The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-13

us at the point where Mr.. Bonner wa:
thrown over the fence. He Was &c
shadow Mr. Bonner when he was on
; his way home following him near. He
(uriah) was to give signal, whistle
which he did. | knocked Mr.. Bonner
down with the knuck- which Credle
loaned me, he said he borrowed them
from Flowers. Sheriff. and Dave Gre
Ole ran To Bonner A. soon as down and
We three threw him over fence. Bon
ner followed and made so much noise
that 1t was necessary for Il. TO shoot
him or be caught. Credle was making
an effort TO shoot him. He was too
slow and Bonner following too loud
l snatched the pistol out Of his hand
and shot him myself over the eve.
Creole and myself then ran. Credle
ran frat. Sheriff. Bell shot Bonner
Just as | left. Bonner was following
again, this j. why Sheriff. shot him
the last time. | left Sheriff. at the
body. Our course was across Bonner's
field through corn and cotton to the
Sugg place, we got oyer the fence and
walked across potato patch to fence at
street, we got over fence IN street and
walked home. Creole washed his hands
In ditch off end of bridge on Main |
street. We then entered the house, !
my wife had gone oyer to my fathers |
for bucket OF water. l put the
knucks under washstand and threw
she'll in the fire. Ny wife knew moth
Ing In the world about Bonner's death
until she heard Of it next morning.
She did not see me put the knucks I'M
der the washstand nor shell in the
fire.
His statement further cOrrObo.ates
Credle's about Urah Bell giving Credle
the key Sunday evening. He said
urlah told him his brother Hugh Bell
had given him key to 90 into the
store that sunday night to guard the ]
store with two other young men, and 8
he gave Credle the key that was taken
from Mr. BOnner's body because he was
afraid he would get them mixed when d
he should return the store key to Hugh c
Bell :
Brantley says that Uriah Bell was
not drunk IN the woods at Wyatt Best's
OH Sunday after the murder. They
we're IN the woods together and Jriah
told him he had thrown the safe KEYS
away but ne thinks Uriah kept the L
'afe key as we'll as the store key but =
lid not want him to know It, /
He says Sheriff. Bell told him that
t was 10 o'clock Saturday night of the
1llling when he got to his room at 7
Ben Jones. He did not want to 60 in Is
arly for fear they would detect some =,
hing that sheriff. washed the blood p
rom his shirt sleeve after he got to
lis room. ~
IN a word, Credle's story was true IN
no main; but Creole did not know ~
hat took place in the woods on Sun
ay between BrantIey and the Bell
oYs, as he was not there.
Brantley makes supplemental state
tent after signing his name. He does
; he says, IN order that BIT may be full Is
10 contain the whole truth. He saws Pr
rlah Bell told him he did buy pis- Z,
from Dudley Hudnell the dav be- IL
re Mr.. Bonner was killed.
"He closed his first confession az fol-
VS.:
81 am guilty, if owned the wealth
this world I would give 1t all III
uld wash my hands and be free and H..
az from the sin of Mr.. Bonner,s Ma
ath and other robberies. It il trne l '
am guilty, but God IN heaven to loo
ON must account for my actions ars,
earth, Is my witness, that ! was led ty.
o these robberies which erded in at l.
death OF Mr.. Bonner by Uriah Bell, eve
1t shall be my prayer that my Fa- "; w.,
In heaven may forgive Us all. I ~ j,
try from this time to be better suit
A." esto
he supplemental part of the con-
ion closed thus:
This last statement, taken with nv
:, contains full and complete nara
OF my own history of crime 81
here to repeat, I would give the rs
lth OF this world and my own life. II
could recall and undo the past. It E.
lone. l have brought great grief 4
my innocent wife and aged pa 4
s. | trust may be forgiven. It
be my prayer to become a better
!; Will bear my punishment in q
~ way, we'll knowing that | de- +
II and more. l wish to state I k
profoundly grateful to Mr.. E.S /
mons, my attorney, who with Gods
lance saved my life for me- Ian +
lze my attorney to make anv usa
MS statement and confession he
ks proper.
"W. H. BRASTLEY, JR."