Mexico weekly ledger., 1880-03-04

why? Why would he wish to go to
his death with Il damning lie on his
lips? Why would he wish to circu-
late such a report OIL his old employer
when it could not help him at all =:
Why, in this very confession, he says
he is guilty Of coid-blooded murder.
lie could not hope to escape death by
such u fabrication, for at the same
time he establishes the very theory
that he was convicted o~n-namely,
that he did not 20 out to hunt rabbits,
but to kill Willingham. In the first
place. we will publish his confession
as he recited it, and as IL of his fell
low-prisoners noted it down. Not
wishing to lead him into telling any
thing that we might suspicion, and
then draw out OF him by questions,
we told him to tell his story to Il fel-
low-prisoner, and then we would ask
him some questions. He dictated the
confession, and said as he hoped to
meet his God with a %repentant heart
it was true; and we held the pen
while he made his mark to the follow
ing:
KILaoRE's CONFESSION.
! THE language is his, and we will
noJ ORC ct it; we might wrongly al
ter his ideas by SO doiug-EDIToR
LEDGER.
MEXICO JAIL, Feb. 9th, 1880.
MIR. X. NJ. WHITE: Asst is your
request that | should make public
concerning my treble will do so,
knowing that death is at the door.
/ wish To say o the people of this
county that | did not Kill l.. ID. Will
ingham of my w accord. Willing
ham was hauling off Robert Railey's
and my corn, which made Raiiey very
angry at Willingham. Railcy told
me to borrow kruukle's gun, and
shoot Wiilinghain-which | did.
CircumstantiaI evidence placed Inc
behind a tree. was not behind the
tree when Willingham came along
was standing close to the fence in The
road. lspokc to him; he got angry
ana pulled his revolver-got off the
wagon-camc towards me. told him
moi TO come any further, or would
shoot. He kept advancing; | sho,
him twice: then went to Railcy's
house met Mrs Railey told her thai
[ had shot WilIingham, but hoped ht
, would get well. did not want tt
take the gun with me that morning
but Railcy said yes, take the gun ant
shoot him, that Willingham would
Kill me unless | shot him | did no
: want to have any trouble with viii
ingham, but Railey kept urging N,
on and | would never have been il
this trouble if Railcy had let III
alone. and not excited me into dom,
i what ] did. WALKER kILGoRE.
After reading the above, we aske'
kil%ore some questions, and gleane'
, about as follows: He had only tol,
the above to II other man, and tina
was Mr.. Dingle, whom tie knew h
could eontide in. Railey had been t
t see him told him (kilgore) not t
4 him before the trial not to tell tbs
he (Railey) had told him to shoe
Willingl.am, for when he should col
v TESS that, he would admit he went OF
IS on purpose to Kill WillinSham. N
and Mrs. Railcy both knew | wel
8. out to kill Willingham-uo one ell,
10 knew it. | make this contessio
now, because | don't want to d
d with u lie on my heart. l borrowe
e the gun to kill Willingham, went OF
t. that morning on purpose to catch hi
IT. as he came from the corn field, al
o. talk to him. After | had shot Hill
ID Railey told me to 60 to town al
III give myself up. He also told II
" what TO tell the man that | gave m
lie self up to-"
L. Kilgore told us all the above al
Id much more to the same impel
Ill While we were talking, he bowed
to head, and we saw tears-rea tears
I'd repentance--trickle down his pal
OF careworn cheeks. Ii his story
true, he was led into q terrible Grin
at for which he will suffer a horrit
he death.
st His sentence was the most solen
Id thing we ever heard, and is very il
mt pressive, as our readers may see
10 There is no duty SO disaeaeeable
an executor of justice as the senter
Is ing of a fellow man to death, ev
or when he knows he deserves it.. p X
as gore is the third man ever Judge Pt
on ter sentenced to death, the other t,
ay being colored men. Judge Porter
ad a very sympathetic man, and it W
u with tears in his eyes he sentenc