The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-01-05
A TRIPLE MURDER.
Confeasion Of M. r. Jones Who
Killed the Walker Brothers.
A H oRRIRIE RECITAL
The Gallsws Too Good for Such Misera
bic Wretch.
M o EY. HE WAN TED.

Aberdeen Examiner.
w. r. Jones, of Tuscaloosa coun-
ty, Ala, made the following confess
sion before Esquire B. c. Sims: 20
the murder of the Walker brothers,
party of immigrants who were
passing through Monroe county, for
Goodwin, Ark, and were murdered
on the night of Saturday, Novem-
Der Goth, 1881, about three miles
from this city.
CONFESSION OF w. r.. JONES.
L left home Oh the day the Walkers
were at Alex GiIden's shop in TuscaIoo-
ga county, Ala, intending to go to the
shop and collect some money, SIS from
Bud Gilden, and then 60 on to the rail.
road at Columbus, or somewhere else
and if it did not cost too much to 90 by
train to Water Valley; if it cost much.
to walk through. I have a brother in
law over there, MIR. Jack Boothe;
thought OF arranging to live ont there
and get a wagon and return for my fam.
iy. When l reached the shop found
the Walkers; they invited me to 90
along with them and help trade off the
old mule; was glad to get go along,
and joined them; we Travelled on togetil-
er until we reached Aberdeen. l had
never thought of numbering or robbing
them up to this time; the day of the
murder L remained in town until about
| night; the wagon went out and struck
camp; followed on; I did not see Will,
liam Miller III town and never saw him
| before; after We all went to bed, the
Walker boys on bed together ana |
on some sacks on the other side of the
ire. L went to sleep; woke up in the
night, suppose about midnight (two
or three hours) and got up ard made
the fire and lay down again, but didn't
go 20 sleep any more; this is the time
conceived the idea of robbing the Walk
er brothers. L heard a noise out about
the road; got up and walked over to-
wards the road, saw this negro man
William Miller, called him to me and
spoke TO him. He asked who that was
at camp, told him it was the Walker
boys and said to him they have some
money, let's 60 up and kill them aud
get 1t. He asked me where they were
going; wanted Inn to Kill them; this
William refuse! 20 DO, but said he
would help. We walked up to the tire
together and cliunckrd it up and made
light; there were four dogs along with
the Walkers; as We walked up to the
fire one growled little; I nodded at
him to be quiet. They were hounds,
not bad, fierce dogs. and did not bark
did not know William Miller nor did
he know me. We were three quarters
of an hour there from the time first
met Miller until all was over and I and
he had left. / wanted some one in with
me, so that should one wake lie could
help me.
After We got the fire to giving ligi.t,
having passed the axe at the wagon
and showing it TO William he standing
between M aI'l he axe, saw all were
sound asleep aud nodded and whisper
ed to him to hand me the axe, which
be did; took position at about the
head of the bed; the Oldest Walker was
lying nearest the fire; I killed him first
by chopping his head hard blow
which was under blanket. He did not
move. The next Oldest Of the Walkers
was lying on the other side of the bed.
He was asleep and killed him next,
knowing that the little boy could be
more easily managed if he should wake
up. After Killing the two oldest Walks
ers killed the youngest, the little boy,
who was in the middle. between his
brothers who had lust been killed; and
was asleep when hit and was killed in
staEtly. I then threw the axe away
and began robblng them by raising the
cover at the side and putting nv hand
in their pockets; got watch and peck.
ct book off the oldest next to the fire;
then went around to the 9th ar side of
the bed and searched the next oldest,
getting pocket book off of him. Did
not touch the boy. We did not handle
the remains of any of them nor did I or
William uncover them in my
presence. We then went to the
wagon and took tho trunk out Of
the front end and set it on the ground.
I drew the bolt out of the double, tree
and priced the hasp off and opened and
searched the trunk; from it took a
purse that contained silver money and
vest to carry my watch in; took no
other clothing, did not see William
take anything out OF the trunk. He
did not search the trunk while I was
there; we put the trunk back in the
wagon when we got through searching
it. l took a saddle out of the back end
of the wagon and a bride off of the
ground in front of the wagon. William
then asked me to divide; told him I
didn't get enough to divide; he insisted
on some of it; would not give him
any, we got into quarrel, he struck
me IN thu breast and grabbed at him
and tore his coat; I gave him no money;
| carried the saddle out little ways
towards the mule and brought the mule,
the best in the lot of the horses to sad.
die; saddled it and left, going in
westerly direction, William came back
towards Aberdeen. William did not
pat his hands on them w,.i!o I was
there. he got no money and no cloth
ing; I got no money hardly; can't read
and don It know denomination of nor
ey, hence can't say how much I got
I know they had but little money as I
had heard one OF them say after we
left the shop, ";f we break down many
more times we won't have noney
enough to get through on" William
Miller and I killed the Walker brothers
alone. no one else helping us. and in
the way described above. William |
am very sure, had no blood on his shirt
when left him near TIE camp. I did
not wash in the water bucket. I did
not agree to give William Miller 5000
to help me kill the Walker brothers-I
agreed to give him half I got; did
not agree to meet William Miller in
Aberdeen the Monday following and
give him 5000. rode all the remain
der of the night of the murder, and
next day took dinner with a man who
had mill; slept by the side of the
road Sunday night; on Monday. I
think. traded the mule to man /
met in the road for gray horse, get
ting SIS difference. The trace vas
made before crossing the NJ. & O. r Il
the second time; that is, to the west of
railroad and river, got to my brothers..
Reuben Jones. Wednesday night late;
lief. on Thursday night for Wood Will
burne's. i'll Walker county, Travelled
three days, stayed with him about a
week. and arranged to swap places with
him for one year, and if We liked the
exchange. to trade. Wood Wilbu, ne.
his brother, Sam Wilburne. and myself
started to my place in Tuscaloosa
county; had travelled three days. when
next morning before good daylight, but
after we had all gotten up and dressed
and setting by the fire, the door was
suddenly sprung open aud after about
| two hountls man whom I now know