The Russellville Democrat., 1876-01-13

In view of the certainty of eter
 nity and knowing that my fat
 and destiny on earth will soon b'
 ended, make this statement, and
 for the truth, God above know'
 that these facts are solemn truths
 In regard to the death of Mrs
 Rebecca Slower, have this to say
 Soon after John B. Stover's death
 l made the remark that the ole
 lady Slower should be killed ir
 the presence of all Stover's hands
 viz: Lee, Wallace, Tom Stover
 Scott, and others. I was out in the mule lot two or three days after the burying of John B. Sto- yer, in the ening, and Jack Snapp and Tom Stover were with me, and asked me how much l would take to kill old Mrs. Stover, and whether I would take two hundred and fifty dollars and the best horse on the place. I then said I had nothing against Mrs. Stover. They (Snapp and Stover) said, would l kill her for five hun dred dollars and the best horse or mule? 1 made the same answer. They then commenced jeering aud taunting me, by saying that 1 WHe afraid, and dare not do it. I asked them, if they wanted her killed, why they did not kill her themselves? They then said, that I had no interest here and that could get on q horse and leave the country, but they had property here and could not do it, and that It would be all the same-that is, my killing her. and that l would be protected, and if 1 got into trouble, money should be at my command for lawyers; :; and that they would spend their last dollar for me. This took place before Mrs. Slower shot Jack Snapp. After Mrs. Stover shot Jack Snapp, was tEe party that arrested Mrs. Slower and brought her back to Stover's house, and all the men on the place were afraid to go after her. 1 was very mad, because 1 loved Jack Snapp as a brother, and seeing him shot raised all the evilin me. I had full confidence in Jack Snapp, and believed that he would do the same if I was shot. l was so wrought mp in my feelings, that l swore that 1 would kill her. 1 felt the same as if she had shot a brother. I also brought her over to Lewisburg to be dealt with according to law; but after she was brought over she was placed under such light bonds, that was afraid she would get away, and pay the money on the bond; so 1 concluded to revenge myself, and never let her get away.
 1 have never asked, demanded, requested or insinuated that l wanted any money, property or any consideration whatever; all that l ever asked them, was to protect me. in case of danger by the law, and the offer they made me was by their own voluntary act, and without my making any demands whatever, directly or indirectly.
 MY FATE.
 I attribute my death to Jack Snapp and Tom Stover, who to- gether concocted the killing and used me as a tool. Tom Stover need not put on the garb of inno- cence, as his hands are bloody, and on the day of the killing had full knowledge of it. They have betrayed me; and left me to my fate-even had a dance, last night, the night before I was to be hung, and have refused to pay my council or even get me a decent suit of clothes to be buried in. l freely forgive their heart lessness and their treatment, and I regret that l have been too zeal ous to defend those, whom l once thought to be my friends, having too true a heart, and that l am victim to hypocrisy and deceit. If they can stand to live with the curses of their fellow man upon their heads, l can bear to die, and expect to die like a man, and leave them and their part to the God, who judges all.
 As to all witnesses against me, l have this to say: in regard to MT. Tucker; the morning after Jack Snapp was shot, Tucker pro posed to Snapp to kill Mrs. Stover for five hundred dollars in cash, and told me that if l killed her, he would say nothing about it; and proposed to divide the money, when l killed her. Itold him no, that l was going to kill her for no money, but for friendship. He has made false statements and if his perjured lips feel, that in swearing away my life in false hoods, has done him any good, l am willing to let it all pass.
 FOR TOM sTovER AND JACK sNAPP:
 1 know where Mrs. Stover se- creted her money, but as they have sold their souls for money, l shall die with the secret of where it Is, in my own breast.
 To Charles c. Reid, Jr., who