The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-16
CREOLE CONFESSES
Tells How the Bonner Murder
Was Committed.
a JESSE JAMES CLUB
Organized for the Purpose OF
Murder and Robbing.
MANY CRIMES WERE PLANNED
When Bonner Was Knocked Down He
Begged Them not to Kill Him and
Offered to Give Them all he
Had in the World.

| Begged nem nor 10 Ntit F1Itn anu
offered to Give Them all he
| Had in the World.
Washington, n. c., Jan. 15.-{Spc-
cial. This morning the State con-
tinued the evidence in the Bonner mur-
der trial II. +. Bonner testi-
| fled as to the distance which Bonner
and the defendants would have to go.
Other witnesses were then put on to
show Bonner's and Uriah Bells where
abouts up to the time of the murder,
which was the same as yesterday.
| The shoes of the defendants Brant-
lev and Crede were introduced and 1T
was proven that the tracks and shoes
corresponded. Credle's were mis-
matched and Brantley made an aWk-
ward step owing to a broken leg. 1t
was also shown that Brantley and
Iriah Bell had read the Jesse James
book. When this was gone into, as to
the oath in the book, all three OF the
defendants on trial laughed, as they
did on several other occasions during
the day.
David Credle, the defendant who con-
fessed, was put on the stand. There
was not an inch of vacant space in the
court room.
David Credge said: Il am % years
old. / was born in Hyde county Can
not read or write. Lived in Beaufort
county four years, IN Aurora twelve
months, and have known Brantley and
Bell since / have been in the county.
Brantley and / were arrested Monday
afternoon; we were taken to Thomp-
sons hall We were under guard
Next morning / sent for John NJ. Flow
ers to come to see me. He came and
told him who was in It. He made no
promises or threats. ] afterwards saw
Mr.. w. g. Rodman and Mr.. Fowler.
No promises or threats were made 70
me at any time.
II refused to testify before the grand
Jury because my brother told me not
to tell until he saw me again. | don't
know what the effect of my testifying
Will have upon saving my own neck.
Uriah Bell told me one night about
club that had been formed to kill and
rob, on the order of Jesse James books,
only he said their crowd was q little
smaller. lie said, We have some good
men in the club, but we want one
more and he urged me to join. L
asked who were in it. lie would not
tell. He said the parties with him held
themselves up and would not be sus-
pected. We are to rob and take any
thing we can get. He asked if I had
pistol. / said no. He said, Would
YOU mind killing man9 ! said ! did
not want to Kill anything. He said.
you need not shoot anybody We want
you to take when we knock down.
He said he would come to Flowers
that night. Flowers sent me for him
that night TO do some work. This was
Thursday, a week before the murder
| went after Brantley that night
/ had never been to Brantley's before
put the horse up and we took supper.
Brantley sent his wife up stairs to Mrs.
Gray's room. Lie said the parties would
be there soon. Uriah Bell came and
asked if we had talked over the matter
and If / had agreed. Bell said, There
are three in it. / don't think we will
get caught, they won't suspect US
Brantlev asked Uriah Bell where the
other party was and he went out and
brought in Sheriff. Bell. Sheriff. BELL
advised me to come into the club. He
said, 'Uriah is piuci<y, Brantley is a
good man and ! am pretty good, and
] know you'll do your duty. We have
pistols. You can take as we knock
down. You come when Brantley comes
each night
''Brantley's wife was up stairs. j
went TO bed and got up early next
morning. Brantley and | started 10
work Brantley said the Bells were
thought well Of. Said he and Uriah
Bell had been in the business some
time and they had not been caught.
Had opened some stores.
II went To Aurora Saturday even
ing staid with Brantley. After sup
per Uriah Bell come and wanted to
know if I had agreed. After awhile
agreed to come into the club. Sheriff.
Bell came and Brantiey and Bell said
they had been into Alex. HudnelIs
and w. A. Tompson's stores. Sher-
riIl Bell saw Thompson get $50, but
said they only got So. They went IN
n side window at Hudnell's.
Uriah Bell had the paper pledge
was to take. All Of them
got on their knees and the pledge was
fEuu 10 me. WE Siooh iahd7' ~
obligations were to secrecy and death
if either divulged anything they did.
| Uriah Bell said j have been captain so
| far and they continued him as cap
tain. We were all to obey the captain
| 1t was then late but we went out TO see
what we could do We went TO Cher
| rvs. he keeps open late and takes ms
money home in % bag. We arranged
| our position at his back door. lie was
| to be Knocked down and robbed. The
clerk came to the back door and said
| "rhe gate is open. some one is out here
! Cherry came with a light and
we ran. uriah Bell had gone
/ md