Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1891-09-19
HaifOrd's Deposition.


which follows.
HailOrd's Deposition.
NuRTH CAROLINA,
Rutherford county
Samuel HnIIord being duly sworn de
poses and says: FIRST myscii and Mr.
Willis started from Del Rlu, East Ten
nessee Cooke county, and came by rail
road to Black Mountain station, on the
night train. Arrived at Black Mountain
station about IL O'Clock. We lett the
railroad and crossed the Blue Ridge
and down Broad river and got to Widow
Eary's about an hour before day Sun
day morning, and STAYED there all day
Sunday until thrce-quartcrS OF an hour
IN the night Then lett there III company
with Mr.. Willis and no one else In
about ten minutes we got to Buffalo
church. At the church or near the church
we met John Stewart. and MIR, Stew
art met according to previous arrange
ment. Mr. Willis knew nothing OF my
and Mr.. Stewards arrangements and
Stewart left Mr.. Willis at the church.
and Stewart went from church to Sam
uel Elliott's. Stewart went in the house
and got the money; | was in the yard
and then went in the piazza, some time
after Stewart went in the house Stew.
art came out with the money. Stewart
and went together, about one and a
halt miles, towards the church. Then |
and Stewart parted after dividing the
money. | received sixty-thr,e dollars;
what received was all silver money,
and a few dollars of old Spanish coin
extra, and then | went alone to the
church. There found Mr.. Willis lying on
= bench. did not divide the money will,
Mr.. Willis. | owed Willis some money
and paid that, and then he borrowed
some money from me | let Willis have
some ut the old coins. told him il he
could pass them he could have half what
he got for them. Mr.. Willis did not know
where got the money that | let him
have. never did tell Willis where got
the money until week or two before oul
trial at Rutherford court. made tht
al Will oNNN N'Al t''|iN liz u
OF November, 1888, at Ashcvillc, \. c., tc
meet mt at Buffalo on or about the lOtl
OF November, 1888. We met near Buffalo
on the night OF the 1lth of November
1888, and went and got the money.
and Willis went back to Black Mountain
on Monday morning the 10Th of Novem
ber, 1888, and took the train Tor Del RlU
| Tenn. John Stewart, that went with m
/ to Elliott's, was tair complexion, gra
ewes, black hair, a small mustache, whlc
was black, and not quite as tall as Wi
lis, weighs about 40 pounds. lie locke
as though he was not more than % q
"a years of age. have not seen Stewa
since we parted that night OF the robbinl
Samuel HaHUrd.
Sworn to and subscribed before III
July Sth, 1889.
(Seal,D c. Burnett, ], P.
NORTH CAROLINA.
Rutherford County.
|, K. W. Logan, clerk of the superiC
court OF said conntv, do certify that
Burnett, whose signature appears to Il
foregoing affidavit, is an acting justice
| llC DNdNC III dhd Ol lNS N'uhNN anu Slh
aforesaid.
Witness my hand and seal of said cou
Iuly 8, 1889. r. w. Logan, {. S. {.
]. Nj. Gudger, jr, esq, OF this city, wi
was attorney tor Willis, says that Will
story on the stand was substantially Il
same as that told by Haltord in this at
davit.
. Further Facts.
Willis and Haliord, as already told
THE IirI:EN, had been sentenced to
hanged for this crime. Mr.. Gudger hi
been employed to 20 to Raleigh al
plead for a communication of the senten
of Willis. He was employed by Will
father, an honest, well-to-do and favo,
bly known farmer i'll East Tennessee.
Mr.. Gudger has never seen young w
lis. He knows that he was consider
somewhat wild, but had never be
known to commit any crimes; in fat
was only thought oi as one who W
Sowing his wild oats,
- Mr.. Gudgcr went to Raleigh to int
ccde with Governor Fowle for the co
mutation Of the sentence. He was ar
ed with the confession made by Haliol
, but upon representations of Halfor,
! friends, who knew the confession cot
only result in getting Haliord deeper in
the mire, probably inrieiting all
chances for life, the affidavit was neN
presented.
Mr., Gudser made long hard 6l
for Willis, and finally the sentences of I
Il. men were commuted. The attort
came home and filing his valuable pal
with his other documents dismissed
2. case from his mind, until it was brous
- back by the story in THE CITIZEN.
Fate Pursued Him.
] Mr.. Gudger is thoroughly famil
!" with the case, and says Will
rs 10 far as he knows, never e'
N thought of making confession.
stoutly protested his innocence, and
doubt does to this day, if one could
to his lonely cell and question him,
When the robbery occurred, Willis '
|. only 20 years old. He drank. and y
Z. as stated, considered Wild, He was's
Y. on the train with Ifalford, getting on
II Del Rio, Tenn, aud off 1t Black No
4 tain. Thay had been seen together .