Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-24
THE a1URDERER raEsswOoD.
Interview with the Governor Last
Night-COnfessAOn.
Action of Mtnisters-Respite of the
Governor for Four Weeks.

Action of 1Iinisters-Respite of the
Governor for Four Weeks.
|
The murderer, Presswood, having signi-
fed that he desired to see Gov. Brown, his
Excellency, accompanied by the State Con-
trolIer, State Treasurer, his Private Secre-
tary and Revs. F. A. Mason, T. j. Atwell
and VIM. Turner, visited the Jail at 8
O'Clock last night. A reporter of the UNION
AND AMERICAN CHANGING to be present, is
enabled to make this report:
"Have you any objection to these gentle
men remaining here?" his Exeellency in
ouired, when shown into cell into which
Presswood had been specially conducted
for the purposes of the interview.
"Well, would rather talk to you alone,
first" the prisoner replied glancing uneasily
at the gentlemen accompanying his Excel
lency.
"Have you any objections to what we
say appearing in the newspapers"
"Well, would rather talk to you alone
first"
All then but the Governor and Jailer re-
tired from the cell, and the door was
closed. In about twenty minutes afterward
Jailer Shelton opened the cell door and no
titled those outside that they might enter,
which they did, and occupied seats fur
nished for them. The prisoner sat next the
Governor.
"Just state now publicly what you have
! just said to me-" said His Excellency.
THE PRISONERS STATEMENT.
Well, got up out of bed that night. l
Just lit out and went down there. l got on
the mill road. When 1 got to the house 1
peaked throQgha crack. | saw the woman
sitting on the bed. | then directly I'M
| pinned the door and went in. When l
started toward her she hollered $50 back
| Go back % But l continued going on up
TO her. Directly she raised up gun from
! the further end of the bed as though she was
going to shoot me. She then dropped the
gun at the foot of the bed. l went up TO her
then, directly she jumped on to the floor.
then got scuffling with her. Then the little
| girl jumped up and got the axe and struck
at me. Then jumped behind her mother.
l am pretty sure she struck her mother.
won't say for certain that she did. Directly
after that walked round and got the axe
out of the little girls hand, and struck her
mother one lick. Then l run right straight
and struck the little girl, just like it was at
the edge of the hearth. Then 1 just went
back to where the woman laid. / had
dropped the axe down. Then went on
back to the woman and laid my hands on
her bowels like. Then 1 got up
and went ON out Of the
door. 1 didn't do anything to the woman;
only just laid my hand on her. went out
of the door, rinsed my hands in the water
| bucket, and went on out. Went to the
smokehouse door. Went back to the smoke
| house. Went off down through the
orchard. Went off through the woods.
| Then got sorter lost. Went along till got
to the big hill. ThenN kept travelling along
! till got to the back of the house, and
slipped into the house unknown to any
body at all; slipped into the house and
went to bed. Laid till daylight next morn
ing.
HETEROGENEOUS.
Question-When you put your hands On
the woman, was she lying On the floor?
A.-She was lying on the floor.
Q.-What was her condition?
Al don't know what.
Odd you get down on the floor over
her?
Al kinder squatted beside her.
Q.-How did you get blood on your
hands?
A.-The blood was running down on the
floor. When 1 kinder squatted down and
put one hand like as on her bowels the
other 1 put in the blood. did not know
at all till next morning that l had killed the
woman.
Q.-What time of night was it?
Al don't know what time it was.
Q-Had you been asleep before you went
theres
Ayes.
Q.-Had you your clothes on when you
went to the house?
A.-No; Just went in my drawers; bear |
headed and in my shirt-sleeves.
Q.-How far was it to the house?
A.-Abouthalf mile.
Odd you tap the little girl on the fin
gers with the axe handle?
A.-No; after had got through 1 dropped |
the axe down behind her.
Q.-YOu did not examine her.
Ans.-No. Directly to the Governor,
after short pause: Well, was sorry did
not tell you all about it the other day, when
you were here, but l had not the heart to
do it. Last Saturday evening l found l
could not hold it any longer. | knowed l
was guilty and could hold it no longer.
Odd you strike the little girl more
than once?
Aus.-No, struck her but once. She
swore went back and tapped her on the
finger with the axe handle. [ drOpped the
axe down beside her. The axe handle must
have fallen on her finger.
Q.-What kept you from executing the
purpose for which you went to the house?
Al was scared.
Q.-How long were you gone from your
house?
Al slipped out of the house unknown
to any one. None of them knew that
was guilty till they heard it here Sunday
evening. was not gone from there over
about an hour.
Q.-How did you get back?
Al went back through the woods. In
going went the road. In going back got
kinder lost. went in and went to bed.
They all slept in one room, but l slipped in
unknown to any of them.
els there anything else you would like
to say?
Al would like to have more time be-
fore 1 die. 1 am not prepared to die. 1
want to be well prepared to die before die.
have kept this ERE thing long time. l
realize l am great sinner.
GLOW much time do you want?
A.-Well, would like to have thirty or
forty days. would like to have time to
myself. want to be well prepared
before l die. don't want to be lost. J.
know l have done wrong. [Crying.l 1
did not take my father and mothers ad-
vice. Ny father and mother and brothers
an sisters always gave me good advice.
Now see what have come to because did
not take their advice.
Gov. Brown.-I will give you ample time
TO prepare. But l must first confer with
these ministers.
Presswood.-I know / am guilty, but is
here no wayI can go to the Penitentiary
for life?
Gov. BrOwn.-I don't want to deceive
you. l cannot do it. That question is al
ready decided; made up. Don't depend
anything on that; when the time of extern
sion expires, you will have to eXpiate your
crime upon the gallOws.
TO THE YOUNG.
Presswood.-Put it in the papers that |
want all to take warning by me; that did
not take my father and mothers advice;
that when L was just commencing to grow
a. 7 Il. 1.