Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-11-04
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CHAMP FERGUSON.


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r CHAMP FERGUSON. !
THE CONFESSION HE MADE BEFORE
HIS EXECUTION.
A Long List of Grimes as Perpc-
trated by Him.
The day before the execution, Champ
Ferguson made confession to the the local
editor of the Nashville Dispatch, which he
requested might not be published until af-
ter his DEATH 1t is quite lengthy, and Champ
said that the statements comprised all the
killing in which he figured We suhJoin
some portions of this docurncnt:
THE KILLING OF FRoes.
The case of Frogg is another in which
am falsely placed. The circumstances are
well known to many in that neighborhuoG.
He was with the Home Guards, and insti-
gated my arrest while was peaceably pur-
suing my avocation as farmer Not satis-
fed with this he laid in wait on the high
ways to kill me. He ever went so far as to
make his threats to the neighbors that he
intended to kill me- On the day that |
passed down the road leading to Frogg's
house, Mrs. Pleasant Beatty called to me-
and warned me that Frogg was watching
for an opportunity to kill me. | had been
cautioned by number of persons. There
were two men with me at the time Mrs.
Beatty spoke to US, and told the boys that
l would settle the matter by going direct to
Frogg's house and killing him. His wife
was at the door peeling apples. I dis
mounted and went in. He was lying in
bed, and on seeing me, pulled the cover
over his face. then shot him twice. His
wife ran away, and as passed out met
Miss Russell, who lives near there. She ask
ed me what was the matter2 told her that
Frogg was killed, and that she had better
go in and look after him. No words what
ever were passed between Frogg and myself.
1 consider myself justified in killing him.
THE sALTsvILLE MASSACRE,
as it has been termed, was no work of mine.
was not in the fight, and did not kill any
negroes as charged. l acknowledge. how
ever, that killed Lieut.. Smith in Emory
and Henry hospital. had motive in
committing the act. He captured num-
her of my men at different times, and al
ways killed the last one of them. was
instiga.cd to kill him, but will not say by
whom, as l do not wish to criminatc my
friends. Smith belonged to the 18th Ken
tucky, and operated around Burkesville. I
will say this much-he never insulted nv
wife or daughter as reported. He was a
relative of my first wife, and always treated
my family with respect. He is the only
man killed at or near Saltsvllc, and am
not sorry for killing him. a '.H1a7
FoUNT zAcHERy. '-
confess that shot the lad, Fount Zach
cry, and stabbed him after he fell to the
ground. We were out on a scout, anu Ca
pected fight that night. Jim McIIenry
was in command, and had given us orders
TO shoot down any person who might he
seen with guns. AS we neared creek, the
lad emerged from a thcket with gun on
his shoulder. I sho. him on sight in obe-
diencc to orders.
JOSEPH SLOWER AND OTHERS.
r. killed Joseph Slower after he had shot
at me twice. He was taking third aim
when shot him in the mouth, and Fount
Frost, shot him in the side st the same
time. William johnson was run over
cliff and one Of the boys shot him. l shot
and killed Pierce, as he was running, with
double barreled shot gun. They were all
Home guards, and seeking our lives. .rs
d. .". ELISHA KoGIER.
killed Elisha Kogier, and done good
trick when did it. He watched my house
day and night, and sometimes until he was
nearly frozen, to get to kill me. He was
treacherous dog and richly merited his fate
A number of very affecting stories are TOLD
connection with his death. "...' 1877
PETER zAcHERY AND OTHERS,
killed Peter Zachery, after one of the
most desperate struggles that l ever had in
my life. We fell to the floor and he kept
hnn xxI,sl II Al
aside; l finally got out my knife and stab
bed him few tines, killing him. There
were several in the house, and We had
ordered them to surrender. Allen Zachery
was killed by one of the boys. John viii
liams was shot by Ben. Barton, and David
Delk was shot by another of our boys, all
at the same time. .a. raE .aI-f' irm
-aH -Jysr. JOHN cRABTRER. fHf1.
killed John Crabtree. l went TO Files
house in the night and stabbed him, and
did another good job when killed him.
He was q murderous villain and had went
to mems houses and shot them to get their
money. Ia,sY lu emotion 0I ri -3,la--in
.a as4g gap iAFFEY WILLIAMS. 3D. ..I Liu.d.
Ikilicd Affey Williams and negro man
in the mountains. l shot and stabbed them
They were scouting after my command, and
they found the head of it.
.r BOSWELL TABER. .... .,.....
killed Boswell Taber as bushwbacker.
He had killed three of my men few days
previous He was in front of his house
when l shot him. He ought to have been
killed sooner .-
NOT TROUBLED WITH HAUNTED DREAMS.
/ am in good health and spirits, My
sleep is undisturbed by dreams, and have
just concluded to give myself up to these
good friends of mine around here, and If
they are determined to hang me, it is all
right. would like to live for my family,
for they have lost all. leave them PENN.
less, am not worth dollar. do not
fear death, but love my family, and ann
greved to leave them on the world without
means. have a firm belief in God and she
future. A minister of the Presby terian
Church was here to-day. ] am pleased to
meet and talk with him. ! was not sur
prised when the sentence of death was read
to, me. was looking for it daily. II my
family had plenty could die without mui-