Wichita eagle., 1888-03-23

MONTGOMERY, Ala, March 23.-Several
days ago the news was brought of the hor-
rible crimes that had been unearthed by a
coroner's investigation at Coal Hill, Ark,
and that Warden Gafford, who was
charged with fiogging several convicts to
DEATH had left the country to save his
neck. Detectives have been in this city
and to Greenville, Ala, in search of the
fugitive, but he is still at large and among
friends. The young man, John A. CAT
ford, against whom these grave charges
have been brought, is native OF
Alabama and member of one of the best
families in the state. He was born and
bred from babyhood to manhood at Green
vile, Butler county. His father was Major
Frank Gafford, who once represented
Butler in the general assembly OF Ala
bama, and who died twelve years ago.
Though still under 80 years of age, John
A Gafford has made record and a history
of his own, and in his own peculiar way Is
without match in Alabama. In his gen
eral character and makeup there Is re-
markable blending of the gentleman and
the daredevil, the good and the bad. About
eight years ago he went TO Newcastle,
Ala, where he obtained employment
as a guard oyer convicts in the coal
mines. BY his gentlemanly bearing and
good business qualities he raised himself
rapidly in the esteem and confidence OF his
employers. He was soon promoted from
the position Of guard to that OF travelling
agent for the company, and seemed to be
getting along splendidly; but he was given
to fits of dissipation, and finally had to
give up his place and leave Newcastle to
avoid prosecution for gambling. He then
went to Mississippi, where he was soon Ell
gagged in boSsing gang of men in the con-
Struction of new railroad.
In the course of few months he sud
denly returned to his home in Alabama,
and it was learned that he had gotten into
trouble in Mississippi and shot and killed
a negro. He next came to Montgomery,
and here he met l.. ID. Rouse, who en-
ployed him to Superintend the convicts on
the penitentiary farm in the river bottoms,
near Wetumpka. Gafford remained there
several months, was attentive to his duties,
and made fine impression, but he sud
denly left. saying that he had received
notice that papers for his arrest had been
sent from Mississippi to Birmingham, and
he had to get out of the way of the officers.
He then went west and located in Arkan-
saS, and his friends here supposed he was
doing well, until the news was brought of
the horrible crimes unearthed at Coal Hill,
and that Gafford had fled.
Gafford came straight back to Alabama,
spent two days in Montgomery and then
went to Greenville where be was lost sight
of His mother lives about five miles from
Greenville, in the country. Gafford has a
great many relatives in Butler county,
some of them influential citizens 1t is
also reported that Ma jor ID. q. Dunklin,
ex-senator from Butler, and a nephew of
Gafford, gave him horse and some money
to keep out of the way of the officers. and
he continued his flight through South
Alabama into Florida. 1t is generally be-
lieved however by those who know young
Gafford, that he is now keeping himself
close among his friend in But
Ter, county, where he feels safe
had won the reputation of being bold
and desperate fellow, but he always had
lived the life of a gentleman, and was
never known to do anything little or dis
honorable. He is decidedly intelligent,
and when sober his bearing was always
that which distinguishes full-bred gen
tleman. He is a man of nerve, and, while
he was never known to avoid difficulty,
it was only when under the influence of
whisky that he became vicious and
desperate and dangerous. When
last seen in his native state Gafford was
strikingly handsome in personal appear
ance He stood six feet tall, erect as an
Indian. had fair complexion and blue
eyes, black hair, and a sweeping black
mustache. In conversation he was enter
tanning, in manners polished and graceful.
He had wonderful way of making friends
and was always a favorite with ladies'.
Coroner Blythe, who led the investiga-
tion at Coal Hill, says that Gafford's life
and habits in Arkansas were in perfect
keeping with his reputation in Alabama.
He lived like gentleman, but was given
to fits of intemperance and dissipa-
tion during which he was exceed
ingly cruel and brutal. Despite his
intelligence and good breeding. the brutal
vein in his nature has made itself seen
and felt from childhood. The detectives
have not given up The game nor lost sight
of the S400 reward offered for Gafford's
capture, but they propose to go slow and
be cautious, and well they may.