The Daily Texarkanian., 1897-09-12
A MURDER MOST FOUL.
h. M. Williams, a Methodist
Preacher, Set Upon by
Negros and Murdered.
A LONELY SPOT THE SCENE.
The Body Mutllated and Sunk in
Sulphur River One Of the
Murderors squealed,
A LONELY SPOT THE SCENE.

We have written several articles
about the missing preacher Rev.
r. NJ, Williams, who disappeared
about three weeks ago between
Bright STAR Ark, in this county,,
and Buchanan, Texas, in Bowie
county
The facts in the case, as we can
gather them at this writing, are as
follows;
Rev, R, M, Williams was the cir
cult rider and preacher at several
places in Miller and Bowie coun.
ties,
On August 2lst last-three weeks
ago-he left Bright Star for Buch-
anau Texas, to attend camp
meeting, and being dHectedl to
cross the Sulphur at the Wilson
bend ferry made inquiry all along
the road he Travelled IN getting di-
rections to this crossing,
Rev. Williams, when he left
Bright Star, was driving pair of
good bay ponies, with new harness
and a good hack and was dressed In
good clothes, aud made a good ap.
pearance,
lie was not missed for several
days, rs there Is not much passing
along the route trayer5ed by him,
but when the aeighbors Of The diff
ferent localities turned out TO the
various little churches aud began
to ask one another what had be-
come Of the reverend gentleman,
and none could answer they turned
out and searched for HIM,
The minister was trlckedrght up
to the ferry by reliable witnesses,
aud here he was lost. The negroes
living at the ferry said they did not
put such man across, nor did they
know anything about HIM,
This did not suit the committee,
and they arrested Jerry Field, who
was known TO have been In charge
of the ferry on the day the preach.
er was supposed to have crossed,
and after holding him a week and
plying him with questions, he finally
broke down, and after eXaetIug a
promise from the committee to pro-
teet him from the negroes, admit
ted that he aud his brother Nelson
Field aud three other negroes make
Ing ties near the ferry had murder.
ed the preacher aud had thrown
his body In the Sulphur river
Jerry aaysI "fhey stripped the
preacher naked, and taklhga broad
axe, cut him through heleft shouh
der TO the heart, aud then cut his
body half through, Then welghtIng
his body with stones they sunk II In
the river"
Nelson Field aud some Of the Tie
makers got In the hack aud left for
parts unknown, taking It aa then
part Of the booty for the murder,
After this confession the posse
gave Jerry Field up TO the 6ass
county, Texas authorities, which
was a mistake, as II Is now known
that thla murder was committed In
Bowie county, near the line Of Gass
county,
Every possible effort will be made
10 run these negroes down aud pun,
lBh them for thls dlabolltal murs
der,
Rev. Williams was a Mason and
odd Fellow, aud these orders should
help the officers aud citizens run
the black donds down and aeo that
they are punished,
Since the above, which We learned
from Mr. j, W, Lee a farmer living
near buchanan, was written, we
have mot Mr. j, j Roper, who lives
south or thlHeltN and ho telA no
that Jerry Field has deulod The
above, after making the statement
aud has told several different tales
of the matter He will be held and
an effort will be made to find the
body aud 10 run down the three ab.
sentnegroug
There is no doubt but that The
minister has been murdered
LATER Reliable news has Just
been received here, statIngthat the
body0 the murdered mdn had been
found aud that II was cut as stated
above, These negro mafdefefs
I D.. i.ttit s..Ial at4ia. L.. lltu..