Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-05-05
AIERRIRLE CONFESSION.
The Hanging Of Hiram Jefferson Near
Audubon, Ia, Saturday Morning.

The following Is the statement of
Cicero Ii. Jefferson in full as made
under oath my name is Cicero Ii.
Jefferson. j was twenty-five years
old the 10Th day of this month. re-
side in Carroll county, Iowa; formerly
resided in Audubon county. was
acquainted withlHiram Jefferson. He
was my father. The last time 1 saw
him was Friday night, the 25thi saw
him under circumstances of murder. j.
j. Wilson and John A. Smyth were the
leading ones who committed the muir
der. Wilson, Smyth andmyself are the
ones who did IL. We left the resi-
dence of J. j. Wilson, in Carroll coun-
ty, about s o'clock Friday evening.
| Smyth rode his own horse and Will
son and / rode Wilson's horses. We
tied our horses to trees few rods
northeast of the houses. We stopped
there and laid plans how we
would proceed. Wilson took the rope
which he had brought and Smyth
and Wilson burst the door open and
we all went inside. We then went to
the bed and pulled father out.
FEATHER said; Cicero, Is that You?
Nobody answered. Mo her said NO,
is that John Smyth?'
"They brought him to the front
room and choked and sniothered nm,
and took the rope out OF my hands ana
put it on fathers neck. Father begged
of us not TO hurt him. We had the
rope on him and started out doors win
him, and went dragging nm along ny
the neck, | had hold OF the END OIL
the rope and Smyth and wilson were
behind.
GAS we were dragging him along pa.
said: Don't John; don't hurt me So
Wilson stopped and frightened the rope
and John and / pulled him along.
"When we got. to the tree Smytil
threw one end of the rope over iiInl
and / helped him pull father up, WI
, son taking hold and lifting the BODY
, until we got ii clear from the ground
When we got him. up we tied MI
. hands behind him and wound the ,rop'
around his body, but don,
, know Just how. thini
!, he was about dead then, as b.
OILY kicked once or twice after we 90
him up. Wilson tore fathers snir
open and tied II over his head. IN
shirt was the only clothing he haa on
We stood around a few minutes ant
s Smyth and Wilson put on their over
a coats. and we undid our horses AM
mounted them aud rode oil. wear
y rived at Wilson's at ten minutes pst
y four Saturday morning. II was qu''
y daylight. ,4 ,,,d
d night. We took handkerchieis an
% cut holes In them for the eyes ana o.
AMI wore them over our faces u
masks. threw mine into the sto ,'
and burned II after ] got nome, ",
i son bought the rope al Coon nap, :
= one week ago last Saturday that
y used TO hang father with. Iiiey IN
ne been talking ~ me about hapgin
q father for about week or Ten aay
IA Int / objected and q
8, not wanted 10 help do II. nmyI
ne came to Wilson's Friday morning An
re we agreed TO go that night IN "a.
told me they would make away Wy w
me after they got back thai nignt y
did not go along with them ana ne
l. them. John Smyth said we had pei,
40 90 that night, as II was dark ana y
- roads were good, and we could Z
y, hack before morning. ] told the
~ we would get into trouble ana
w arrested, but they said we could
~ and get back before daylight ~
60 to work in the morning as ,isu'
and no one would rnistrust US. ! we
ly against my will, but told them
ed would 20, and they made arfan!
d: meuts when TO meet and about vi
time. There was no light at JON