Arkansas true Democrat., 1860-10-13
From the Van Buren Press, Oct. 5, 1860 The Murderer Arrested.

Last week we gave an account of bor- rid murder, committed in this county. on the road between this place and Fayette vile. Yesterday the cold-blooded perpe- trator was brought to Van Buren, in charge of c. G. Gilbreath, esq.,, and others of Washington county, having been arrested at Fancy, Mo-, and lodged in jail.
 | Considerable excitement was manifested and disposition shown to string him up at once-but on cool, sober reflection it was thought best to let the law take it's course. | Below we give the confession of the pris- oner, as full as could, under the circum- stances, be obtained:
 l THE MURDERER's CONFESSION.
 Says his name is Robert Davis: is from Green county, Texas, and was on his way to Ozark, Mo-, his native place. He made arrangements with the old man and his son, named, Person or PerSey, he was not certain which, of Denton county, Texas, on Red river, who were making trip to Washington county, to see tiiends, and purchase q load of apples to take back with them He thinks the old man had brother and sister at Cane Hills They, all four. Davls and his wife, and the old man and son, came on until they reached the forks of he road on Monday, Sept. 10th, where the Fayetteville road turns off, from the Evansville road, in this county. The old man wanted to take the road leading to Cane Hlll, and he desired to go the other. Went up the Cane Hill road one half mile and camped for the night. The old man made my wife get ill the wagon and sleep, as she was not very well, and there not be- ing room for both, made cot on the ground outside with his son. Made pallet for himself and lay down. In the night he got up without the knowledge of his wife, and took stick of wood about four feet long, and as large as his leg First struck the old man one lick, which broke his skull, killing him instantly. Then struck the boy two licks, killing him. Took the stick, 1t being very bloody, and put il into the fire and burnt 1t up. Then took their hats and shoes and put them in the bushes on tbe west side of the road the camp being on the east side
 He then went to the wagon and told his wife that he had killed the old man and boy. lie then wrapped them up in their bed clothes and put them in the wagon Next morning he turned back with the wagon to the forks of the road, and took the overland mail road, following it to Bry- ants, then took the Spencer road, and fol- lowed that four miles into Washington county, and dark having overtaken him. he took the bodies ot.t of the wagon noclyod them down the hill, seventy five or eighty yards from the road and there threw them down. He then came back to the wagon. and went on to Mir. Taylors about three ouor- ters of mile, and stayed all night. He then travelled on from day to day until he was overtaken by the officers in pursuit, at Fancy, Mo-, on Saturday last, the 29th ult. lie says his wife knew nothing of the murder, until he informed her after the act
 His reason for killing, was that the old man and son would take the other road and that he and his wife would have to % on foot' and he made up his mind to get rid of them.
 Davis and his wife were brought back to Fayetteville, where he made a full con fesslon of the murder. Nothing anpearing against his wife, she was discharged, and word sent to her friends in Ozark, Missouri to come for her.
 ., Yesterday, Davis, in charge of several officers, was brought to Van Buren. the murder having been committed in this county, and lodged in jail to await the sit ting oi the court Tn Fe oruary next