The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-13
ANOTHER Confession
BRANTLEY CORROBORATE
CREOLE.
They Were ali Guilty.

Z THE DEMOCRAT has given niue
e space for the past four weeks 10 detail
t Of the Bonner murder trial at Wasl
ington, y. c., and we had suppose
that we should have no occasion I
print more about it, But since "
have given our readers the particular
Of the greatest and longest murder tria
2 ever known in the State, we deem
Just to give them running account G
, the confession OF Brantley, one Of tn
murderers OF NJ. Bonner.
The Washington Ereni,ag Messenqe
OF February 7th contained BrantIey'
full confession, which it seems he mad
just before he was taken to the peni
, Tertiary We do not give it IN full
tor 1t would cover too much of ouI
space.
TIE CONFESSION.
Brantley says he was born near Au
rora Feb. -, 1874. He has known
Criah and Sheriff. Bell since thew
moved to Aurora, which was about ten
years ago. As children he ana the
Bell boys played together and went to
school together. About seven years
ago he and Uriah Bell ran away from
home together and were overtaken by
their fathers and carried back home.
FIRST STEPS TO CRIME
Here we quote from the confession
1--WE continued to lye in the same
nelghborhOod seeing each other fire.
quently, playing together, until my pa
rents moved to the village of Aurora.
During this period nothing eventful
occurred. Soon after l came with nv
parents to Aurora, Hugh Bell the
brother OF Criah and Sheriff. Bell.
bought out the stock of goods and oc-
cupled the store of Jno B. Bonner de-
ceased. Crlah Bell cIerked IN the store
OF his brother. Our acquaintance and
intimate friendship Of early childhood
rlpened in the more mature friendship
OF youth and manhood as we grew nm.
" hen MIR. j. B. Bonner, deceased, clos
ed out the store and stock of goods to
II. 3. Bell, Uriah shortly after return
ed to his fathers horne in the country.
This was in the spring of the year 1895. |
About twelve months before he stop
ped working in his brother Hugh's
store he told me that he and his brother
had formed a plan to steal and
rob, that he was then stealing from Mr..
John Bonner and his brother Hugh in
-he store as he would sell goods, and
hVldlng with Shnrrill, He nrOnosed
o me to join | at that time declined
% do so. | thought it wrong. and
while poor preferred to make a living
~ honest toll. Uriah after this began
0 sell me goods at cost and almost
ave them to me, using every means to t
AIN my friendship and persuade me to ,
DIN him and his brother Sheriff.. q
eld out, notwithstanding his entreat. I
IS until IN the winter, the early part of
he winter OF 1894, yielded. l Joined II
lem, and became member of their i,
rganlzatlon. Criah produced Guam a
els oath from the Jesse James book {
TN such changes as were necessary to t.
'll our purpose, read the same oyer to fc
e. we were sworn upon this oath
10 pledged ourselves each to the 9TH 10
; lie tor life, according to the terms
the oath. This we did at what is of
loWn as the New Wharf, in the vii. &C
Sc OF Aurora, IN a small boat out ID eli
e creek, at the hour Of midnight, the de
y being Saturday. do not remem-
the day Of the month or the month w,
! le" months after this and before We on
q engaged IN any mischief. Mr.. Bon. in
T closed out the business Of TT p tb,
H. Cnah lost his clerkship and re. an
ned to his fathers farm in the tn,
1ntry. where he was most of the vii
Re with Sheriff., until my leg was ma
ken IN April In the meantime T
been at work making living as fes
could. Was endeavoring in nv
mind to abandon our wicked plans mrs
II breaking my leg then nothing Of Nv. 1lI'
moment took place so far az T We.
wv until after my recovery. I be- if
e out tor this misfortune I would is
er have engaged in the work which upe
ed SO disastrously to US all, and in a aSn
death Of Mr.. Bonner. ma,
'urln0 the summer and before I was MAJ
TO go to work | saw much of s s
an. lie entreated me on every o. Sin,
on to enter, with him, upon the asst.
OF theft and robbery we had thor
cd upon. | told him l had been VI
rtunate, but my affection had had - =
opposite effect. That good peonle
peen with me; Mr.. Barker NJ n