Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-12-13
Wistellalrepus.
From the Ches,er Standard.
Confession of London Jones, Freedman

1u SlSluS Guc lOiio"iuS ooohS9oioa Va Wv
above named notorious robber and murder
er, it is necessary that should state have
given the facts as nearly as can, in bis
own words, and that I assume no RESPONSE
bility, as to the truthfulness of his state
ments. They were made to me voluntarl'
" on his part, and with the knowledge that
it was my intention to make them public.
He says:
81 was born in Newberry District, s. G.,
and am now about twenty. two years of age.
My mother is living, as also my wife. l
have no children. I formerly belonged to
Mr.. Lambert Jones, of Newberry District.
I knew Belton Cline from a boy, and re-
gard him as wanting in good sense. join
ed the Methodist Church, South, some years
ago, under the ministry of the Rev. j. r.
Pickett, but being hired out to persons who
treated me roughly, soon lost all religious
concern and became reckless. In 1864, |
went into the army with my young Master,
and remained with him until the close Of
the war. About the 1st of April 1 moved
to Columbia. But before that, on the Mon
day night before last Christmas, [ helped
to kill JAS Curnton. My gun was near
his body when l fired. He died few days
afterwards, and if it was buck shot that
killed him, then am the man that killed
him, for my gun was loaded with buck shot
We went into the house after George Broom
who had married Curnton's daughter, in
tending to shoot him but he got away. We
did not intend to rob the house, or insult
the females Belton Cline brought Morris
to me in Columbia, and through their per
suasiou, 1 agreed to 90 to Chester to rob
Mr.. A. D. Walker. I never saw Morris
until that night. 1t was not our intention
to kill Mr. Walker, but only to rob him.-
We came on Sunday night by the train
from Columbia Morris gave US whiskey,
but was not druuk-I knew all was do
ing perfectly we'll. Morris laid the plan,
and we did just as we were told to do l
jumped on Mr.. Walker first, whilst Belt
ran after MIR. Estes. He (Walker) turned
suddenly around and asked, "What do you
mean" l threw him down and by that
time Morris and Belt both came then
started after Estes, and when | had got
about hundred yards heard pistol fire.
believe that Belton Cline shot Mr.. Walk.
er, as Morris was very angry about his be-
iug killed and left US Immediately. Belt
and I then went on to the house, and | shot
the pistol into the house, for the purpose of
soaring Estes We did not intend to kill
Mrs. Walker or Estes, as we could easily
have done so if We wished I cut the ward,
robe with an axe. We got only Sc IS IN
money, besides the watch and clothing. As
we came back, Belt ran his hand in Mr.
Walkers pocket and got two dollars more.
(This happened on the night of the 22nd
of July.) On the following Wednesday we
went into the Deighborhood of Mr.. Lane
10 Newberry, and watched for a chance to
murder and rob him until Friday night,
when we accomplished it. There we're six
of US altogether, (Mr. Clinton, c c. in
Chester, has their names on affidavit made
by London, on Friday morning, just before
his execution We intended to murder Mr.
Lane, and then rob the house. Morris
walked him up in the yard where he was
sleeping, and by an agreement made before
hand, while he was talking to him, slipped
around behind him and struck him on the
head with an axe The first blow killed
him, but hit him the second time to make
sure work of it. Belt and I then went
through the house, hunting the money, the
most of which we gave to Morris who put it
in carpet bag. We put some into our
own pockets, and that was all we ever got
had some $500, and afterwards Belt gave
me 500 more-iD all 5000 I have not
seen Morris since that night Belt and l
went to Petersburg, Virginia, where spent
the most of my money gambling"
The above are the leading particulars of
crime, as detailed by London to me within
a few days of bis execution and we leave
our readers to form their OVID judgment as
to their reliability The circumstances con.
nected with his apprehension, trial, and
escape from prison, and recapture, are all
too well known 10 need repetition here
Of one subject alone in connection with the
prisoner we shall speak, and that is his re-
pentauce, and the apparent change in his
moral character Soon after sentence of
death was passed upon him, I was sent for
to visit him in the prison. | found him in
great distress of mind and apparently very
desirous CT religious instruction. He SEEM
ed to have an imperfect, but real sorrow for
the sins of his past life. This l endeavor
ed to excite still more, and labored first of
all to show him the horrible nature Of the
crimes he had committed He confessed
his ignorance of religious experienc-that
he did not know how to pray-aud that he
was afraid to stand in the presence of God
with all his sins resting upon him. l asked
him if he had not had misgivings of con-
science, whilst pursuing his course of
crime He replied that he had been reck-
less, and did not Cat that time) care what
might happen to him. But now he had
time to reflect and could not think of the
certain approach of death without alarm. l
knew the difficulty of the task before me,
and sought on the one hand to encourage
him to pray and hope for pardon and on