The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1883-06-07
The Deroor Murderers Arrested.

The DeFoor Murderers Arrested
A negro man named Joe johnson, Twin
in Macon for the last two years, has jus
confessed that he, Tom Savinger and Johl
Brown, both negroes, are the murderers 0
old man DeFoor and his wife, four year
ago, at the Chattahoochee Ferry, in Fulton
county. 1t seems that johnson talked il
his sleep, reviewing the bloody tragedy
and the woman he lived with prevailed up
| on him to unburden his conscience and tel
her of the affair He did so, and gave hel
| the names of his two confederates in the
preparation of the crime. The story alarm
ed the woman and she repeated it to some
friends, and the result was it finally reached
the ears of Capt. John Hurley, who invoked
the aid of Lieut.. WHY, Of the Macon police
force Mr. Bridges Smith also was cogniz
ant of the secret, and the negro Johnson
was arrested and he made clean breast Of
| it. giving the names and homes of his part
ners in the crime. Upon enquiry they
found that Tom Savinger was living in Full
ton county, working on farm in one mile
of the scene of the murder, and John Brown
was living near HogansviIle, in Troupe
county. The arrest Of these parties was
quietly made last week and they were
placed in Atlanta Jail. On Saturday they
had their preliminary trial. Johnson s
written confession he adhered to, which is
as follows:
81 saw the cutting. 1t was done with an
axe he had in his hand which he brought
around the house. He was standing in the
yard by the potato hill. 1t was John Brown
a colored wood cutter. Cuts for Mr.. Moore
He is heavy built, very black, little taller
than | am, eyes red. Tom Savinger is a
black man, about your build, shutters, and
think has a tooth out in front. Farms on
Widow Deans place. Tom held the match
about ten or twelve O'Clock. Cutting was
done while match was burning. They
came after me after ii stopped raining and
said let's go fishing. got up and started
with them. We went down the State road
We got down to Mr.. DeFoor's crossing.
They said let's go this way, l said what
for They said hole they wanted to fish
in, and when we got against Mr.. DeFoor's
house all stopped. John Brown says here
is good chance to get some money, and |
said am afraid to risk it. Tom said, all
right, we will get it. Both said there is
no use in your pulling back, you have got
to go. | said, if [ am compelled to go, |
will 60, but will suffer a lick before will
give one. | said | would 60 in the yard,
but ii you attempt murder | am going to
run, and they picked the kitchen door open,
and as they got the door open both slipped
off their shoes, and in they went in the
room where the old folks were sleeping.
All three went in the room together. The
old folks were sleeping. Brown cut them
with an axe-cut their throats. Tom struck
the match, and then the cutting was done.
After the cutting was done we went to the
front door and listened, and then come back
and lit the lamp When they lit the lamp
and picked up the pitcher that had the
money in it, and brought it out doors. L
saw the pitcher They had it in the yard
/ was at the fence. They set it down, one
on one side the pitcher, and one on the other
side | was outside the yard. | saw moths
ing more of them in three days. | was
living at the railroad shanties, working by
the dav. When | saw Brown | met him
on the railroad, and he said to me, What
YOU yet. l never met Brown any more
until the day before 1 left Atlanta, He
said 4 will pay you visit some night un
beknowing to you, am not satisfied with
you l then left Atlanta.
Savinger, in his statement to the court
denied being party to the crime, and al
legged that he never saw johnson until
brought face to face with him in the Atlan>
ii calaboose He had but little TO say and
said that little in an incoherent way.
Brown, like Savinger, declared that he
had never seen johnson, and that he had
had but little acquaintance with Savinger
Capt Hurley and Lieut.. WHY claim that
they have circumstantial proof and other evf''
dence that will sustain Johnson confession.
The rewards offered by private parties and
Governor Colquitt foot up about 81, 900.