Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-09-18
MARABLE'S CONFESSION.
He Exonerates the Women Condemned to
be Hanged.

ne Une women COnuemheu W
be Hanged.
Rev. Father E. J. Welbers. of the
colored Catholic Church of Richmond,
who baptized Solomon Marable, col
ored, who is condemned to be hanged
on next Friday for the murder of Mrs.
Pollard in Lunenburg county, made an
appeal to Governor O'Ferrall to re-
prieve him till the women, Mary Aber-
nathy and Pokey Barnes, also con-
to be hanged, could have
new trial, but the Governor declined to
do so, and when so informed by the
Priest, he is reported to have said
Gods will be DONE" adding with a
deep sigh, but it's unjust" and such
is the reported expressed opinion of
the Priest, who believes he was merely
the instrument used by another.
HIS DYING CONFESSION.
Marable has made to Father Welbers
confession, which, he says, will be his
last, and that it is true in every par
ticular, in which he completely ex-
onerates the women from any share in
the crime. His statement, in substance,
is said to be as follows
ION the morning of the murder was
going along the road, when l saw Dave
Thompson leaning against fence. He
called me to him and said that himself
and old man Pollard had had some
words, and that he was going to kill
him, and that he wanted me to go
along. | replied that Mr.. Pollard had
never done anything to me, and that l
had no wish to help any one to harm
him. Thompson told me, with an
blow my head off, so | was forced to
accompany him. When we got oppo-
site the house we went around to the
spring, and stopped there to see who
was around While we were there
saw one of the women, who are now in
Jail On the charge of murder, coming
along with bucket, and told Thomp-
son that l thought she was coming to
the spring, so we left the place, and
went on up to the back door of the
house. stopped at the back door, and
Thompson went around to the front of
the house. Just then Mrs. Pollard
came out, and she saw Thompson's
shadow Just as he was turning the
corner. While she was looking in that
direction l caught her by one arm and
her throat, and held her tight.
THE MURDER.
Thompson then came back from
the front of the house, and, while l
held her, he told me that he had come
IL l. i D~11 III L., 1, |,
was nowhere around, and that he was
going to do the next best thing, and
kill her. He then picked up an axe,
which lay near by, and struck her on
the head. | turned her loose just as
Thompson struck her two or three
more blows, killing her.
HE then went into the house and
ransacked it, turning everything up
side down. He found some papers,
which he put into his pocket, and a lot
of paper money. After he had looked
carefully through the house he came
out and handed me $40, telling me to
go on to Chase City, and to spend part
of the money there. He told me to put
what l didn't use into a registered let
ter and to write a letter to myself,
signing my brothers name to it, and
saying the money came from him, and
to address the letter to myself at Fort
Mitchell.
81 went on to Chase City, and there
and in other places | spent all of the
money, except SIS, which l put into an
envelope and got q merchant to adj
dress to me at Fort Mitchell.
Il then went back home, and when
| got there my wife told me that some
white gentlemen had been there look
ing for me; that they wanted me down
at the court house as q witness. Just
then Mary Abernathy came along, and
said that she had heard that the white
folks were going to white-cap all the
negroes around those parts for the
murder of Mrs. Pollard. My wife then
began to cry, and said she was going
back to her home in North Carolina
"That night l did not stay at my
house, but slept out under a trestle,
and the next day my wife and myself
started to go to grocery store near by
to buy something to eat. While we
were on the way there J. saw crowd of
men coming. AS soon as they saw me
they started to run to me. / threw my
wife So, and told her to shift for her.
self. | then ran off and succeeded in
making my escape, and kept out Of the
way of my pursuers for several days.
HIS CAPTURE.
FINALLY | was caught by a crowd OF
men as / was going along the road a
short distance from Chase City. Among
the men who captured he was Mr.. Pet
tus. They tied my arms tight, and took
me with theln.''