The age-herald., 1897-09-26
Special to The Ags.Herald.

the days of the notorious Rube Burrows, who died in his boots after career of crime seldom equalled in the history of outlawry has the south developed a more desperate character than John A. Gaffcrd, new awaiting trial in this city for the murder of Francis Barrow Lloyd, known to the literary world as Rufus Saunders" a we'll known writer of ''cracker' dialect. Gafford is the son of one of the most prominent poll ticians in Alabama and is above the average man in intelligence He counts the victims of his ready rifle on the tips of his fingers, and for the first time he is nearing inevitably to the gallows, de- spite his oft-r'spsat.d boast that he would die defending his body with the stained weapons that have for years been his most constant companions.
 Gafferd shot and killed Lloyd on the public road about three miles from Greenville, Ala, on. Wednesday after noon, Aug. 25, and surrend sred himself to the sheriff of Butler county on the following Friday night and was placed in jail at Greenville at midnight. On Tuesday thereafter rumon1 of lynching reached the sheriff, and in the abund- ance of caution for ihs protection of his prisoner, Gafford was brought to this city and confined in the county jail.
 On yesterday Q reporter callsd at the jail and with the sheriff went to Gaf- ford's cell, and had a conversation with him. When asked for picture of him self h+ said there was but one in exist ence that he knew of; that had been taken long time ago and was in the possession of his mother. It was sug- sested that such picture would be out of date, and when asked if ha would sit for picture, after a Ettle hesitation, he consented saying: 'Yes; have no ob- jection. The only harm 1t could do me would be in case I desired to escape and there is no probability of that, for if l had not been sure of having a good case l would never have surrendered"
 In response to the inquiry if he had any more to say about the terrible tragedy for which he was to answer, he said NO, have made all the statement de- sire to make, which has been printed in the papers, and I stand by that. or course l regard the matter as most un- fortunate, and am sorry for the little widow and children. Mrs. Lloyd is one of the nicsst women ever knew I ask 1o quarter from anybody, however. I did what I regarded as duty and will let the law decide it.''
 Gafford's eyes flashed when he uttered the last sentence and he looked some- thing of the desperado he has the rep utation of being.
 Gafford made statement substan- tally as follows:
 ''It all grew out of Lloyd's attentions to my sistsr. There are a good many little things about their conduct that I don't want to talk about I want you to say as Ettle about that as you can.
 When ha was in Montgomery last winter, she went there, too. claiming that he had secured for her a clerkship. He was lending her his buggy and hir- ing buggiss for her at the stables in Gresnville, and things of that kind, till the ne.ghborhocd began to talk about their conduct. Besides this, my brother reported to me that he came upon them in the woods together and Lloyd drew his pistol on him and threatened to kill him. That precipitat ted the tragedy"
 This story of Gafford is not believed by the people of Brlhler county, and the surroundings at the scara of the murder 'all Indicate that the shooting was arn from ambush, and that the v.cainl reve, knew who hss assassin was Dr. c. c. Lloyd, the father Of ehe murdered man. has aepuddated the Statement as 1ar as he is connected with it, declares his he- lief in his dead son's inl-locence of any improper relations with Gafford's sd ter and attributes the murder to a family fued, which has eXis ted about eighteen years and which he thought had long since besn settled and to Johns general worthlessnsss and thirss fer such nos tondty. G,affoid's elsl Ger, to wh m he re- fers, also repu1tates this stat,rnenH.
 When tihe news of the killing of Lloyd by Gafford reached this city the writer was in conversation wJ.h a noted police official, and he expressed his opinion of the tragedy as the result of Gafford's thirst fer notorety and his longing to take human blood.
 "John has gone .aboutt as long without killing Somebody as he can go, arid he GFas picked ou: Lloyd as his victim"
 And thdts Us the theory accepted by the general public. Gafford has always baen an improvid.nt thrl1tlsss vagaboglJ. ani hs never cared Sny thing about has sister. He has never pGov.dcd for her in any way, and he has never contributed in any way 10 the support Of his faimiy.
 As boy Gaffoyd gave promise of mak- ing man of llimself, for he was of good ia mily, his father, F nnk Gafford hav- ing been one of the most popular and highly esteemed men who ey er repres ent- ed Butler county in the general ess smbly of the state.
 Cafford is an ex-convfct from the Ar ilansas penJ. entiary, and tlhis is the third murder fastened upon him. He was in the employ of she slate penitsntilry of Arhansas as a guard, when by brutal and inhuman treatment to some of rha conv,ots one dcaIbh resulted, for which he was tred and sentelnced to five years in tlpa peratentlary, whe.e he served about three and a half years and escaped. Re turning Immediately to tlf.s s'tate, he to- ca'ted With his family in the settlement where he was rcared and where he elud- ed all cffor'.S ao recapture him.
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