The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1890-03-21
MURDERER ''DAVIS."
HE CONFESSES THAT HE is VIII.
LIAM SHACKELFORD

LIAM SHACKELFORD
Who Has the Blacklist Record..That
Can Attach to a Human Beins-.A
Recital of His Crimes--SOme Whims
and Eccentricities of the Doomed
Man--He Writes Letters and Poetry.
Especial to the STATE CHRONICLE
PITTsBoRo, March 2O.-J. P. Davis, the
man who is in Jail here under sentence
of death, for the murder of J. D. Hor-
ton, now confesses that his name is Will
liam Shackelford, who is wanted in
South Carolina to answer charges of
incest, infanticide and general deviltry.
No petitions will go to the Governor for
communication of his sentence. There
is now consensus of opinion that he
ought to hang, and the sheriff will GER
tainly execute the extreme penalty of
the law upon him on March 2Sth.
Since the murder of Horton by Davis,
gradual Developments have proved that
his
Record is One of the Blacklist
that ever attached to being with the
semblance of humanity.
The crimes of William Shackelford, to
whose identity Davis (so-called) now
confesses are almost too repulsive and
horrible to mention. He was origi-
nall ly from Marion county, South Caro-
lima. While he lived there he seduced
his own daughter, who was at the time
very young,
The outraged community then sought
him there to measure out justice to him
| and he fled into Georgetown county,
carrying his daughter with him. While
| there he
| Killed His Daughters Child.
He was charged with this fearful
crime and justice again sought him,
when he fled into Horny county and
took up his residence in the Lake
Swamps, about twenty miles from Con-
way. This is an isolated and unfre-
quented place, and he remained there
many months before he was found out.
He was finally discovered and identified
and again he fled northward into North
Carolina.
These facts are taken from letter
written by Sheriff Sessions, of Horny
county, under date of March
10Th, 1890. He says the last advices
he had concerning Shackleford was
that he was making his way toward
Fayetteville.
Why He Made His Confession.
The circumstances which led Davis
, to make his confession are about as fol
lows:
While on trial for the murder of Hor
ton, he stated that he left Horny county
South Carolina, about three years ago
This statement led the officials of Chat
ham county to make inquiry of th
! officials of South Carolina concernin,
the man. They wrote in full giving
description of ''Davis," and repestin,
, his statements. The sheriff of Horr,
. county replied to the effect that n
such family as 'Davls" described ha,
ever been in that county. The sherit
said further, II have given the matte
a good deal of thought and consulte,
: with others about it, and my conclusion
: is that the man you have is name,
i William alias Will Shackelford, VIII
was raised in the adjoining county t
|
: for the crimes above named,
!: 1t is stated that Davis lost all hop
= + and spirit and settled down in ute
i despair of his life for some time afte
he heard the verdict of the jury in hi
trial. Later ON his spirits revived, bu
he has never entertained any hope c
escaping the gallows since the sentenc
ofdeath was pronounced upon him. The
Il the facts concerning his real identit
were mentioned to him, and under th
influence of despair for his life, he mad
his confession.
o Shackelford is a man of no mea
q mental capacity. He was regarded 6
= an eloquent preacher while in Sout
e Carolina. He preached on several O,
/ casions while in the employment (
t. Horton, whom he murdered. Since b,
ing in Pittsboro Jail he has write
great numbers of letters and lots
:. poetry. A great many people ca
to see him, and he writes rhymes an
II doggerel for their amusement viii
long streak of verse describing WI
and how he killed Horton. This
:, scription was in keeping with the e1
IT Qenco ne gave Oh Cuo StanQ-GnaL
h. killed Horton in self defence.
f. Sample Letter and Verse.
r Just before he confessed his identit
rv Shackelford wrote the following lette
- which is taken from the Chatha
q. Record:
'i5 Mr.. ED1ToR:-While I have nothil
~ with which to compensate those VI
no have labored for my temporal as we'll
VI " spiritual welfare. 1 wish to be allow
~ ~ the pleasure, through this medium,
~ ~ giving vent to the feelings of hes
~ ~ filled with love and gratitude to all W
sf on may have been thus engaged.
-. ~ would say for the qualification
ng my dear counsellors, that while the
- ~ was gratuitous labor, it was here
VII and manly effort for one who had det
In en- mined to stand by the truth though
'he resulted in his death. May they 10
live to plead the cause of the innocs
and the oppressed in the land.
1 wish to extend the gratitude of