The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-03
TO ANSWER FOR MURDER.
NETTLEs CHARGED WITH JAMES
sTAFFoRD'S DEATH.

The Murdered Mans Brother bWear5
Out a Warrant Against the Prisoner.
he Will Bear the Expense of Taking
Him Back to Appllng County for
Trial-Nettles' Unssvory Record-Ee
Killed a Man at Selma, Ala, and
Tried to XIII Bis Wife in a Church
at Fernsndina, Fla.
W. II. Nettles, who was arrested Satur-
day night on suspicion OF having killed
James Stafford Of this city at Johnsonville
eight years ago, an account OF which APP
peared in Sundays MORNING NEWS, was
turned over yesterday morning by Mayor
McDonough to Detective Wetherhorn on a
warrant from Justice Russelps court charg-
ing him with murder.
The warrant was sworn out by John
Stafford, a brother Of the murdered man =,
and Nettles was lodged in jail to await the
arrival of officers from Appling county.
Sheriff Roman wired Sheriff Ellis Of Appling
that Nettles is here, subject to his orders.
Sheriff Ellis replied that he had no warrant
against the prisoner, but he would send an
officer for hun il the prosecution would bear
the expense.
This Mr.. Stafford proposes to do, as he
believes he has sufficiently strong evidence
to connect NeLtles with his brothers muir
der. The prisoner, he said, was the last
man seen with his brother, and II the latter
had been as drunk as Nettles claims he
could never have made his way from toe
point they were seen together to where his
body was found the next day on the rail-
road track. Mr.. Stafford said his brother
was evidently killed with knife and his
body carried to where it was found and
placed on the railroad track for the evident
purpose Of hiding the crime by having it
mutilated by the cars.
FUGITIVE FROM JoHNsoNvILLE.
Nettles, he also claims. has kept away
from Jacksonville since the crime ana has
Travelled under several aliases Appling
county officers will probably arrive to-day,
and the prisoner win be taken 10 Baxley
for trial. The warrant sworn out here will
be lodged there against him, and as the
crime charged is not bailable Nettles will
have to stay in Jail until his trial.
The prisoner does not bear q savory repu-
tation If all the stories told about him are
true. Ex-Chief Of Police QuiDley of Fer
nandina, Fla. who is now living here,
identified him yesterday morning as the
man he arrested in Fernandina several
years ago for trying 70 kill his wife, and
who was afterward taken back to Ala
bnma to be tried for murder.
Mr.. Quinley gave the MORNING News an
interesting story of what he knows OF
Nettles. From his account the prisoner has
been a man Of desperate character for years.
In 1875 he was said to have cut man
named Smith almost to death in Whining
ton, N. c. He got away and went TO
Alabama, where he killed man named
Powell at Selma.
CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CRIME.
The circumstances of the killing, as re-
ported were that Nettles and Powell were
engaged in painting a house. Both were
considerably under the influence Of liquor.
Powell was at the top of the ladder and
Nettles was at the bottom to hold it. Pow
ell called down to Nettles to know why he
was not holding the ladder, and the latter
replied that he was holding it. The lie
passed and scurrilous osths followed, Pow
ell started down the ladder to fight, and
when near the bottom Nettles pulled out a
knife and stabbed him to death.
He ran away from Selma and next
showed up in Georgia on the East Tennes-
see road. After Stafford's mysterious death
Nettles went to Florida, and one Sunday
while his wife was attending divine service
in the Methodist church at Fernandina he
entered the sacred edlfice and opened fire
upon her. His aim was bad, and Chief Of
Police Quinley captured him before he could
succeed in carrying out his
murderous intention. For this he WAS fined
S100 and sent to the ohain-gang for six
months. While serving the sentence Ala
bama officers arrived and identified Nettles
as the man wanted 1T Selma. He was
taken back there for trial and Mr.. Quinley' 3
information was that he was convicted and
sentenced to the penitentiary for life.
Whether he got a new trial or escaped from
the penitentiary the MORNING NEWS In
formant doesn't know
ARRESTED BEFORE.
It is also said Nettles got in trouble not
long ago in Chauncey, where he was known
as W. h Reynolds, aud had only got out OF
it lust before he came here and was ar
rested for Stafford's murder.
After getting the story of Nettles' alleged
| escapades, MORNING NEWS reporter
called at the Jail and interviewed the pris-
oner. When asked about the murder in
Alabama, Nettles became quite excited, and
wanted to know where the information was
secured. He admitted that he killed Powell,
| but said it was in self-defense. He de-
| MED having been sentenced for life,
and claimed that he was acquitted. He
also admitted the Fernandina affair
but denied everything else. The prisoner
said he had never been in Wilmington nor
never cut any man named Smith. He said
he didn't care much to talk about the affairs
of his past life anyhow. and was apparently
anxious not to be questioned too closely Il
used to be- hard drinker," he said, land il
| got me into trouble, but | have not drank
anything for two years" He still stoutly
maintains he knows nothing of StafHord's
murder and said he is willing and anxious
| to get back to Applng county for trial.