The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-09-11
EXECUTION OF HOWELL.
THE confession OF THE GULL
TY WRETCH

GO u 4 NV O4 4LO " LL~G%s
THE CONFESSION OF THE GULL
TY WRETCH
From the Knoxville Chronicle.
Yesterday Greeneville was astIr with
The hustle of unusual excitement conse-
1uent upon preparations for the execu-
ton of the negro George Howell for the
murder of Joseph Martin, near Fullen's
station, December 28th, 1877.
A strong police force was sworn in by
the town authorities, and Sheriff A. J.
Frazier had summoned large guard to
preserve on the occasion. There were
no anticipations of attempted rescue of
the prisoner, though frequent rumors
to that effect had reached the officials,
but it was deemed best to be prepared
for any emergency, and though the
crowd was large, yet no serious distur-
bance arose.
HowELL's CONFESSION.
Some time after sentence of death
was passed on him, the prisoner, How
ell, made full confession of the crime
and its antecedents to Mr.. j. r. Self,
proprietor of the Journal, which, if true,
put the family of the deceased in the
worst possible light, he having declared
in the plainest language that the widow
and children of the murdered man, by
brides and threats, instigated him to do
the deed.
Your reporter, accompanied by sever
al others, visited the prisoner the day
before his expected execution, Aug
9th, expecting to see a burly black ruff
fan, but entering the cell, beheld con-
fined in the cage, a negro lad, with a
remarkably good countenance, holding
book in his hand. In one corner was
a small pallet on which he slept, which
was the only furniture it contained.
The prisoner seemed gratified at the
entrance of visitors and answered all
questions freely, even the frivolous one
of whether Martins ghost ever appear
ed to him in the still hours of the night,
to which latter he replied in the mega
tive.
HIS ANTECENDENTs.
The unfortunate boy, George Howell,
was born in La Grange, Ga. in Octo-
Der, 1861, his owner being Mr.. Arch.
Howell, who subsequently operated a
steam furniture mandatory. His faith
er's name was Ephraim and his mothers
Mary, the former of whom is living
but the latter died when the prisoner
was five years old. His father was a
painter, and after his mothers death
both made their home in Atlanta, Ga.
for six or seven years, the former pur-
suing his avocation of painting, while
the boy waited on stores, confectioner-
les, etc From thence they afterwards
removed to Smyrna, Ga, where the
prisoner remained year in the employ
of DR.. Bell. He went from there to
Carriers vile, Ca, and by that time hav-
ing become imbued with the spirit of
unrest, visited Dalton and proceeded
thence to Cleveland and Knoxville, and
drifting as far east as ChristiansbuTg,
Va. But not liking the Old Dominion
he returned to Bristol the day before
the Presidential election in November,
1875. A few days after he entered the
employ of J. B. Fitzgerald, near Full
ems Depot, and remained there about
seven months. He then worked a short
time for VIM. Durham, perhaps two
weeks, when he received better offer
and began working for Joseph Martin
on the 10Th of June, 1877.
The prisoner, in his interview, reiter-
ated the confession previously made to
Mr., Self and others regarding the COM
plicity of Martins family with the muir
der, and avowed his iRteatiQn; he said /:
81 had been at Martins for some time,
perhaps a month, before 1 discovered
any misunderstanding between Martin
and his family and this occurred be-
tween him and his daughter Tennie.
She upbraided him fsF his staying away
from home so late lie kicked her oyer
and struck her with chair.
'"The next difficulty occurred between
Martin and his wife. she accused him OF
visiting a house of i'll fame near by, he
went to his trunk, took out pistol,
and swore he would shoot her.
= -
rels continued all along through tha
summer, | remember of one, which at
the time thought would result serious
Iy; It occurred some time in the fall,
and late at night, ! was asleep in the
barn, little Bob woke me up, | went TO
the house and found Martin In tets
rible rage, he said to me that his wife
had refused to occupy his bed, that she
had taken separate room and that he
would kill her. or any woman, bearing
the name of wife, that would treat him
in this manner. Bob and ! set up the
entire night.
THE BLOODY BARGAIN.
The following narrative of events i'm
preceding the tragedy seems
almost too horrible for relief, because
if not the phatasmagoria of disordered
brain, the prisoner was but the hired
tool of an unnatural wife and children
In this connection it should be stated
that an attempt was made two days be-
fore the executions, by a member of
family, to induce Mr.. Self, the
publisher of the confession" to sup
press the same, which, however, he de-
olined doing. Continuing, the prisoner
said
''Some two months before Christmas
he family were all in the sitting room
perhaps some of the smaller children
we're in bed-when Mrs. Martin COM
nenced abusing her husband (Mr. Mar