The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-04-01
HIS CONFESSION.

The Way Richard Washington Came
to Go 10 Heaven-BefOrc Going He
ExOnerated John Mitchell OF Any
Right to Go With Him.
The attorneys OF John Mitchell, the Messrs.
Graydon, are making commendable effort
10 have John Mitchell pardoned. He was
convicted at the last term of the court as
participator In the crime OF murder, but II
seems that he is innocent. 1t Is 10 be hoped
that the Governor will give proper considera-
tion to this case. On the evening before his
execution he made the following averment:
Richard Washington makes the following
statement and confession: | had been inti-
mate with Narcissa Bagwell from August OF
last year. On Thursday evening before she
was killed l met her down near the branch
between Mr.. Harvey's and Mrs. Whiteys.
She said she Was going of and wanted me TO
20 with her. We went from the branch up TO
IN clubhouse that had some hay In II near Mr..
McNinch's We stayed there until after mid
night. when IT got so cold that we went up 10
Il little thic ket of pines on the LETT hand side
Of the road going from MIR. McN1nch's 10
where the house was burnt, being the first
woods that we came TO, and made up fire.
We stayed there for some time, and she beg
ged me 10 60 off with her. did not want 10
go, aud l Killed her TO get rio OF her. shot
had u thirty.eight caliore pistol with only
one cartridge in 1t. After shot her took
her pocket book out Of her apron pocket, and
took the money out OF H. q, sne ne nna riG Inihrty hy
body so that there could not be anything to
catch me- l thought OF the vacant house on
Mr.. Shirley's place. and decided TO carry her
that nobody lived in the house. but did not
know about the fodder and stu1t being In II.
This house Is about as far from the place
where l killed her as M from the ian 70 the
10 the house and set fire to It, / then went to
John Mitchell's house. reaching there about
an hour before day. John and had agreed
the Sunday before that we would so to Abbe-
Vile that day. 1 carried the tin box to John
Mitchelrs in my hand and set 1t on the bu.
reau. lust as John said did. II had glass
and some bread in 1t. John and / came on to
here ] spent good deal of money. Besides
the other things mentioned on the trial,
bought three pints OF whskey In two quart
bottles, and paid dollar @ ana twenty zee Genus
pay bis taxes that day, as he says 1t did.
When we were going back home Anthony
Redd called TO US from his house near the
road and stopped us and told us about tne
house being burnt and the body found In 1t,
and I said to John, John l saw that light as
I was going TO your house this morning."
Johns and Anthony's statement about that
conversation is correct. ! dld not 20 70 J0nn n,
Thursday evening or Thursday night. John
Mitchell did not have anything to do with
the killing, and did not know anything about
it, until l told 1t on Saturday morning at the
preliminary. I did not tell him about 1t
when | went TO his house that Friday MORN
ing, nor at any time that day. He did not get
apy of the money except the dollar that l
lent him, and did not tell him where 1t
came from. Miss Bagwell wanted me TO go to
John Mitchelrs house that Thursday night 10
spend the night, but told her that 1t Was no
use TO 20 there, as John would not let us stay
at his house. The reason why we went across
the field instead of going up the path 10 the
road near Mr.. Harvey's house, was that Miss
Bagwell did not want 10 go that path for rear
some one ebout Mr.. Harvey's house might
see Us. John Mitchells statement was the
exact truth. He knew nothing In the world
about the killing OF Miss Ragwell. did 1t by
myself, and ! alone am responsible for II.
The reason why l told that John Mitchell
killed her was that thought 1t might make
II lighter on me. Every word L told about
John having any connection with II or
knowledge OF II is false. In addition TO the
money / spent at Abbeville, gave MIR. Nell
son fifteen dollars and asked him TO help me
out. When took the money out OF Miss
Bagwell's pocket book put the pocket book
back in her pocket. Johns conviction Is un.
Just. l know that / must die on the 9th OF
March, and do not want an innocent man
TO suffer for what did by myself and what
he had nothing at all TO do with.
his
Richard X Washington.
March 26, 1896. mark
In presence Of
S. +. Nance.