The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-10-04
PIRATE WEAVER.
Sworn Statement OF An Alabama Man
Whom He Robbed.
The PopuIite Candidate Not Only Robbed
the Southern People, but had Them
Murdered

The following sworn statement con-
corning candidate Viewers inta-
nous conduct at Pulaski is made by
one of the most reputable citizens OF
Colbert County, Ala. 1t was secured
for the HERALD by one OF our most
prominent citizens, who says that the
statement has left Weaver no sup
porters in that county. 1t should
have the same effect here. 1t was
unsolicited on our part, and reads rs
follows:
LEIGHTON, ALA, Sept. 28th, 1S92-i
J. B. Weaver was Commander of the
post at Pulaski, Tenn, in 1860. After
Hood was defeated at Nashville, L
quit the command of \. B. Forrest
and went home, took the oath CT
allegiance to the L. ). A and had
four bales of cotton giDned, ana
bought one and paid specie for 1t aud
carried the five to Pulaski, Tenn.
When I drove the cotton into Pu-
laski, he (Weaver) sent guard who
marched mt with my cotton to the
courthouse and compelled me to
unload and store to his order, saying
he would confiscate my cotton ana
my team of four good mules and
wagon. He asked for my pass
land [ handed it to him, ana he tore
il to pe;cies viciOusly and SAID ne
would send me to Daulton Penlten-
tiary. Then he said l might go ana
get boarding place for the night
and report to him at 9 o'clock the
next morning 1 knew he thought
I would runaway and give up my
cotton and team, but L reported at
| o'clock and asked him ii he would
give me a trial for my cotton, which
he agreed to do, and set day.
7 GOT up witnesses and he charged
that | psid specie for the cotton
which he claimed was contraband
money. My proof showed that L
only paid it for one bale; he then
said he would take one bale, but fol-
lowed me to the door and said he
would take two, which he did. L had
engaged the cotton at 30 cents per
mound aud sold the other three bales
and paid him three hundred dollars
TO turn old man Charles Bedding
field out of prison. he was accused
of being q bushwhacker, which was
false he was an iuoffensive old man
a cousin Of mine-and very sick with
diarrhea and told me he could not
live unless he got out; he afterward
paid the money bsck to me.
lobe Beckham and link Walls
were carried across the bridge by
some of Weaver's men, tied to trees
or posts, and deliberately shot to
death. Conner, Glass and Turner were
arrested on Sugar Greek, tied to trees
and shot to death without any trial
No one ever heard Of any one OF these
five men having a trial. they were
murdered in cold blood.
had been in favor of the Peoples
partv. and would have voted for it ii
thew had nominated an honest
man, but to start with a rObber and
murderer, 1 cannot stand it. i look
on his robbery as meaner and lower
than the James or any others. be-
lieve he robbed the Southern people
out of big fortune. cannot THINK
, of any man so mean and low. l
heard of his compelling many other
good citizens to pay him from 500 to
$500, to keep out and get out OF prison
The editor is authorized to put my
piece in proper form and shape, but
not change in meaning.
l.. H. WALKER.
STATE OF ALABAMA, Colbert County
Personally appeared before me, VIM; Nc
Cormack, a Notary Public and eX-ofhclG
Justice of the Peace FOR said State ana
county, l.. Il. Walker, who being duly
sworn according to law, deposeth ana
- saith that the contents of this letter Is
true in every respect regarding Gener,
al Weaver, and | do this that the world
- NAV know the perfidy OF the wretch
. Sworn and subscribed to before me
l the 18th day of September, A. D., lo9z.
f 'A0 l.. II. WALKER,
WIN. MCCORMACK, Notary Pubic