Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-28
HUNTING & NEGRO.
A Fiend Threatens the Woman Whose
Husband lie Murdered.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Sept. 27.-About one
year age Thomas Williams, mail con-
tractor and carrier between Houcks post
office and Decatur, was ambushed and as
saulted by some unknown party. The
deed was committed within a mile of
Williams house, near Houcks, in Morgan
county. and as he was returning home.
Williams, though mortaIiy wounded,
chung to his saddle and fell lifeless at the
gate leading to his home. His wife
witnessed the scene as he fell from his
he was dead The coroner's jury exhaust
ed every means in its power to ferret out
the assassin, but without success.
A negro named Thomas Haywood. work.
ing on Williams farm, was suspected and
arrested Some little girls. testified that
they saw the negro Haywood run
ming through the woods in his coat
sleeves near the scene Of the murder the
evening it was committed. The negro
proved an alib by Mrs. Williams her.
self, who testified that Haywood could not
have been at the murder, because she had
seen him at the wood pile with his coat on
at the time Haywood was released and
the murderer was not discovered.
Mrs. Williams continued to reside on
her husbands farm, Haywood still work.
ing there, occupying cabin on the place.
ished her evening meal, ard was sitting at
table reading some papers when the
negro suddenly appeared at her door with
a revolver III his hand. Taking a chair
near door, cutting off retreat, he stated
he had come to say to her that she
must agree to sell out the farm, and go
with him north, and marry him, and that
if she did not agree to this he would Kill
her then and there. Mrs. Williams had In
the house a fine breech loading shotgun
ana knew how to use IL but the negro had
placed himself between her and the
weapon. Feeling herself in his power, she
began TO temporze with him and SEEM
ingly assented to his proposition. The
negro embcldened by what he believed her
ready compliance. grew talkative and con-
iideutial, and to the startled and Mortified
woman said he had tricked all of
them; that he knew who killed her hus-
band. He had shot him aud fooled her by
sUuiling his hat and coat with straw end
rigging them no on the woOdpile to de
ceive her, and the disguise mad worked SO
successfully that Mrs. Williams herself
had been his strongest witness and
cleared him. But he did the shooting.
and was going to Kill her if she did not
agree to 20 of and marry him.
After Dragging about how he had
killed her husband and concealed his
crime and cautioning her not to
Mentlon 1t, unUef pam OF ElSlanJ ueaIn,
he left for his quarters. Mrs. VII
liams passed Il sieepless night. She barri-
Caded the doors ana kept her shotgun
ready to fire Oh the black brute if he should
come again. The next morning she went
to the nearest magistrate and swore out Il
warrant for the negroes arrest. I his was
placed in an officers hands and the news
of the negroes confession and insoent de-
mauds soon spread. \ number of resolute
men soon gathered and went TO Mrs. Will
iam'S home, but the negro had gone.
Circumstance or premOnitiCn warned the
black brute that he was in danger and be
fed.
Tom Marshall of the firm of Marshall &
Phillips. OF Decatur, heard OF the affair
and knowing Mrs. Williams well, armed
himself, and, with posse, has been Scour-
ing the woods ii the vicinity Tor the fiend
Tor several days, but as get without avail.
Tuesday, white the posse away, a letter
came warning her to advise Marshall and
his men TO leave or they would meet the
same fate as Williams. Late reports state
that the posse once corraled the negro in
a swamp and fred on him, but he made
his escape, though believed to be badly
wounded. Morgan county is thoroughly
aroused, and If caught the Negroes fate can
lta iInasrin.;