Huntsville gazette., 1883-05-05
LYNCHING OF WARE.
A Party sof Men Take the Prisoner
From Jail and. Swing Him on
-Ware's Confession.


-Ware's Oonfession-
FLoarscE, April so.-O Our snterpriains
weekly newspapsr, the Banner, has jusr
issued an extra. giving full account OF the
lynching Of George Ware at this place on
The following il CONDENSED
account Of the proceedings a. printed IN
the Banners extra:
Early Saturday morning people came
Aocking into town from all directions
white and black-msn, women and chill
dren-trought hither to ses and learn what
was to be the fate Of Geo. Ware, celorsd,
the murderer of Robt. Bethune, on the ca
nal. on Friday the Goth inst. About 10
o'clock Ware sent for the sheriff. to whom
he confessed that he did the killing, and
requested that he might be brought to the
court house, aud there make confession
Is to how and why he did the deed. he
ascended the court house steps and with .
smile on his face, said:
Warns CONFESSION.
"You all want to hear me tell the truth
of the murder, and nothing but the truth.
did not kill the boy, he was killed By
another man-but got half the money,
50. 20, and some of the tobacco; this is true
as there is q Ged. I threw rock while
the boy was in the water. We met the boy
on the tow path aud walked with him; the
man with me was named Reynolds, and be
asked the boy for piece of Tobacco. In
aking tho tobacco from his pocket, he
dropped dollar. Reynolds said. he has
got plenty Of money, let's kill him; got
part of the money. We reynolds and
MYSELF gambled for the money afterwards;
whsn We parted. Reynolds went down the
river, there was woman with US when we
separated. The boy says, Don't kill me.
will give you all the money have"
said, mo, don't kill him." Reynolds said
"let's kill him, or he will tell on u.s."
ME-. scorr's TESTIMONY.
Mr.. Thos. Scott, the only witness to the
AAllluks W00 O0iA0d AOI W AhoA0 ot8IcuCuL
to the crowd. He stepped forward and
spoke as follows:
On Friday, the Goth inst, about o'clock
p. NJ. was ploughing on the bluff. and
heard voice "a if some one in distress. /
ran to the edge Of the bluff and saw the
prisoner throwing rocks in tho water, but
Immediately discovered a human form in
the water, and heard the words, Don't kill
me-" The prisoner replied: II will kill
you in different way, or I will get you
soon." 1 then saw the body again rise and
blood fow from the wounds made BY the
rocks thrown by Ware. The boy had hold
Of some brush in the water, and 1 saw the
prisoner throw several rocks at him in tina I
condition, when he let loose his hold upon
the brush and sank out Of sight, AMI saw
him no more. Mr.. Scott fully identified
tho rrisn--- George Ware. the murdAr.r
af Rsbert Bethune.
Immediately after this confession Mr..
John ". Blair made few remarks, stating
that to- day was set for the trial Of tho pris.
oner and that jury would set on the case.
The prisoner was then conducted back to
the jail and securely locked up. As soon
a. this was done. party Of gentlemen pre-
cseded to the jail with sledge- hammers,
cold chisels. &C., and began the effort to
break the Jail. but before the sheriff had
had the opportunity to hide the keys, as
Was his custom. the party, in charge of the
Jail. seized him and took possession of the
keys which they found on his person, and
unlocking the doors, took charge of the
prisoner
He was then taken to tho depot, followed
by large crowd of men, women and chill
dren. The number of people present was
variously estimated, some putting i. from
800 to 1000
We did not See drunken or disorde rly
person Ia that Vas, Inultituds. The saloons
had b..n cl jssd early in the morning. and
nothing MAS done that looked to or had
tendency to create disturb ,nce at ALL
At tho place Of execution the unfortunate
man was allowed all the time he desired to
prny, which he did twice, With all the fer.
vsncy he possessed.
CONFESSION At THE oALLows.
"Yes. l did murder the boy, and threw
him in the river. l killed him for SIS. O5
and two plugs of tobacco. Gentlemen,
wasn't that mean trick, to kill little boy
for two plugs of tobacco Yes, it was.
Everybody says yes"
Just before the rope was placed around
his mock, he asked for g preacher to pray