - - 19,500 Paid Stockholders since organization 21,000 Paid Depositors in Savings depart ment since or ganization - $9,200 A man working by the day is paid for the time he puts in at work, but when that man saves a dollar for his day-s labor it wo.rks for him nights, as well as days; never lays off on ae count of bad weather and never gets sick, but goes right on earning him an income. It's a nice thing to work for money, but it's much nicer to have money working for you. Try it-open a savings account with us and get some money working for you. Make a deposit in the savings de partment today and let it begin to work for you. Interest computed at 4 per cent January 1 and July 1 of I a~ch year. The Commercial Bank -of Newberry, S. G. CAPITAL $5o-00-oo. SSURPLUS $2o,ooo.oo. INVITES THE ACCOUNTS INDIVIDUALS, FIRMS, AND CORPORATIONS. INTEREST PAID IN SAV INGS DEPARTMENT. PROMPT AND COURTEOUS TREATMENT TO ALL. SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES FOR RENT. Jno. M. Kinard, President. 0. B. Mayer, Vice-President. ACANDI + We hearby announc + candidate for more bu: * ourselves to satisfy all + MAYES' DRUI * We believe in wom Stretching By putting the cents in the rigi customer is the one who continues fident of getting a dollars' worth f< bought goods, lower prices, and h the front. Muslins! Fresh, L, 20 cents kind at 15 cents. N 12 1-2 cents kind at 10 cents. 1H 8 1-3 cents kind at 6 1-2 cents. 5 BLACK GOODS! COMPLETE I Tussah Silks, Voiles, Crashes, I White Goods, Swisses. Gingham "Cost Sale" dompetitors Can't Ton 4=mt Pm: on every pair of shoes and ( Tie biggest and best line we ha will not allow us to quote prices, bu suit or extra pants for less mone have in stock and not what we hav Come and se( S. J. WC Agent for Butterik eeseeeeeemee AT THE RUSSELL 0 Will find a full line of Groceril Vegetables, Tobacco,- Cigars, &c thing in the grocery line "come < my Boneless Pig Feet, Columbia R Tripe and other nice things usuall ceryiStore. I have got the goods 2 will appreciate your trade and tre filled promptly; goods delivered oi you the very best goods you can bu is possible for them to be sold at - Be sure to find the place, the Russe JACOB L. DI THE HONEST GR( *se6eeeeeee90 - HAMS A Not those mentior but a fresh lot just Kingans Reliab Kingans Porter Kingans Dried Breakfast Strij Try ou Pinocli DAVENPORT & Phone 10. Broad & 9tly Sts., RIChi "s"is theladin*Busiesle e at ofthe Ithe city. o0 withut exceptIa.te aol lreo F. Ross, Law SrTNoeRAPERa, RIlcbmOd. Bokieepli HAS OPENED A VARIETY OF NEW ART AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS in the new store on east end Main street under Prices down as con-n sistent, wit h g oo d values. DATE e ourselves as a: siness and pledge customers. G STORE. an's suffrage. Dollars it place. The well pleased to come where he feels con >r one hundred cents. W,I onest dealing has kept u to atest Patterns. 5 cents kind at 12 1-2 cents ) cents kind at 8 1-2 oerAs.. 1-4 cents kind at 5 cents.. INE JUST ARRIVED. .awns, Nainsooks, Line,. s, etc., at prices that o.r ch. inice~s. )xfords in the house. ve ever shown. Ouu sp it we will sell you the sm y. We advertise what we e "Just Sold Out" of. us, Yours truly, )OTEN, -k Patterns. LD STAND YOU .s, Confectioneries, Fruits, When in need of any see me and try some of iver Salmon, Seaquads and y kept in a first-class Gro Lud my prices are right. I at you right. Mail orders 2 short notice. I will give , for as little money as it md live. Come to see me. I old stand. CK E RT,5 )CERMAN. GAIN. ied heretofore :received. le. Beef Hame. Flour. CAVE NAUGI Main Street. OND, VA. Potoac iver. --u t. sw eenwam. )g, Shorthand, Writing. taugDt by mal. SPECTACLEs Carefully and Accurately Fitted at niels Et Willionjson, JEWELERS.