The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-27
EDGEFIELD'S JAIL BIRDS IN ARkAN-
SAS.
How the Town Authorities of Brinkley Let
Carpenter and Murrell Escape.
TEdgefeld Chronicle.

close Of last year, in company with his
neighbor, Mr.. w. e. Witt-the man
who sent the kilograms to Sheriff QUITS
concerning the arrest Of Carpenter and
Murrell-or the two men supposed to
be Carpenter and Murrell. Mr.. D. NJ.
Butler, and we are much obliged to
him-sends US this letter for publica-
ton. The action Of the town authori-
ties of Brinkley seems to us to have
been very loose and Irresponsible.
"MAGNoLIA, ARK, Jan. ., $50.
"Dear Father You requested me to
write and give you correct statement
about myself and Mr.. w. c. Witt cap
turing whom be believed to be Murrell
and Carpenter will do so as far as
far as my recollection serves me:
"a man we supposed to be Murrell
got on the train with us at Atlanta, Ga.
He came into the coach where we We're;
he seemed to be in trouble: The first
morning he did not have much to say,
except that he was going to Greenville,
Texas. He then said to Mr.. Witt that
he was III trouble, that he had been
under arrest, and that he would die be-
fore he would be arrested any more.
Then I and Mr.. Witt began to suspi-
cion him. We told him we were from
South Carolina. He said, 4 am too
He then asked us..where we were going.
I told him to Arkansas. He then
seemed to have great deal to talk
about.
"After he had already told us that
he was from South Carolina, he then
said he was from York County, North
Carolina. He told US different tales as
to what be was in trouble about. The
first evening I was sick and did not
have much to say to him. Mr.. Witt
told me next morning Of some things
he said to him. First one and then the
other of us would question him. He
would then tell me certain things, and
then contradict them by telling Mr..
VIII SOmeCQlnS else.
We got to Memphis about day. Muir
rell had tickets for another route, but
could not leave until II o'clock that
day. Rather than lay over, he pur-
chased another ticket to 60 on the train
that we were on. At Memphis, Car
penter got aboard the train, but we did
not know it until we were crossing the
Mississippi River. Then saw Murrell
in the boat. AS soon as we got across
the river, I told Mr.. Witt that was
going to look for Murrell. found him
in the next coach to US, and Carpenter
with him. They had changed mats
and seemed to be in dread. Murrell
took me to be friend Of his, and asked
me to take seat by him. told him I
did not have time just them.
There was man that came to where
we were and said he had good pistol
and plenty OF money, and that if he
could see the parties he was looking for
he would be all right. The man then
went out from these boys. Murrell then
took out his pistol, and said, If that
man comes back in here, and pulls out
his pistol, I will shoot him. He asked
me if I had a pistol; told him no.
Carpenter then said to me, See here,
I have got a good one.' They
seemed to be very much excited. Muir
rell said to'Carpenter, Keep my car
pet-sack until I go back in yonder.'
Carpenter asked me to stay there with
him. told him I must go back to
help my wife take care of our little
children.
"When got back where my family
was, Murrell was in there talking to
Mr.. Witt, who asked him to let him
see his pistol. He pulled it out, but
said he would not let any one take hold
of unless he first took out the car
tridges. We then decided it was Muir
rell and Carpenter. They kept asking
me if I knew now far it was to Brink
ley, that they were going to get off at
- Brinkley. We then went to the con-
doctar and got him to telegraph to the
marshal at Brinkley to meet us there,
that there were some suspicious persons
on the train whom we wished to arrest.
Two policemen met Us promptly at the
train. and one of them walked in at
one end of the car, and Mr. Witt and
the other one went in at the other eNd.
We went up to them, presented our
pistols at them, and told them hands
up Murrell had bis pistol in his hand
between his legs; he let it fall to the
floor.
We then started with them to the
guard-house. Murrell said be would
give one hundred dollars if they were
loose. We searched them, but found
only about two dollars with them.
We then telegra phed to Sheriff QUITS
about dark, describing them. There were
about twenty-five persons who went in
to look at them. We all agreed that
the description suited them. We then
telegraphed to Sheriff QUITS to come
and identify the prisoners. We wanted
to go on that night, so We made ar
rangements with the marshal to hold
them until Sheriff QUITS could have
time to get there. The marshal prom
ised US he would hold them. We put
confidence in him. Wethen went and
saw the mayor Of the town, and asked
him for advice III the matter. The
mayor told US to leave them in the
hands of Marshal Johnson, that he was
a responsible man. Let Marshal
johnson carry them over to Helena
iaiI Tomorrow morning" Johnson