Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-09-22
R. P. WILLIS'S CASE.
the CURIOUS STORY or A MAN ONCE
SENTENCED TO BE HANGED.
NE b Now Serving . Life Sentence In the
Nsrsh Carolina renitsntiary-An
Andavit and . Strange Letter.

NV NS'o''P'uk "nCu SiNc fOui1htsc ~
terest to the fate OF a young man by name
Of X. Z. Willis. lie is twenty three years
old. OF well-to-do and respectable parents
IN East Tennessee. and IL now serving a
life sentence in the North Carolina peni-
tentiarv for the double crime Of burglary
and robbery alleged to have been CON-
mitted In Rutherford county three years
ago. Previous 10 the crime OF which he
was convicted he had never been known
10 commit any crime. but he drank and
was considered somewhat Wild. lie had
Ut one time been newsboy on the rail-
road. One Samuel Halford was convicted
with him OF tho same crime. and both
were sentenced to be hanged. but subse-
quentiy their sentences were committed.
TIL. CRIME.
II appeared at the trial that Halford and
onother man supposed at the time to have
been Willis went 10 the house of two old
people by name Of Elliott, near Bulalo
church. in the nighttime. and while Hal
ford remained outside tho other man
forced an entrance and demanded Of tho
Old people their money. which he obtain
g.. Some Of the money was found on the
person If Willis He denied all knowledge
Of the crime and stated that the money
found upon his person was paid to him by
daford, who owed hlm
suDDEs LIZ sICE.
Hnlforti at the trial va. about TO testify
when suddenly he became deathly sick and
and did not do so.
After the men were sentenced TO be hung
Oil affidavit was made Icy Haliord and
gwen TO Hon. II. A. Gudger, of this city.
who was counsel for Willis to he used for
the latter's benefit in ia effort for commu-
tation. but II was deemed Toy the friends OF
Halford 10 be so damagin. TO him that II
was not use!
Willis was supposed TO be the chief Of
fender. but both he and ialford declared
that Mills was innocent OF even Il Know
ledge of the crime. while Hal.ord declared
thai the one who entered the house was u
. third man bv tho name of John Stewart.
Bat the third man II there were one was
never seen before or since.
aTRAsGK DOCUMENTS.
The sequel which has brought this case
again to notice l. "a letter which the Ashe-
VILE Citizen recently received. and which
send You, together with the affidavit Of Hal
ford above referred 20. The affidavit was
found by Mr.. Gudger among his papers
and published today by the Cu,zen. The
letter IS without signature and the post
mark upon II cannot tie road-Only two
letters. final ones OK. being legible. Ihe
clerk of the court of Rutherford county
has stated that Willis made IA full con-
fesslon of the crime committed" 10 the
sbcrif and jailer before he was carried TO
the penitentiary. but the best evidence of
that fact remains to be produced-the
statement of tho.e officials.
II tine letter Is fslsehOod as ii relates to
Willis there is "A scheme 10 gain bis pardon
which is interesting enough TO be worth
investigation. IL the letter tells the truth.
Willis is the victim 10 the fallibility Of
criminal evidence
HAIFOgD's DEPOSITION.
NORTH CAROLINA. RUTHERFORD COUNTY.
Samuel Ealford being duly sworn deposcs and
says: First myself ami MIR. " His started from |
Del Rio, East Tennessee Cocec county. and |
came by rairosd to Black Mountain station on |
the n ght train. Arrived al Black Mountain sin
t.,a about II O'Clock. We lett the railroad ami |
crossed the Blue Ridge and down Broad river and |
got to Widow tnriy'e about an lOur before day |
sunday morning. ana stayed there ali day sun |
day until three quarters Of an hour IN the night |
Then left there III q mpaDy with Mr. Willis and |
NJ tslc else In about ten minutes W. got 10 |
Buffalo church. At the church ur near the church |
W. met John Stewart. | and Mr. stewart met |
according 10 previous arrangement Mr. Willis
knew LOtning OF Iny and Mr.. Stewards arrange
Inenis. ] ana Stewart left sir. Wills at the
church. aud stewart went from the church 10
Samuel ElhOits. Stewart went in the house and
gof inc money; 4 was al ne yard and thou went
III the Ytazza, some time after stewart went in
the LoBsc. Stewart came out with the money
Stewart and 1 went together. about one and
nan miles. ioNtfu- inc fn.lCI. linen ana |
Stewart parted after diyi1ing the money
j Received SC3: what / received was ali
SILVER money, and few dollars OF old
Spanish CON, extra, and then went alone
& the church. There found NJ. Willis lying on
q bencn. did not divide the money with Mr..
