Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1881-11-29

NUN iiic lc Sdlu Ilc killcu DTOWn anC
Heck with piece of wood which "was
WINS prepared for buggies." This he de.
MED 10 another, in my hearing, in less
than ten minutes, and said it was Il piece
of fire wood. lie was given five min.
utes TO speak to the crowd of some two
thousand, and was supported standing
on the wagon seat by Jailor Cook. The
following is
MS SPEECH
Verbatim
81 did Kill those men hut not intcn.
tionally. Boys, did kill those white
men that were killed at Marble Hall,
but | did not kill them Intentionally.
did kill them according TO one of them
did draw their weapon on me and
have TO die for it. They drew one
weapon on me. want to speak It loud
enough for these men to hear it, thrt
did not kill them to rob them.
ldid strike them with piece OF split
wood that laid in that corner. They did
come. | was playing cards with them
for drinks. Those Brown did ret mad
ut those Harris and strike ut those IIar-
riS and those Harris did nothing. ylc
did 70 on AMI think nothing wrong. and
there WAS knife over the iire-b0ard
that we killed the hors " illi.-'hat those
hogs were killed with, and Brown he
bring those knife on those Harris, and
aimed to stick it in Joe Harris, who art
here before those men who are here to
see Joe Harris on the galows, and Joe
Harris he run around who tried to get
out of the way. He first tried to get
out Of the house. Charley Brown told
him If he wanted TO come and stay with
him in Bristol in the Blacksmith Shop
to come Monday night (that was the
night of the murder ED. NEws.) and
| told HIM would not work for ten dol
lars month, but would work for twelve
dollars in the shop or anywhere else. -
But he said he would not give me twelve
dollars u month, but If | concluded to
take $l0,50a month to come Monday
(Here the sheriff told him to finish
quickly but my time is out now and
o, Lord remember me in Thy Grace
O Christ, Almighty God! o remember
me and meet me in heaven and-.grart II
Almighty God! have to leave this
wOrldl ~
Here the black cap was drawn over
face, his legs and elbows securely bound,
and his wrists hand-ruflcd behind him.
AS the wagon started Sheriff Robert
Blevins gave him shove aud Joe Har-
ris was harged. As he swung without
u tremor, twitch or muscular contortion,
Blcvins said, "gentlcman, if that is not
a gilt edge job, you can take my cap. -
And gilt edge job It was. No man
was ever executed more successfully
than was Joe Harris. In ten minutes
the pulse had ceased at the wrists. In
twenty he was pronounced dead. His
cousin, Robert Tate was present with a
wagon to take his remains away for bur-
ial. Thursday evening he wrote a
lengthy letter to his mother and BROTH
ers. He also gave Mrs. Cook the follow
ing, which is evidently aimed for poetry
4 the lonely prison have been my home
& my parents are far away
Il may the time shortly come
when will be set free.
& reach my little home
my dearest ones to see
have but n few friends here with me
In jale am bound and have but few
more days to stay hear and God will car
ry me home with him and | have II
brother hoos heart Is wounded threw
and threw to see me bound in jale and |
have II plous old mother
hoos age and mind Is frall
to see me bound In jale
ana her heart IL wounded threw and
thew for me & dear readers IL you ever
prayed
remember me In your pray
q may God give me of his grace
4 learn me the onest way
d may | see my Sayiors face
JOSEPH HARRIS.
The upper piece OF the composition
had been torn of by him and destroyed.
lie Ind no assistance whatever, In writ
Ing It.
Mr.. Cook aud his lady say n better
prisoner they never knew, and they
think hIa heart had been changed. IIar-
ris' mother was the daughter of n very
respectable and most excellent man, Mr..
Johicl fugale.
My thanks nrc due to the Tailor, Mr..
lso. Cook and lady, to sheriff Dlcvins
lnd TO Hon. James white, IN we'll rs Mr..
Fayeltc Phlpps and Messrs. Walker aud
Brown Of the Spectator aud of the Times.
Rogcrsvllc has no licensed bar rooms,
but liquor flowed all the same. and mo
so The day WA beautiful, but It wns
MARRIED by two disturbances. Mr.. Pow
III, Of tho Powell House, deserves spe-
'lal mention for his excellent accom-
notation, superb table and kind atten-
.lons. | have never been madc happier
It any Tenn. or Va. Hotel, aud | can,
With u clear conscience, tell all my
ricnds they will fluid comfort Mt the
POWELL llonsc, SrE.
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From the Rogcrsville Times
rllE CONFESSION.