The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-23

came from his store and Urlah Bell |
came some distance behint him and |
whistled They heard Mr.. Bonner
clear his throat and all got up and went |
towards him. Brantiey IN front with
the knucks, Sheriff. Bell next with a
pistol and Credle las; with the pistol
that Brantler had given to him.
Brantley met Mr.. Bonner and knocked
him down. Uriah Bell was about %
yards behind him and was TO be there
and put him over the fence. Uriah
did not come up according 10 promise
to put him over the fence 50 Brantley
and CredIe and Sheriff. Bell put him
over. Creole took him in the middle,
Brantley by the head and Sheriff. by
the feet They broke rail or two
putting him over. They put HIM over
feet foremost and after they got him
over the fence he tried to holler. They
carried INN about 10 feet from the
fence and as Mr.. Bonner tried to boiler
Sheriff. Bell asked them TO help him
keep him from hollering. Creole put
his nand on Mr. Bonner's head. He
was struggling and spoke and said
"Mcn, please don't Kill me, and III give
YOU all | have" Credle SAID To the
Others. Turn him loose and let HIM
talk" Brantley said, Shoot him y
Credle told him he couldn't shoot him.
GIVE me the pistol then" said Brant-
lev, "and I'll shoot him." Credle rails
ed up. gave Branticy the pistol lie had,
Brantley shot NJ. Bonner IN the face,
and be ana Creole both Tar. When
they had gone about 90 yards they
heard another pistol back towards Mr..
Bonner and he supposed Sheriff. Bell
had shot him after they ran off. Mr..
Bonner hollered "Oh Lordy !" when
Bran,lev shot him in the face. They
ran across to the wire fence, got over it,
went across the field to tie street, went
down by the Methodist church and
went into Brantleys house.
AS they we're running across the
field he took out his handkerchief and
wiped something sticky from his hand
which he thought was blood. When
they got to Brantley's house Brantley
told his wife and she said, "Will, you
shock me-" She told Creole that
Brantley had sworn her in also but the
Bell boys did not know it.
Brantley's hands were not bloody but
Credle's we're. He burned his hand
kerchief, Mrs. Brantley gave him wa
ter to wash bis hands and she poured it
out at the window. Brantiey took the
empty shell out of the pistol and threw
it into the fire and put another cart
ridge into the pistol, gave it to his wife
to put away. Brantley gave his wife
the knucks and she put them under
the wash-stand on the floor Creole
did not know where Sheriff. Bell went.
Creole went to smoking and soon Mrs.
Gray came fin from church, was about
to pass by the door when Mrs. Brant-
lev asked her to come in and sit awhile.
Mrs. Gray went in and stayed until
about half past eight O'Clock.
Uriah Bell came to the door alter
MIS-. Gray went up stairs and knocked.
Brantley and Creole went to the door.
Uriah asked what they had done
Brant!ey said to Uriah that they had
shot him but did not rob him. He
supposed Sheriff. Bell did that. Uriah
went back into town and Creole went
to bed about 9 O'Clock but did not sleep
any until towards day.
During the recital of the bloody deed
every person III the court room paid al
most breathless attention. The prison
ers listened closely, the jury's eyes were
fixed on Creole as he made the awful
confession, and the aged father OF the
murdered man leaned on his cane,
while the brother sat motionless and
the young son sat with bowed head
as though the sorrow pressed heavily
upon him afresh.
| LATER MOVEMENTS.
Sunday morning at breakfast Mrs
Brantley said that Mr.. West had told
her that Mr. Bonner was killed After
breakfast Credle and Brantley went
with the crowd over to the residence
where the body had been carried. Gre.
die and Brantiey both went into the
room and saw the body of the dead
| man.
They went out and heard abou
blood-hounds having been sent for
Soon Creole asked Brantley to LEND
him his boat to go home. As he anC
Brantley walked down to the river /,