Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-06-20

certify that the statement in the Amer
lean refusing to see You as my attor-
neys is not true, but on the other hand
| have desired to see you as my coun-
sells and friende at all times. This the
18th day of June clock
f"iu fri.ii.l and Client,
J. w. MORROW
THE CRIME.
The details OF the crime for which
William Morrow suffered the extreme
lienalty,.f the law are familiar to the
most % our readers, but it will not be
out of place To rvcapi,ullte them in
this article.
The man he murdered was negro
named Dick Overton: the crime was
committed sometime during the last
OF August. 1883 In May Of the fol-
lowing year a corpse, identified as that
of Overton, was found in Bellamy's
cave, near M.,rrow's residence 1t was
lying Oh Tie edge uf deep ditch that
runs through the cave, popularly
known as Heirs Hole.
Very shortly after the discovery of
the body Morrow WAS arrested. The
evidence against him was confessions
made to Jim Plccaud, r. L. Vaughn
and A. J. Hambrick, the last men,
toned being Morrow's father-in-law
1t appears that Overton had lived with
the Morrow family for 6 years and was
at the time he was killed employed by
Rams Morrow, Bills father. We give be-
low summary of Paccauds evidence
in the trial, which took place December
10th, 1884. He was the principal wit
ness for the prosecution, and the facts
as related by him is a pretty good his
tory of the crime.
live in Henderson and Paris, Tenn. /;
| lived in Dist, No. up to last Febru-
arv I knew the Morrows and Dick
Overton; lived two and half miles
from Ransom Morrow's. / rememb Der
the time when Dick Overton was miss
Ing; Bill Morrow told me some time
while the fall meeting was going on ut
Blooming Grove thHt he killed Dick
Ovprt'm. The Talk ionll place in my
field an the fence; he spoke. OF it sever
al times told me how he did it, Told
me how he got Dick to 90 STAY with his
children while he and his wife went to
preaching. He got sick and stayed at
home Alter las wife and others left,
Dick came; he went ont of doors, heard
Dick walking: went back to the house
and Dick said don't come in lie
Knocked Dick down, took the gun and
made him turn over and tied his
hands, loaded his gun, drove Dick to
the cave and shot him. The cave is
one half mile from Bills home. He
left the corpse there until next even
ing when he and Charlie Morrow, Bills
brother, put it in the hole | went in
to the cave last June with Edwards,
Shepherd, Howard and Edmnnd<on
and found the body in the cave. Bill
said if | ever told this he would kill
me, and if he didn't, some of his folks
would. Bill said he thought Dick told
him not to come in because he was
trying to commit rape on his. little
daughter, and that was the immediate
cause for killing him, but he had in
duced Dick to come to his house for
the purpose. He said Dick knew
heap and talked heap about his fam
lily and they wanted him out of the
way. Dick had lived at Rams. Morrow's
about years These were the only
reasons he gave me for the killing;
don't remember for certain where he
said his father was, think he said he
was over the river Said his father
owed Dick some 6fty or sixty dollars
and had gone over the river to get it.
The jury was out comparatively
short while after the Gaze had been
given to them and returned with a
verdict of murder in the first degree.
An appeal was taken to the Supreme
Court, the sentence confirmed, and the
time for the execution set for April
18th. Shortly afterward the Governor
granted reprieve of 60 days.
During that time petitions signed
by numerous people, including quite
number of colored citizens, were
sent to the Governor asking that the
sentence be computed to imprison-
ment for life. e Governor held the
matter under consideration for some
time but finally declined to interfere.
Morrow has very persistently assert
ed since his conviction that he killed
Overton for attempting to rape his
little daughter. This story isnot gen.
orally credited for several reasons.
The child was only three years old
The alleged attempt was made while
Morrow had gone out of the house to
be absent only a few minutes; the
murder was kept secret, which is
not usual in killings for such cause,
and, finally, similar excuse having
been given for previous murder,
which was also secretly done, it looks
like this was chronic plea.
At the trial it was claimed that Mrs.
Hambric could give evidence confirm
ing the plea OF attempted rape, but
when the court proposed to issue an
attachment for her and send buggy
to bring her to GAINESVILLE. the defense
declined to introduce her as witness.
BILL MoRROw'S CONFESSION.
DR.. Sears = Making statements Of this
kiIsG rs a very serious thing. This Is the last
statement that you will make that will go
TO the public, and IL becomes you to tell the
truth, the whole truth and nothing but the
Il
under the soiemnity OF the occasion inRyour
statements. We are Your friends and SYM
pathize with You.
Jim BROWN KILLING.
Fnslsoner-The FIRST thing ever heard OF
the attempted rape upon my sister. was
fro n DIR. Beiamy; he was at the horse-blOck
ct Blooming Grove church; was standing