Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-21

by Turner to Mr.. T. r. Gray, Of Jerusa-
lem, Southampton county, Va. shortly
before the execution OF the murderer
Only eighteen negroes out of sixty odd
who participated in the murders were
punished, and some of these escaped tho
gallows. This IS the confession:
"Since the commencement OF 1890 1 had
been living with Mr.. Joseph Travis. who
was to me "a kind master, and placed
the greatest confidence In me; III TACT
j had no cause TO complain Of his treat
ment to me. on Saturday evening, the
Goth Of August. 1t was agreed between
Henry. Hark. and myself 20 prepare a
dinner the next day for the men we ex-
pected, and then 10 concert plan, as we
had not yet determined on any. Hark,
on the following morning, brought a pig,
and Henry brandy. and being joined by
Sam, Nelson, WIZ and Jack, they pre-
pared In the woods dinner where, about
Q o'clock, i Joined them.
THE FIRST MURDER.
81 saluted them on coming up. and
asked VIII how he came there; he an
sweTed his life was worth no more than
Others, and his liberty as dear 10 him. /
asked him IL he thought TO obtain 1t.
Ne said he would or lose his life This
was enough TO put him in fun confidence.
Jack, knew. was only a tool in the
hands of Hark. 1t was quickly agreed
we should commence at home (Alr. J..
Travis's) on that night. and until We
had armed and equipped ourselves, and
gathered sufficient force, neither age nor
sex was 10 be spared. We remained at
the feast until about two hours In the
night, when we went TO the house and
found Austin: they all went to the cider
press and drank. except myself.
ION returning to the house Hark went
TO the door with an axe. for the purpose
OF breaking II open, as he knew we were
strong enough to murder the family II
they were awakened by the noise: but,
rejecting that ID might create an alarm
in the neighborhood we determined TO
enter the house secretly, and murder
them whilst sleeping. Hark got ladder
and set IL against the chimney, on which
I ascended, and, hosting n window, en-
tered and came down stairs, unbarred
the door. and removed the guns from
their places. 1t was then observed that
j must spill the first blood. on which,
armed with Ratchet and accompanied
by VIII, l entered my master
chamber. II being dark, I could not give
a death-blow; the Ratchet glanced from
his head. He sprang from his bed and
called his wife. Ii was his last word
axe, and Mrs. Travis shared the same
fate as she 10y in bed. The murder oil
this family, five in number, was the
work OF a moment: not one or theH
awoke. There was little infant sleep,
ing In the cradle that was forgotten until
we had left the house and gone some
distance. when Henry and VIII returned
and killed It. We got here four guns
that would shoot. and several old muskets
with a pound or two of powder.
I'VE remained some time at the barn
where we paraded; ] formed them In 6
line as soldiers. and. after carrying then
through all the manoeuvres | was mas
ter of. marched them on to Mr.
sa,athul Francis's. about six hundred
wards distant. Sam and WIN went Il
the door and knocked. Mr.. Francis asked
who was there. Sam replied d
was him, and he had a letter for him
a which he got up and came to tbs
VI: they Immediately seized him, and
.gging him out little from the door