The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1893-05-04

,,Columbla, April Goth 1898,
"Messrs. w. A. Neal and A. w. CLAY.
ton:
"GENTLEMEN: Please give M,
statement of what you know in regard
to my conversat ion with John Peterson
at the executive mansion on Saturday
afternoon last.
u ask it for publication to give the
public the whole truth aud leave people
at home and abroad to judge the case
fairly. "Res pectfully,
"B. IL. TILLMAN, Governor"
In response to the above Mr.. CLAYTON
who Is reporter for The Journal,
makes the following statement.
John Peterson, accompanied by an
other negro, Wade Wyle, approacned
me on last Saturnay afternoon to know
where Mr.. Tillman (meaning the Gov
ernor) was. A few questioes elected
the fact that l was being addressed by
John Peterson, who n | knew to be
wanted at Denmark as suspect of the
outrage upon Miss Mamie Baxter. | ac.
companied him to the executive man.
sion and told the Governor who he was
and what he wanted.
Governor Tillman, addressing Peter
son. asked him If he was John Peterson
and he replied that he was, and that he
wanted to surrender himself to him for
protection, as he had heard that .hCy
were huuting HIM for the crime com.
mltted upon Miss Baxter, and he feared
that II he was caught he would be
lyRched.
The Governor: Are you guilty."
re Peterson: mo, sir."
The Governor: "Where were you on
Friday week ago?"
Peterson: 81 was at NorLhs."
The Cover aor: "Can you prove that
and by white people?"
Peterson: "Yes, SIR"
The Governor: Are YOU willing to
go back there and let tue young lady see
you?"
Peterson. "Yes, SIR"
| The Governor then turned to me and
Said that he had no right to hold man
who was simply suspected of a crime
but that II Peterson wanted protection
had better take him to the Chief of Po
lice and get him TO investigoLe the case
This l did. After having him LOCKED
up by his own request, | started out tt
find Mr.. l.. B. jenkins aud Consta!l,
Lambert, the latter of whom, | knew
was then looking for Peterson with :
warrant for his arrest, to see If the,
would Identify him, as he did not appeal
TO suit the description given me OF him
They were found and Mr.. Jen kins
began the questioning of Peterson,
which has already been mentioned, be-.
llevinS at the start that Peterson was
guilty OF the crime, but at the flush
that he was innocent. Peterson was
then locked up, and after beng returned
to his cell, Mr.. Jenkins asked him if he
would be willing to return to Denmark
ana let the young lady look at him. He
replied promptly that he would. lie
SAID that he was innocent and did not
fear any recognition by her.
Upon leaving the guard house Mr..
JENKINS and determined that there was
at least grave doubt OF his guilt and
| that II he was taken back there by Mr..
Lambert on Sunday morning believing
as we did that he would be lvnchcd, we
determined to 60 to Governor Tllman
and ask him to have HIM held here until
he could get his witnesses together to
prove his alibi, which he confidently
claimed that he could do. We went,
and after hearing us Governor Tilman
| agreed to hold him under condition that
l would 90 and try to get his witnesses
together for him, which DID. lie then
wrote an order to Sheriff Cathcart,
which delivered TO him, ordering him
to take Peterson from the guatd house
and lodge him in Jail until further Or
ders.
went to North's the next day and
worked all day hunting up his witnesses
tor him. That evening | wired the
Governor that they would all be on
hand on Monday, and that they corrob.
Grated his statement
A. w. CLAYTON.
81 heard the conversation hetwce en-
Governor Tillman and John Peterson at
the Governors mansion last Saturday
afternoon as stated above.
wv. A. NEAL,
| superintendent Penitcntiary..