Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-07-02
THE BATON MURDERERs.
Desperate Attempt at Escape-COn-
fessiOn OF the Murderers.
Special telegram to the Dispatch.

Desperate Attempt At Escape-COn.
fessiOn OF the Murderers.
Special telegram to the Dispatch.
NORFOLK, June 21-That desper-
ate gang of parricides, the Baton
brothers, arrived at the Jail last night
about 8 o'clock, guarded by posse of
ten men, tied aud shackled in such
manner as to make it impossible to get
away, such precaution being neces-
sary owing TO an assault upon the jail
or and attempt to break Jail at Princess
Anne Courthouse yesterday morning.
1t appears that the TAILOR visited the
cells early in the morning armed with
pistol, and as he opened the door he
was set upon by the young rufhans and
had to halloo for help, which, FORUM
ately for him, was heard at the hotel,
and party went to the jailor's assist
ance. The three brothers will be ta-
ken to Richmond for eighteen years
each on Wednesday morning.
The quilt in the wagon was set on
fire by tse wadding from the gun. and
the fire was put out, aud part of the
quilt was torn off by Albert J., aud
left in the road. 0. W. Baton was
held ON the road about two minutes
by James T. , and then ordered to go
to the nearest house and report that
his father had been shot AID robbed
on the road by two negroes; after
which James Il. and AlbertJ. remount-
ed their horses and returned home at
rapid speed, meeting ON the way two
market carts. After reaching home
and putting the horses in the stable,
they entered the house quietly while
tho 60 u icf,
ing any of them. James T. going to
his room up stairs and Albert J. into
his mothers room, where he laid down
across the foot of her bed.
THE BATTONs CONFESSION.
Norfolk Parers
IN THE JAIL OF THE COUNTY OF PRIN-j
CESS ANNE, PRINCESS ANNE
COURT HOUSE, Va, June 10, 1875.
We, james T. Baton and Albert J.
Baton, having been indicted and tried
Jointly with our brother Ozias W. Bat
ton, upon the charge of having killed
and murdered our father, James Bat
ton, on the first day of May. 1875, and
having been found guilty, by the jury,
and sentenced to the penitentiary for
eighteen years, feel impelled by a sense
of duty to our brother, Ozias W. Bat
ton, to make the following free and
full confession: For the past two years
We have intended to take the life of
James Baton, our father, whenever a
favorable opportunity should present
itself, because of his habitual cruelty
to our mother, Sarah Jane Baton
She has always been a good and kind
mother to US from our earliest infancy,
and we could not bear to see her treat
Cd ], oil 1nl, Co.
long years practiced npon her by our
father. On Friday night of the 23rd
of April last, we Intended to kill him
and went to a certain place on the
road leading from our house to tt q
courthouse near Horse Run Bridge,
but he did not return home that night
as expected, and thus we were frus-
t1ated in our purpose at that time.
Having known for several days that
father intended to go to Norfolk in
his market wagon, on Friday night,
the Both of April, we determined upon
full deliberation that we would post
pone the execution of our purpose no
longer, and that we would pursue him
after he left home and attack him on
the road. He left home fifteen min
utes before one o'clock on Friday night
for the purpose of going to Norfolk,
AMI Ozlas w. Baton went in company
with him ; the wagon was hitched up
and prepar ed by the undersigned, AL
bert J. Baton, James T. remaining
up stairs in bed until after the wagon
had left, which was driven by OZias
w. Baton. About three-quarters of
an hour after the wagon left we start
ed in pursuit, riding the stallion and
the horse, going out into the public
road by the back way through David
Fentresses old field, coming out into
the public road in front of Moses w.
McClanan's gate we rode at a tolera-
bly, rapid gate until we overlook the
wagon, passing on our way, near VIM.
Undertakes, a man in a Cart, who
asked US the time of night. When we
overlook the wagon, Ozias W. Baton
was sitting on the seat driving and
father was lying down in the bottom of
the wagon on his side, with his head
toward the seat, but we are unable to
say whether his back or the front part
of his body was towards us we rode
up on the side of the wagon and
shot him twice with double -barreled
shotgun, the gun being fired by
James T. Baton. After being shot he
raised himself up in the wagon, and
while i'll that position, Albert j. Bat
ton rode up to the side of the wagon
and struck him on the head two or
thr times on the head with a club
which he had carried from home.
When the gun was fired by James L.
Ozias W. Baton jumped from the
wagon and attempted to make his es-
cape, but was seized and held by
james L. who sprang from his horse
for that purpose. The horse before
the wagon was caught and held by
Albert J. who afterwards fastened him
by hitching the rein over the lock of
the fence on the road side.
1t is proper to state further that
Ozias W. Baton has been living IL a
Northern ate for several years past,
and that he did not return until Jan
uary last; that he was not privy to our
design to take the life Of our father.
In regard to the reports prevalent In
the community as to an attempt to
poison our father several years ago,
We desire to state in this connection
that the report is altogether untrue as
far as o. W. Baton is concerned, but
that au attempt was made by Albert
J. Baton, Ozias W. being at home
home that day and not at the store,
where the attempt was made, and
having no knowledge of it whatever.
JAMES 7. BATON,
ALBERT j. BATON.