Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1837-03-21
From the Matches Courier & Journ1
THE DYING CONFESSION

, FROM We NdtCfe@ courier y journal
THE DYING CONFESSION
: Of John Washbura, cha ,cas executed a
Cincinnati on the 6ta February last, 70,
MURDER
We so seldom introduce the revolving
details of murders and executions into oul
columns, that our readers may be some
what surprised at the initial sentence Of
, this article. Our reasons for introducing
these confessions are, that if any CREDIBLE.
, ity can be attached to them. they NAV
J throw some light on the fires in this city
in the winter of 1866, and show that
what was the prevailing opinion of the
time, viz that incendiaries were gagged
! in the work of destruction was probably
/ correct.
The details of the history of this indi
vidual often introduce the city of Natchez
and reveal some events that have always
been shrouded in mystery. We leave il
to our readers 10 Judge for themselves
how much credence is to be given to the
words ola dying feon.
DINA. He commenced his career of ra-
pine and murder quite early in life. At
Memphis in the winter ofl1827, when but
IA years old, in company with another,
he murdered the owner Ola flat boat, and
pundered the boat Of It's contents. With
in few weeks after this exploit, they
robbed the mail at GIayaen, broke open
stores, picked pockets, and committed ma.
ny other depredatons 10 a very large
amount. AT last having murdered and
robbed farmer, the excitement was SO
great that he deemed il advisable to re-
turn to Memphis From that place they
soon departed for Natche2y We will now
let HIM give, in his own words, the account
OF his first visit to our city.
"trom Memphis we went to Natchez,
where we rented room of woman by
the name of Catharine Howard; there
became acquainted with LovETr, JONES,
and CARPENTER. now left my old com
panlons III crime, Denny and ROBERTS.
and commenced business with LovETT.-
The offence | committed with this man
was in robbng dry goods store under
the hill at Nalchez, from which we OBJ
tanned ~2015 in money, and bolt of su-
pertine cloth, which we took to tailor
and had II made up into clothes. This
robbery took place in April 1928. Short
ly after this we committed murder on a
cotton planter. We met him coming from
the bank at Natchez, where he had been
to draw $500. Lovett and myself went
out OF town, about three miles, and then
waited until the planter came along. We
met him and caught hold Of the horses
bride, we both fired at him at the same
time-one ball entered his breast and the
other his head. He fell from his horse
and expired Immediately. We then took
his book which contained $500. The bo-
dy we concealed in the hollow stump of a
tree, and covered it with leaves; we then
turned his horse adrift After this we re-
turned to Natchez, and divided the money. !
This murder was committed in the sum-
mer OF 1928. On the following day we |
committed several robberies in the city
picking of pockets, the produce of which
to about $500, and al night d.
Vided the money. On this night Denny,
my first companion in crime, murdered a
man, for which murder he was arrested
and executed. The man he murdered
was a store keeper, and he robbed the
store Of $1700 LovETT and myself re-
manned together, and the next offence we
was in breaking open a store on
the hill, from which we stole $500 worth
of broadcloths and silks. This property
we disposed OF to man who was willing
to buy properly obtained in the like man
ner. Shortly after This, Lovett and my
sell opened coffee house at Natcnez, UNI
der the hill. We employed Jones as bar
lender. We did tins with "a view to make
.his house receptacle for stolen goods
W broke lnlo another store and stole
500 worth Of dry goods Carter was
IN thls robbery with myself
and Loyett. The next night VIM. Carter,
myself, and Loved broke in jewelers.
store, and stole 1880 worth of watches
lnd Jewolry. {
Shortly after this, Carter and Lovett
stole six negroes; we ran them down to
anu there sold two OF them
or $1,000. We then went to ThiDedeaux-
,iIie, and sold the remaining four for {
$1,000 Alter this we returned to Don {
lldsonyile and committed burglary, by I
which VIC Obtained 500. On the follow 0
ne might've went on BOARD a trading boat
bout three miles rom Donaldsonyille-
wo men we're on board, one Of them a 3
'renchmen anu the other q Spanlard- I
4overt shot the trenchman and Carter the a
,panard. From TINS boat we took " 500 I
j gold and thew the two bodies over
,oard. These murders were committed in a
he winter Of 1898. Loyett took the b