The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-02-19
A TALE OF THE MooNsH1NBRs.
DRAMATIC CONFESSION OF
CRIME.

Approved the LynCnfng-Th6 Lead
er of the Ku Klux Captured i'm Ar
kansas
Atlanta Evening Journal.
The light of justice is beginning Il
fall brightly upon the facts in tn,
tardly crimes ever committed on the
soil of Georgia, and today the an
nouucement is made that Judge Nc
Cutchin, suspected as the leader of the
ku-klux that shot Worley in the cot
ton field in Murray Cou ty, has beer
captured that he is on his way to the
scene of his alleged crime from Ar
kansas, where, for many days, he has
been fugitive from pursuers.
In addition to this, and another light
upon the dark deed. was the dramatic
confession of Anse Black in open cour,
before Judge Newton this morning
There was a silence as profound as
death when Black entered his plea ol
guilty and when he told the story, al.
most surprising belief, of how Worley
had been taken by sixty mounted men
in disguise through Bloodtown into
darkness OF the night to persimmon
tree.
Officers OF the court, judge, mem
bers of the bar listened to the nara
tive of the crime, and from the first
word spoken to tho last the mon held
their breath, for from out the dark re-
cess of the mountains has come a tale
which almost surpasscs credulity.
Never in any court room has there
been more dramatic scene, and every
one was effected when Black told how
Worley's own mothcr, standing be-
tween her son and her granddaughter,
sided with the whitecappers and gave
her consent to hor sons death.
The man McCutchin is supposed to
be the ring leader OF those who shot
and killed Worley, while Anse Black
Is one of the mon connected with the
hanging of Worley few days before
the shooting.
Henry W6Fley lived II ;ii> Murray
County, the home of many moopshin-
ero. He was suspected of being u sys-
tcmatic spy for the revenue men. His
reputation in this respect became
noised abroad and every moonshiner
in the mountains knew Of Horny Wor-
ley and hated him, because they be-
loved the government had no right to
tax tho product OF thoir industry, and
hated him because he took them to
Jail and took food from ont their wives
and children's mouths.
There was u suggestion OF q conspir-
acy. Tho idea grew. 1t took root in
many u still on many a hillside. FL
naliy it crystalizcd into a dotermina-
tion to rid themselves Of their enemy
by putting him beyond the power OF
ever opening his mouth. 1t was do
cided to hang him. Sixty men carried
the conspiracy into executive, but
Worlcy escaped miraculously.
The moonshiners wore releutless, in
satiate. They determined now to
abandon cover of darkness, to shoot
him whore they found him, in open
The sentence of death had been pro-
nOunced and Worley would have to
suffer tho penalty for his trcachery.
a few days after this Worley was
found dead by the sido Of o mule
which he had been blowing.
But the story is here as told by Anse
Black, an eye witness to the hanging.
District Attorney james received in
formation that Black was willing to
confess. Black came to Atlanta and
notified Mr.. James that he was willing
to enter plea of guilty.
Judge Newman received the plea in
open court, and asked tho man to stand
up before him.
What have you to say before sem
tcnce is pronounced upon you ?" asked
the court.
When Black arose, to the imagina-
tive ), every mountain fastness arose
with him, for he is Il type OF the moun-
tains. Tall, angular, high cheek
bones, more like an Indian than a Cau-
casian, with endurance, but not quick
ness written in every lineament, the
minds eye followed him through the
winding paths of tho Blue Ridge, saw
him peer through the foliage for row
enue men, saw the red radiation Of the
fire under the still upon his sharp and
bronzed features. Uncouth, strong,
shrowd looking, eagle-eyed, Anse
Black looked like sOmo great rock tow
ering from the brow OF his own blue
hills.
He had rough but effective way Of
telling the story, and IL voice OF sur
prising sweetness withal.
Il want to say q few words about
my connection with this thing" said
the man OF the mountains, as he look
cd about him and sighed deeply in the
accent2of the Cracker "befOre you SON
tonco me. | am guilty. / was pres
Worlcy, aud | say what | do so that
on me.
I" 1t was in the latter part of last
spring that sixty men OF MurraJ Coun-
ty got together and made up their
minds to hang Henry Worloy for re-
porting. Each man was on horseback
and had black masks on their faces. L.
was kinder dark night. Everybody
was armed one way or another. Some
had guns, some had pistols, somo had
rifles. The men thought there might t
be trouble in getting Worley, and men
wore taken along to hold the horses in
the case OF shooting, so thoy wouldn't
be frightened at the fusilade.
"The men rode up to Worley's g
house and halting the horses nearby,
most Of them, except those that hold
tho horses, went to Worloy's house.
Several mon took cotton balls saturat-
cd with kerosene, which burned
brightly as they approached the house.
the door and asked for Worley Wor-
lcy's mother came to tho door and
asked what we wanted with Horny
We told her that we were going to
hang him for reporting.
Worley's littlo daughter came to
tho door and all three Of them stood
there. We told Worley that we had
como to hang him, and that there
wasn't any use resisting, that he would
have to come, and that we intended tC
take him alive or dead.
"Worley was terribly scared and beg.
eed for mercy, said he wasn't guilty oi
reporting and got down on his knoes
to u.s."
The prisoner paused here moment
to remark that he never was so sorry
g.,