The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-03-28
Written in His Own Blood.

CHARLESTON, W. Va, March IS The
following letter was received Wednesday
by Alf w. Burnett chief of the Eureka
Detective agency in this city, from William
II. Neal, who was hanged at Grayson, KY,
Friday. 1t was written in Meals own
blood:
MOUNT STERLING, KY, March IS, 1885 -
To MY FRIEND, DETECTIVE ALT W. BUR-
NETT: A true statement of my case: The
day of the 231 of December, 1881, | began
my work at the rolling-mil, Ashland, KY,
at l o'clock Henry Culber.son was my
partner in work. We worked upto O'Clock,
had supper and continued our work up to
five minutes to II. Our day work then be-
ing done we washed and wera ready for
home. Just here | wish TO speak in regard to
that old towel. 1t was not mine and Henry
Culbertson didn't dry his face on my towel
at all on the night of Dec %, 1881, and
positively declare that that old towel is not
my property. So the night of Dec. 23,
1881, lett the mill at ten minutes after u
and started for home walked about three
quarters of mile at night with dinner
bucket and a small lamp in hand; arrived at
homo about 1890 at night; knocked at tire
door; my wife opened the door; | en-
tered my house; ate q cold lunch and retired
with my wife and children. just as | re-
tired Miss Martha J. H0od, a young lady
",
up and sat down by the CRATE. | asked her
if she was sick and she complained of
neuralgia III the face. AT these words fell
asleep, as had done a hard days work and
felt tired. | slept soundIy up TO the dawn
of day. was then awakened by my wife
and Miss Martha j. Hood saying Glib
bons' house was on fire. dressed and ran
to the scene and rendered what assistance /
could. didn't ses Ellis Craft or George
Ellis the night Of the 23d Of December, 1881;
neither were they in MY mind. In fact,
didn't see any one on my way home from the
mill, Christmas | visited my father in law
in Catlettsburg. which distance is about five
miles from Ashland | went ont past the
cemetery, and jest beyond the cemetery
met Isaac McA!hster, John Hensley,
and Joseph Bartram at what is called
Chinn Coal Gate. Whilst | was talking
with those gentlemen Mrs Simmons came
out in her back yard. I did not see Ellis
Craft or George Ellis that Christmas Day,
and the above-namad gentlemen know as
we'll as | that Ellis Craft and George Ellis
were not on the Cemetery road that Christ
mas Day. larrivei ut my father in laws
at twenty minutes of II Christmas morning,
staii there till late in tie evening, and then
returned homa.
Neal then details the circumstances pre-
ceding his arrest, and concludes as follows:
| am innocent of the charge; | write this
to show how l have been treated by these
men-C Campbell, Heflin, and John Russell
and am satisfied they buildozei George
Ellis into making tie confession
Gentlemen, didn't commit the crime of
which | am charged, and say with truth
full heart that Heifin ana Campbell and
Russell are the sole cause Of nv death by
persuading Ellis ami paying Ellis to swear
against me Fellow-citizanS. | write this
with my own pen end seal it with my own
blood, for it is the truth. There is a day in
the future when my innocence will be
proven, and fnot on earth the God of truth
will certainly vindicate me, for he knows
am innocent "f the charge ANY confession
reported to lie made Ivy ne is false in every
particular WILLIAM T. NEAL.
The statement is sworn 10 before W. A
Dehavea.