The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-01-29
RICHARD WASH.
Convicted OF Murder and Sentenced
10 be Hanged, March 81, ls96-His

| convicted Oh MurueE GNU
TO be Hanged, March 20, ls96-His
Confession.
The readers of the Press and Banner are
ocnneinted with the fact OF the killing OF
Narcissa BagweIl, white woman living near
Rie6ard Wash and John Mitchell, both COL
oreG were cnagea T.n az bs 1ne Of
Court. The jury recommended John Mitchell
10 the mercy OF the Court. In the case OF
| Richard Wash they failed 10 ask for mercy
aud the Court sentenced him to be hanged on
March 81, 1896. ..,
on the trial Richard Wash testified against
John Mitchell as the guilty party, but since
his nviction he has ack nowledged his guilt
and the justice Of the verdict and the sen.
tepce against him.
He now freely to assumes all responsibility
for the crime, and Just as freely and as open
the matter. If John Mitchell is innocent 1t
Is a pity TO send him to the pententiary,
but If he is guiltyit would be a grevlous
wrong to pardon him.
RICHARD wAsH's CONFESSION.
The Press and Banner called at the Jail yes.
terday to see Richard Wash. When asked If
he would tell about the killing he replied:
Yes. sir, I'll tell you all about IL. Inc Wo.
man and III had made arrangements to 60 OFF,
and rather than be bothered with her, just
killed her. killed her to get rid OF her. We
had made arrangements TO meet that night.
Asr met banse 10 W. e
until we got cold, We left the house and
went into some pines about quarter Of a
mile away, and built fire: We qnarreled a
little, and then shot her, hitting her In the
back Of the head. I shot her when she was
not expecting 1t. She died Immediately. and
I carried her body to the fodder house which
was distant about as far as from here to the
Court House 1 put her in there and set fire
10 the fodder. expected the fire 10 com.
pletely destroy her body, so that there would
be no hereafter about IT. took her money, g
money, and Wayne Nelson, the man who
brought noe here, took SIS of it. I don't know
what he did with IL.
think had fair trial. The witnesses
swore To the truth. I acknowledge that
have got Justice. am trying to make pre-
paratiOns TO meet the sentence. 1 am trying
to pray all can.
will be twenty-nine years old on the 1ith day
of March.
am sorry that killed Narclssa Bagwell.
naHe Sesn done IT, II haS tba
could hide the crime by destroying her body.
Why did you charge this crime to John
They made me do it the night they arrested
me. They told me IL / didn't say that John
Mitchell did It., that they would tie me 10
tree, and shoot me to pieces. Then told
them that John did 1t.
1t Is notable that in or about the same
neighborhood, two white women were NAL
treated within the last few weeks. Narcissa
Bagwell was killed. Two negroes were ar.
rested for the crime, and were last week con-
Vited, as stated above. The other white wo-
man, Della Hodges, was cruelty beaten BY
unk nown men, supposed to be white. No
arrests have been made for this latter offence
and the Court has taken no notice OF II.
The fact of the two similar crimes in the
same neighborhood, nearly about the same
time, and the different treatment which has
been awarded TO the perpetrators by. the
great State OF South Carolina, Is worthy of
note.
Why the difference? Is II because one vo-
man was killed while life was left in the
other? or, is IL because the perpetrators In
one instance was white and in the other the
the parties we're black?