Willis. owed Willis some money, and ] paid |
that, and then be borrowed some money from |
me. le. Willis have some OF the Old coins. | |
toli him II he could pass them b. could have
half what he got for them. Sir. Willis did not
know where Got the money that l le. linn
have. ] never dill tel Willis where got
the money until week or two before our
trial at Rutherford court | made the ar
Iangement with stewart ABOUT the 1tn OF
November, 1862, at Ashevi!lc. \. c.. TO
meet me at Buffalo ON or about the Ion |
OF November, 1885. We met near Buffalo
on the night Of tie It'll Of November. 1855, and |
went ana got the money. | and Wills went back
20 Black Mountain on Monday morning the IGN
81 November. 1858, and tcoA the tram Tor Del |
RIO, Tenn. John stewart that went with me to |
Eloits, was fair complexion, gray eyes, black |
hair, small mOusiache. which was black. and |
quite tall Willis, weighs about lao !
pounds. lie looked as though he was not moro |
than iwenty-threc or iweniy-lour years Of age. |
have not seen Stewart since We parted that |
night of The rO1hin.. SAMUEL iiALFOkD.
Sworn 10 and subscribed before me July s, |
1882
issal. {. BUKsETT, j. II. 1
TuE LETTER.
KANSAS CITY, August ., 1891.
Editor ofthe CStizea After 50 long time re- |
prison young man by the name Of K. T.. Willis, |
who Is as innocent Of the crime charged 10 him |
n newborn bate. heard that he was hung,
bu: since found ont by friend that lac was sent |
~ the penitentiary. A Nr. liaiiord and myself |
did the crime.
mot up with Mr.. Haford at Ashevillc about |
one week before the robbery was done. lie III |
formed me That he had some ri-h unclcs and |
aunts all living together III Rutherford county. |
b. we agreed to 80 and scare them out II their |
money. At the set Time We met at Nunalo |
church. There | found MIR. HaliCrd and Mr.. |
Wills. Mr.. halfo,d made me acquainted with
Willis ald said TO me that Willis WAS there for |
the purpes, Of stealing his children from his |
wife (HalfOIl's wifc). Mr. Halford SAID 20 Mr..
" Ills II am in need Of some money - pay az |
peascs. 1 have an uncle near here and wili 10
aud borrow some money. ! Will be back III al |
hour. stay here I'LL come.
~ eaw The poor fellow take his seat on the /
church steps and have never raw HIM since.
ualiord and myself went tc his uucie's. | could |
Lot eet Haiord o. 20 ia the house with me. Ito
proved - be "a nonstrOgs coward. 50 went In
and made the old folks haul their money. | got |
two stocking iegs 81 silver; 80 kept the large |
one and dill No, lot IiallOrd know Of IL on account
OF his cowafdice. lhe smaller one | divided |
With HaIiofd, there being about $OJ in the |
bunde.
Al that time passed for John Stewart, but that
war only one Of iny many names. i thon Welt
- IeAar, whore helped 10 rob the express train
oil So, 600 and ihere being only four Of IA. anu
tae brayosi caap they Killed and giving a
lad wound besides, but US three got oil with a
Since then have robbed seven trains, but
have never taken anything from the poor aud
nicely. i have paid $1,000 10 churches and
Schools ami hayO plenty left
on How grieycd my simple heart whom
heard that X. y. Willis vas hung FOR c-imo that
had Committed myseit. have friend in
Aeaevilic VINO has informed me that MI. Willis |
u In The State prison at Raleigh for lie. They
say IL ir Aiiline his father and mother.
Now, kiLd editor, " you VIII publish this badly
written letter, for am no scholar, IL may be the
means oi much good being done. j am to-day
q changed man, and have quit my robbery, and |
sm hsiug somewhere In the West with loving
vile anu "A sweet babe.
WHAT HIS rArHER SAYS.
AsnEvILLE. n. c., September 2i.-The |
Cssarsn pu blishes to-day a letter from VII. |
liam III. Willis. father of Il. +. Willis, |
dated At Del Rio. enn.. Oh the 18th Hc |
says -Iis son never made IA confession, and |
quotes h pathetic letter from him to the |
family two days before the day appointed |
for has execution affirming has innocencs.
bidding all o; them good-by, and giving
directions for his burial.
Mr.. Willis stated that Ealford affirmed |
all the while tina, young Mills WAS inno-