The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-04-03

Pittsboro Record, March 27th.
The man about whom so much has
been said and written for several weeks
will no longer be known as James T.
Davis, but as William S. Shackelford-
his true name. Only one more day
remains for him in this life. To-mor-
row he dies, and will appear before a
Judge from whom nothing can be hid.
x 4 From letters received from South
Carolina we are enabled to give full
sketch of Shackelford' remarkable ca
reer, which reads more like a romance
than a real life. Born of wealthy pa
rents, he dies on the gallows. For
many years Minister of the blessed
Gospel, he dies a damned murderer.
Oh, what a warning!
William S. Shackelford was born in
Marion county, South Carolina, in the
year 1848, so that he is now AZ years
old. He is the only son Of Mr.. John
B. Shackelford, who before the war
was a man of wealth and good social
position, owning a large number of
negroes and valuable plantation. He
now resides near Galivant's Ferry, in
Horny county, together with his wife
and daughter Being an only son
William was much petted and fondly
INDUCED, and at an early age before
he was FL years old) he married Miss
Addie Potter, most excellent young
J lady Of Marion county. She with six
children is still living. After his mar
riage his father gave him farm and
he started out in life most happily and
auspiciously. To show how well con-
nected he is, we will mention that he
is closely related to one of the most
distinguished Judges now living in this
State, and their fathers families were
very intimate.
After farming few years he became
Methodist preacher, and in 1881
moved to Horny county, where he
preached and farmed. In 1884 he
obtained a license to preach as Free
Will Baptist. 1t was in that year that
he was guilty of the unnatural crimes
of incest, rape and murder. The vic
tim of his lust was his eldest daughter,
who was ruined by him under the
most revolving circumstances. A let,
ter has been received from an officer
at Georgetown which gives the full
particulars of this horrible crime, but
we will not further shock our readers
with its details Other crimes are said
to have been committed by him in
South Carolina, until finally in 1881
he was forced to flee from the State
and came to North Carolina, where he
assumed the name of James P. Davis
He has told us what he claims now
to be the true account of Mr.. Horton:
death, and which we have promised
him not to publish until next week
x x On last Sunday he wrote fare
we'll letter to his wife and children
and another to his parents and sister
: They are remarkable productions t.
emanate from SO guilty criminal, ane
forcibly remind us of the old saying
about the " Devil quoting Scripture.
By request we publish the letter to- hi
) parents and sister, as follows:
PITTsBoRo, N. c., March 20, 1890.
NY Dear Father, MotAe, and SIS
/ ter:-As this is the last Sabbath that
shall spend in this world, may l no
f spend at least part of it in writing t.
those to whom l owe my existence
though rendered miserable by my owl
{ misdeeds, and to whom l am indebted
f for the happy childhood l have en-
! joyed2 Not, my dear parents, that
! wish to inAict pain upon you by tn
, sad intelligence that this letter mus
bring, but that feel that it is dut
6 l owe to you with my latest breath t
a accredt you with having discharge
your duty toward me for we'll do
know that the fate which l must 500
meet is not the result of a failure o
! your part to have impaired to me tha
It scriptural instruction, and to have st
: before me that Christian exampl
S which if followed by me would nc
. only have exempted me from the un
K timely death that awaits me, but woul
! have corrected my actions, elevate
y my morals, and enabled me to enjo
a place in the higher circles Of life.
e feel, my dear parents, that am ne
n only my own destroyer, but tn;
e through the unprecedented sin an
e folly of my past life l will bring sham
Il and grief to all with whom l am col
e nected by the ties of nature; and tn;
It the disgrace that must inevitably lea
e to public execution of your poor mi
T. guided boy will tend to shorten yo'
days and bring your gray hairs to tt
grave in sorrow.
y Oh! that had never lived The
/ the hearts of those love most dear
> would never have known the bite
- pain that must fill each breast on at
1t count of the past follies and presel
l. doom of an only son, an only brothe
. loved and cherished husband, an
e an honored and respected fathe
Even now as l sit in my lonely &c
and write | can see the sad and tea
" stained faces of the aged parents, VIII
j, like David of old, are weeping tears
n bitterness because their Absalom
r. hung. The Lord in tender mert
r, look upon you and help you like j
,e to say, "The Lord taketh, blessed
,r the name of the Lord u
er Now, to you my dearest sister, WI
it art left alone to minister to the wan
E. of our kind and indulgent parent
may the Lord give you strength