The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-06
BRAN TLEY CONFESSES
He Tells of the Murder of John
B. Bonner.
CREOLE CORROBORATED
No Doubt Left as to the Guilt
of the Bell Boys.
Brantley's Story Corroborates Creole
Testimony, Excepting as to Brant-
Iey's Wife--He is Said to Have
Begged Creole to Shield Her.

William Brantley, one of the assas-
sins of John b. Bonner, of Aurora,
Beaufort county. has made full con-
fession of his crime.
He was one of the Jesse James
gang that was formed for the business
of murder and robbery, and who took
for their first victim John b. Bonner.
Bonner was one of the most well-to-do
and highly respected citizens of the
county. The recent trial of his muir
derers at Washington, n. c., is still
fresh in the public mind. 1t will be re-
membered that the jury found the ac-
cused guilty of murder in the second
degree.
NOW IN STATES PRISON.
The sentences We're:
URIAH BELL. thirty years in the
penitentiary.
SHERIFF. BELL, thirty years in
the penitentiary.
Imprisonment.
DAVID CREOLE, ten years impris-
onment.
Yesterday these four were brought to
the penitentiary, and are now begin
ming their long terms ''at hard labor
Deputy Sheriff James Fl. Hodges, Jr.,
of Beaufort county, was in charge of
the squad, and they were accompanied
by two guards, Mr.. Van Everstein and
Mr.. Phelps.
CREDLE'S CONFESSION.
David Creole, it will be remembered,
turned States evidence and made a
full confessional the murder. He told
all the circumstances of the occur
renee, how the gang was organized
and how he came to be drawn into it,
the meeting with Bonner, how Bonner
when he found himself in deadly peril
offered to give themany amount if they
would not kill him, and how Bonner
was murdered in cold blood. Brantley,
the two Bell boys and himself consti-
tuted the gang that killed BoAner.
Brantleys wife made the masks for
them. And after the murder was COM
mitted, when they returned to Brant-
ley's house, Mrs. Brantley washed the
blood off their clothes. When Brantley
told his wife what ne had done, she
said, You shock me-
This was the principal evidence
against the defendants in the trial,
and all the others strenuously denied
every detail of Credle's story
The Bell boys told a very straight
tale. directly opposed to the evidence
of Creole, and a great many people in
Beaufort county to-day believe the
Bells are innocent.
The stories the Bell boys and
Brantley told on the stand had no little
10 do with the verdict, murder in the
second degree that so surprised all
who had read the evidence.
A I. 4.
Credle's story, and if the story had
been fully believed. the verdict would
have been murder in the first degree.
BRANTLEY CONFEsSEs.
Two or three days ago Brantley went
TO his lawyer. Mr.. Il. $. Simmons, and
made full confession of the crime.
His story regarding the organization
of the club for purposes of murder
and robbery. conceded with Credle's
confession. He corroborates Credle's
story in every instance save one.
His confession leaves no doubt OF the
guilt of the two Bell boys.
In fact. he confirms the story Of
Credle in every particular, except as it
relates to Mrs. Brantley.
1t is said that when Creole said he
was going to confess aIl. Brantiey asked
MN 10 say nothing about his fBfant-
eiy's wife.
Tel lie. Creole" he is quoted as
saying, "and shield my wife,
But Creole told ali the story, as it
was. and told the part that Mrs
Branfley played.
Brantley confesses to everything
that Creole has stated. except that he
denies his wife had anything to do
with the murder. or knew any thing
of the existence OF the gang
This confession leaves not a shadow
of doubt as - the guilt of the Bell
boys.
The story OF the organization OF the
gang. their attempted robberies. and
at last the tragic end of the .'bnsi-
ness in the murder OF Bonner read like 1
the tale of Jesse James.
And every man who has read this
story of a crime viii say that even
thirty years Fat hard labor is poor
justice for the awful deed