The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-09-28
A MURDERER,s CONFESSION.
Grady Reynolds Declares that He
Murdered NJ. q. Hunt-Brooks Con
1esses that He planned the Crime.

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Grady Reynolds Declares that He
Murdered NJ. q. Hunt-Brooks Con-
fcsses that He Planned the Crime.
Greenyille Mountaineer.
The brutal murder OF NJ. G.. Hunt,
which took place last winter in Jack
son County, Ca, will be recalled by
our readers. Grady Reynolds and Bud
Brooks, two white men, were tried and
convicted Of the murder at jefferson,
Ga, n were sentenced to be banged
on Friday 24th OF September. The
Atlanta Journal says that Grady Rev
nolds made a full confession on We'd
nesday night, and now admits that ne
alone and unaided murdered Merchant
1unt. Brooks cOnfesses that he planned
the murder, but says that Reynolds
did the bloody work alone. After in
ducing Merchant Hunt to go with him
to Widow Buffers farm bird hunting,
Reynolds says that Hunt beca ne sus.
pictous that something was wrong, and
soon after leaving the house turned
around aud said to him
LOOK here, Grady, this is u suspic-
ious looking place to carry q mar bird
hunting and | don'C like it,"
Reynolds says he then picked up Il
large rock and struck Hunt on the head
and stunned him. Before Hunt recov
cred Reynolds seized his gun, jorkcd
it out of his hand, and struck him three
heavy blows on the head with tho butt
OF the gun.
This knocked Aunt down, and Roy
nolds then robbed him Of all money he
could find, which he hid under q rock
close by, Reynolds then won't down on
river, where Brooks was cutting cross
ties, and told Brooks he had about
killed Hunt and asked Brooks TO go
back aud help finish the job. Brooks
refused to do SO, but went back with
Reynolds to the place where Hunts
body was lying, weltering in his life's
blood. BY the time they got back Hunt
had drawn his last breath. They then
picked up the body and carried it to
the river, where Reynolds undressed,
waded out and cut Hunts body open
and sank it in the river. He then loaded
1T down with heavy stones.
This is Grady Reynolds last comics.
sion, and he says he makes it with his
doom staring him in the face and that
every word in it is true. This free and
full confession of Reynolds has greatly
reJoiced Brooks, as it PAGES the exc
cution OF this terrible crime, entirely
on Reynolds. Brooks admits hat he
planned the crime, assisted in conceal
ing the body and shared the money and
is equally as guilty as Reynolds, except
that he did not strike the blows.
Both prisoners declare they have
made peace with God and are prepared
to die. A double gallows has been
built and the murderers will die to-
gether. The sheriff has purchased a
strong hemp rope which has been fully
tested n found to work smoothly and
satisfactorily. a new suit Of clothes
has been purchased for both prisoners,
two black caps made and fitted and
every p%recaution for the execution is
complete. The death watch has been
set over Brooks and Reynolds and
a moment from now till the gal
lows does it's deadly work will they be
free from the eyes of the guards.
Throughout this whole trying ordeal
the citizens Of jackson County, like
law-abiding people, have patiently
waited for the law to take its course
and for justice to be administered
legally.
The confession Of Reynolds differs
considerably from the testimony
brought out at the trial. The follow
ing is a brief history of the remark
able case as bro sht out at the trial.
The points OF difference can be seen:
During the latter part OF last Feb
ruary, Nj. G. Hunt, a merchant at Bel.
ton, was inveigled by Reynolds to
Jackson County, under the pretense Of
bird hunting and to procuring money
to pay Hunt for his stock OF goods.
While hunting, Hunts atten On was
called to q bird. AS he turned to look,
he was dealt a mortal blow on the
head. To rob him was short work,
and the blood thirsty m%urderers cut
the body open with an ak and buried
it in the river.
Reynolds and Brooks then divided
Hunts money, two thousand dollars,
between then, Brooks going toward
Madison County and Reynolds to Bel.
ton. There, with unparalleled cold
nees, he commenced selling Hunts
stock of goods, SO low as to attract at
tention. Suspicion aroused, Reynolds
was arrested. When charged with
the murder OF Hunt, he confessed and
implicated Brooks. He, too, was soon
caught and both lodged in Jackson
County Jail.
AT the August term OF court they
were both convicted after a trial, Rey-
nold's confession alone being sunicient.
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