Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-03-30
WRITTEN IN HIS BLOOD.
A Dying Statement From Vim. Neal
Protesting His Innocence.
DECLARING IN THE FACE OF DEATH
That He is Not Guilty Of the
Crime With Which He Was
Charged and
FOR WHICH HE SUFFERED DEATH.

CHARLESTON, W. Va, March 29.-The
following letter was received yesterday BY
Chief Burnett of the Eureka Detective
Agency of this city, from William Il. Neal,
who was hanged at Grayson, Kentucky,
Friday. 1t is written in Meals own blood.
The letter says:
Mr. STERLING, Ky, March 25, 1885.
To My Friend, Detective AlE W. Burnett:
A true statement OF my case: On the day
Of the 23d December, 1881, l began my
work at the rolling mill, Ashland. Ky. At
one o'clock Henry Culbertson was my part
ner in work. We worked up to six o'clock,
had supper and continued our work
up to i've minutes to twelve, our
days work then being done. We
washed and were ready for home.
Just here wish to speak in regard to that
old towel 1t is not mine, and Henry Gull
bertson didn't dry his face on my towel at
all on the night Of the 23d of December,
1881, and positively declare that that old
towel is not my property. So, on the night
of December 23d, 1881, left the mill ten
minutes after II and started home, walked
about three quarters of mile at night with
dinner bucket and small lamp in hand, ar
rived at home about halt-past twelve at
night, knocked at the door; mywife opened
the door, entered my house, ate cold
lunch and retired with my wife and chill
dren. Just as l retired, Miss Martha j.
Hood, a young lady that my wife had to
keep her company, got up and sat down
By the crate. | asked her if she was sick
and she complained of fneuralgia in the face.
At these words | fell asleep, as | had done
a hard days work and felt tired. | slept
soundly up to the dawn of day. / was then
awakened by my wife and Miss Martha j.
Hood saying Gibbons house was on fire.
| dressed aud ran to the scene and rendered
what assistance / could. didn't see Ellis
Craft and George Ellis on the night of 23d
Of December, 1881. Neither were they in
nv mind In fact, didn't see any one on
nv way home from the mill. Christmas |
visited my fsther.in-lay in Cstlettsburg,
which distance is about FIVE miles from
Ashland. / went out past the cemetery,
and Just beyond the cemetery / met Isaac
McAllister, John Hensly and Joseph Bar
from, at what s called Chin Coal Gate. Whilst
/ was talking with those gentlemen, Mrs.
Simmons came out in her back yard. |
did not see Ellis Craft or George Ellis on
that Christmas day, and the above named
gentlemen know as well as l. that Ellis
Craft and George Ellis were not on the
cemetery road that Christmas day. | ar-
rived at my father-in law 20 minutes Of
eleven Christmas morning, stayed there till
late in the evening and then returned home.
| arrived at home about dark Christmas,
STAYED at home all that night, as had to be
at work by o'clock the next morning. |
worked all that week at the mill, and the
following week | worked on the night turn;
and January ,, 1882, James Hettiin, in
company with another gentleman, came to
the mill and inquired if William Neal
worked there. told him my name was
William Neal. They said that John
Russell wanted to see me. | told him that
Mr.. Russell knew what had to do, and told
him to tell Mr.. Russell that would be down
lust as soon as / was done work, and they
said for me to 60 see M, Russo! at once,
and that l could "a &c back in ten or fifteen
minutes. So, | went down to see Mr.. Rus
sci at the Aldine Hotel-went up into Rus.
sells room, saw several persons in the room.
! asked Mr.. Russell what he wanted with me,
and he turned in his chair and said:
You are pretty fellow" l asked him
what he meant, and he said "for killing
those Gibbons children | said, "Mr.
Russell you are entirely mistaken, when
A. c. Campbell spoke and said, 81 guess
you did, for have a statement from man
Sho said you did. have the statement in
nv pocket, and / wrote it. told Camp
bell that it was lie, and the man that got
it up was liar. asked Campbell who
it was that made the statement but he
would not tell. / insisted on him to tell,
and then Campbsll read the So
called confession of George Ellis,
end said that l and Ellis Craft
came to his George EIis's) house be-
tween nine and ten o'clock the night of De-
cember 22d, 1881, and called him to go to
the Gibbons house. | wanted to see Ellis,
60 they allowed me to see him. Wewent in
the room where Ellis was. | asked him
what he lied on me for, and he muttered out
something In fact he was under the in
lluence Of liquor. attempted to strike
him, but was prevented. Russell saw that
George Ellis had lied, and he spoke of it at
the time. So, Campbell and HefHn fixed
Ellis's statement little later, and at last
they fixed the time as they thought would
DO. an innocent Of the charge, and l
write this to show how / have been treated
by these men, Campbell, Hettiin and
John Russell, and I am salts
fed they bulldozed George Ellis
into making the confession. Gentlemen, l
didn't commit the crime of which / am
charged, and say with truthful heart that
Hetliin and Campbell and Russell are the
sole cause Of my death, BY persuading and
paying Ellis to swear against me- Fellow
citizens write this with nv own pen, and
seal it with my own blood, for it is truth,
and oh! there is day in the future when
my innocence will be proven; and if not on
earth, the God CT truth will certainly vindi.
cate me, for be knows am innocent of the
charge. Any confession reported to be
made by me is false in every particular.
WN. H. NEAL.
Sworn to before me this March 25th,
1885. BY the said W. H Neal.
W. A. DIS HAVEN,
Ex. NJ. Co., Ky.