The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-19
THE GREENVILLE MURDERER.
j. &, Williams Arrested in the Mountains
OF North Carolina,
Greenville News, I2th.7


The following brief telegram to Sher-
iff Gilreath from Deputy Sheriff J. D.
Gilreath, received at $40 o'clock last
night, announces that J. B. Williams,
the slayer of Major w. A. Williams, is
in the the hands of the law:
"WAYNEsvlLLE, n. c., Feb. II.
civilians arrested. Will be home
Friday on railroad.
81. D. GILREATH.n
The telegram gives no idea who MADE
the arrest, but it is supposed that
Deputy Sheriff Gilreath is the man.
MIR. Gilreath left here Monday morning
by himself, going to Travellers Rest on
the Carolina, Knoxville & Western
train. He got a horse and buggy from
DR.. B. F. Goodlett, telling him be did
cot know when he would be home.
From reports received here Tuesday
and yesterday, it was learned that J.
3. Williams spent Saturday night,
Sunday and Sunday night near Green
River church, in North Carolina, Just
at the further end Of the Gap Creek
gap in the Blue Ridge. He attended
church there on Sunday, and Monday
morning left in one-horse wagon for
the Tennessee line. 1t is supposed that
the deputy sheriff learned these facts
and kept on in hot pursuit. tits known
that after he crossed the mountains the
deputy sheriff took with him a man
named Freeman, one whom he could
depend on in an emergency, and fol-
lowed the trail. Close behind the deputy
sheriff were two other persons from
this city and beyond the officer, on the
Western North Carolina road, waiting
to see if the fugitive came that way,
was another man. There were also
several others out from Asheville, n.
c., and Gainesville, Ga, whose names
are not known.
All day yesterday it was known here
that all means Of escape were cut Off
except the recesses of the mountains,
and it was confidently predicted that
the capture would be effected by some
Of the men who were out. Tie pursuit
was eagerly and intensely discussed
wherever number of men happened
together and the widest rumors foated
around all day. Sheriff Gilreatb's
Office was eagerly besieged by people
anxious to hear if there was any news,
and the sheriff told everything he knew
or had heard.
Excitement ran high last night when
it was known that Williams had been
captured and it is safe to predict that 8, .
piece Of information never went over
the city faster. The people who did
not know of it some time during the
nigh were few. It was almost the
single topic of conversation everywhere
and the subject of general congratula-
5ion.
Chief Kennedy yesterday afternoon
finished the work of sending out the
description of Williams with the
amount of the reward offered for him.
Pasted on the circulars was small
photograph, taken from a photograph
made of Williams four or FIVE years
ago. 1t was a good picture and would
have enabled the officers in any place
to capture the man.
AS soon as the telegram rom the
deputy sheriff had arrived, telegram
was sent Governor Tillman asking him
if be had offered a reward in behalf of
the State, as it was thought the persons
who captured Williams should have
the benefit of it. The following tele-
gram was received last night:
"The proclamation Of $50 reward
will be sent to you tomorrow.
"B. R. TILLMAN."