Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-03-30
WHO KILLED MRS HOUsEN


liam AOusen anu A1B Wife Accused
Of being Accessory 90 the Deed.
Our readers are aware of the fact that
two negroes-Willis Barnes and Rama
Hamer, were arrested few days ago,
charged with being implicated in the muir
der of Mrs. Housen. Yesterday, Hamer
made the following statement, which TWas
reduced to writing, and sworn to by Him
The night Willis and me was arrested, VIII
lis told me that him and Mr.. William
Housen bad made a plot to
90 fishing the night of the
murder; Willis dug the bait. Mr..
Housen told him (Willis) to get some men
and commit the murder, and that be
(HouseD) would give him half he made on
the place, and that if he (Housen) should
die first, aud leave no children, be would
leave everything to him willis Barnes),
for committing the murder. Willis staid
all night at my house the night the murder
was commi ted. He came there about dark,
but went away, and was gone an hour and
a half, as near as can recollect, aud came
back. The next morning he remarked to
me to recollect that he had staid all night
at my HOUSE..
This statement being sworn to before
Justice j. II. Brantley, warrants were is
sued for the arrest of Jerry Stokes and
Dick Nolan, colored, aud VIM G. Housen,
the son of the murdered woman, and these
parties we're arrested soon after, Housen
saying, upon being taken into custody, that
he was anxious to ind out who did 60 the
deed; that he wanted to get the right party
A representative of this paper visited the
Jail upon hearing of Housea's arrest, and
was admitted TO his cell. .a
WILLIAM C. H0USEN.
This man. accused Of the awful crime of
plotting against the life of the mother who
bore him, and who had watched over The
helplessness of his infancy aud the way
wsrdi ess Of his boyhood with such devo-
ton as only mother is capable Of, our re-
porter found pacing up and down his
dreary cell. He is tall, gaunt-looking
man, about thirty years Of age, with blue
eyes, very dark hair and light colored beard,
and reminds one of the oil i couplet:
"Beware of man, if he be your brother;
Who has hair of one color, and beard another"
He was dressed in jeans pants, rough
boots, white cotton shirt and heavy winter
coat. He wore no vest. As he talked with
our reporter, he referred to the murder ia
an easy, careless sort OF a way, and seemed
entirely assured OF bis own release. The
following conversation was held:
Reporter. hare rather close quar-
tiers here?
Housen. Yes, but ain'b scared a. all.
R-When were you arrested?
Holiday. was in town yesterday
aud to-day Ga business. | was down at
the jail here yesterday. Mr.. Watson ar
rested me on warrant which was sworn
out by Rama Hamer, and took me before
Justice Cassetty. had hint of it yester-
day. am only committed for an inves.i-
CATION Of the case, and when that comes of.
I'll be let out right away. l amt scared at
all. The only Thing that troubles me is
that
is out home alone, and she must be mighty
lonesome.
R.-Have you any children?
H.-No sir. I've been married six years,
but I've got no family but my wife.
R.-Where was your mother buried?
H.-Sbe was buried out there, at her
own request. She requested that when
ever she died she should lie buried there.
R.-Do you know whether she had any
enemies among her neighoors?
H.-None in the world; or if she had, l
didn't know it.
RAMA HAAIER.
The reporter was then shown to the cell
of Rama Hamer, the negro at whose in
stigation Housen was arrested. This man
is bright looking young fellow, about
twenty years of sge, aud looks a nan
square in the face, as he tells his story. He
reiterated 10 the reporter, the statement he
had previously sworn to, and stated in ad-
dition, that when Willis came to bis house
the second time Monday night, he was
barefooted, and when questioned as to
where he had been, he replied: "Oh, across
the country" He said, also, that Willis had
given him TO understand that Jerry Stokes
had had something TO do with the murder.
HOUSEN'G WIFE.
Yesterday afternoon, q warrant was
sworn out by Uriah PEBBLES, for the arrest
of the wife Of HoCsen. She was arrested,
taken before Justice A. PEBBLES, who COM
mitted her to await an investigation, and
she vas brought 10 town by Constable
Robinson last night, reaching the city about
eight o'clock.
Upon re'ching the Jail, she manifested q
good deal Of emotion, asking of those stand
ing near if they did not pity her in her sad
condition, and requesting them to befriend
her. She said she was sick, and then i'm
mediately begged for something to eat
After being placed in cell, Mrs Patterson
supplied her nth bounLiful supper.
Mrs. Housen was very anxious 20 be 81
lowed 10 see her husband, but this request
was refused, she beiDg confined in a small
wooden building in the Jail ysrd, while
Housen occupies a strong cell in the Jail
building. 4 suficiency Of bedding was
brought with Mrs. Hou.eD, and she was
made as comfortable as circumstances
would allow. She was dressed Ia a calico
dress, dark shawl, and wore a sun bonnet.
Her age is not far from thirty, and she is
rather a good looking woman-tsll, with
dark hair and eyes.
The indications are that not many days
will elapse before the mystery which now
surrounds the cold blooded murder Of Mrs.
Housen will be cleared away, and the guilty
parties placed il a far way to receive their
just deserts.
st. Louis and Southeastern Railway.
All a. Q. Z