Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-04-03

He believed her faithful to him, had no
cause to suspect her. and was never
jealous of her until the night before the
tragedy as Sc: forth IN the evidence.
He details some reasons that aroused
his iealously then that have not
in evidence, but they are i'm
material: but what is of more impor-
tance he insists, with his hand raised and
with a solemn appeal to his Maker, in
the view that he is about to die and
that the declaration can avail him moth
ing, that he did not 60 to Davis house
with the intention to harm Jennie; and
that he did not take the pistol with
him. He admits that he was crazed
with jealousy; but he says that he only
went there to break off his liaison with
the woman, land to demand of her $50 OF
his money that she had; that they quar-
relied and that she drew the pistol upon
him and that he wrenched it from her,
and that in his frenzy the shooting fol-
lowed. This is his story-he insists
upon it-against it the the evidence ia
now reprinted and may be weighed.
1t is a solemn thing to reach
verdict as to the extent of this
mans guilt. We do not feel at
liberty to withhold his statement,
aud giving it we believe it is necessary
to also give the evidence upon
which two juries decided that he was
guilty of premeditated mnrder Even
then, as Judge Ryland said in his
second sentence, it is not to be taken
for granted that a murderer may
not repent and save his soul. He says
with great emotion, that not her friends,
not even her aunt who brought her up,
and not even her mother, can regret
the death of Jennie by his hand as he
does, tor that he loved her as none of
them did. That she had over him an
influence that no other person ever
welded. Though only a condemned
negro, to expiate, to-day, with his life
the crime which he committed against
his Goo, against the woman and against
society, may we not draw the mantle
of charity about the frailties of this
fellow creature, remember his virtues
as attested by his many friends of both
races, and pray and trust that his re-
pentance and hopes of forgiveness may
not DO as so many sneeringly believe in
such cases, a delusioD and sham.
Let justice receive her sacrifice in his life
as it passes out on the scaffold; but may
that mercy which passeth mans UNDER
standing usher the poor creature into
new life where temptation may not as-
sail and sin may never enter.
JEFF AS HE Is NOW.
Jeff Wilson when in active life was
five feet eleven inches high, roundly
built, weighed 165 pounds, and pos
sessed frank ana open countenance.
He has changed very little since his inn
While he still looks full
in the face he will probably weigh a
little less than he did. Other " ise he
seems about the same. He says his
health has boen better since the su-
preme court refused hlm new trial, as
from that time mis- mind was at
peace,he knew what he had
to expect and his nerves we're
steady. Until about last Sunday
he did not as a general thing seem to be
much concerned about himself, unless
hfs mother called to see him, or unless
the subject of religion was mentioned.
He would converse with his visitors in
a friendly, nonchalant way, laughing
heartily at times. Since Sunday, how
ever, he has begun more to realize his
situation. HIS brow is wrinkled with
care, and his conversation more seri-
Gus. Even before Sunday he would at
times be strongly agitated, and some
times at night his earnest prayers
would awake the jailer; but he
would, when before others, endeavor
to appear cheerful. He has asked
Rev. DR.. Howard to preach
his funeral some time in June. He
wants to thank Messrs. Buford
Chinn and AL. Johnson for kind
nesses shown him, and Messrs.
Young & Hall, his attorneys, for their
earnest and able defense. He says he
is in charity and love with all men and
that he does not cherish harsh feeling
against anyone. He declined, always
and positively, to have his picture taken
for public purposes, out of considera-
tion for his mother, in whose behalf he
earnestly asked the consideration of
the press and of the public. In nearly
every conversation he evinces his at.
fection for bis mother. When she call
ed on him, last Saturday, he told her
not to grieve for him; that death was
nothing-a mere stepping from one
world to another-that the time of
taking the step mattered little; and
that in little while she would be there
too. She might doubt it, but she need
not, he would be there awaiting her.
Negro as he is; in prison and behind
bars; condemned for murder, and soon
to die upon the gallows, his speech was
as brave and manly and eloquent as
any we have heard for years, and not
one Of the dozen persons who stood
about and heard it but was impressed
by its simplicity, strength and earnest
ness. There has not been up to this
time cowardly fear evinced by him.
JENNIE sanford.
ennie Sanford was born in Dover
township in this county in 1861. Her
name was Lou Robinson, but
Jennie lived for while with her aunt
Rena Sanford, and was known by her
sir-name. She was an octoroon, near
ly white, Of slender build, graceful
form and passable features. She lived
here until she was about 10 years old,
when she went west with her mother,
who lived at various places in Nebraska
NJ RI HDlo