The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-23
THE LETTER THAT HE WROTE.
The Link in the Chain Wanted to Con-
Wet "Wm.," Alias John Love

The Link in the Chain Wanted to Con-
Wet WIN" Alias John Love.
THAT was rather a strange case" said
Solicitor General duBignon, to a MORNING
News reporter, in a chat over the Love
murder trial
| Why wasn't Love convicted under such
a strong chain Of circumstancial evidenoef
the solicitor general was asked
We'll there was one link missing, he
| replied. The state failed TO prove
death by violence. There we're no marks
| Of violence on the body of Mamie Thomp-
klns when she was taken from the water.
| The hypothesis of suicide was not an un
reasonable one for jury TO take, and yet
| there were circumstances connected with
the case which made it look Suspicious, and
then he went on TO renew them.
Love was last seen pursuing the woman.
She was never seen alive after that night.
a week later he applied at the house where
Mamie roomed, saying that she was room
ing with him in Namacraw, and she had
sent him for her trunk and clothing. The
| body had not been found, but the Pines
woman, who had been TO Loves room,
found she had not been there Besides
when Love ran Mamie from the house she
went away with her bonnet When taken
| before Justict Molina he denied either of
the visits TO the Pines cabin, although in his
statement he confessed both visits But the
most damaging evidence was the UNIQUE
letter he wrote to the colorei woman,
Nancy Harris, after his incarceration in the
Jail, and of which he never attempted to
make any explanation in his statement to
the jury. In the letter he wanted Nancy
Harris to swear that she saw Mamie
Thompkins and Lula Johnson together,
when by the testimony Of both Nancy and
Lula on the witness stand it would have
been untrue As piece of shrewdness and
llliternte curiosity il is worth reproducing
The solicitor general then handed the letter
to the reporter for verbatim copying, say
ing: at Is not the kind Of letter an limo
cent man would write 1t reads as fol-
lows:
SAVANNAH, March 10, 1888
Miss Harris. Capt Usina was down to the
jail to see me on Sunday, He will come back
to see me on Thursday. He told me to write
this 20 you and tell you don't be afraid TO say
what | want you to say. No one can trouble
boat to see him. He will tell you what to do.
What just want you TO say Nancy is that you
seen Lula and Mamie together the first Sunday
night in January about O'Clock They was
coming from my room and you was going
Bro BOwles house and it was about o'clock
when you seen them. Nancy if you is friend
to me Nancy for Gods sake Nancy show it to
me please by writing to me Nancy. dear Nancy.
was true to you and will be again,
if he gets OF, as long as l lives
in this world. So good-by Nancy till you write.
hope you will send good news Nancy Please
write by Wednesday il you please | want You
to come and bring me something to eat, and
put your letter in the bottom Of your bucket,
and put your dinner on il and ask Mr. Knchley
10 let you see me. Dear
Nancy don't forget what l say. | ask you TO
come yourself to bring it to me my dear Nancy.
Please let no ono read this but Bro Bowles
he Dat, liar
first Sunday night in January about s o'clock
First Sunday night in January. Don't forget
about O'Clock.
Love has wife living up the Savannah
river, who, when Loves household goods
here were attached, came down to the city,
claimed and was given the household
effects. John" in the letter is the name
by which Nancy knew Love, and the first
Sunday night in January at about O'Clock
was after the time Love was seen in pur
suit Of the woman. No wonder the solicitor
general says lit is a strange case"