The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-12-08

on Monday morning imme 1iatcly
after this confession WAS made, and
an answer was soon received from
Chief of Police Nelson, stating that
Richards had been arrested. The
prisoner was brought to Benton that
afternoon and committed to jail.
At the several meetings, which were
largely attended, and by the leading
citizens OF the community, the evi-
lence was carefully considered; there
vas no undue hasto-the peorIo had
decided to Investigate the savage
murder and to punish the sssassips.
Confronted with this evidence,
Hea:n finally ulade o public confes-
sion on last Tuesday morning, to the
effect that himself aud Richards com-
United the horrible crime:
iIearn's confession, 10 effect, is as
follows:
"N0nday morning / went to
Shreveport and met John Richards;
ve drank several times and spent
all our money; tod Richards that
Ir. Vance had a heap Of money,
aud We could get il; we come up on
the train that evening; | cot off at
Eanccviile, he got OIL at Willow
Chute; we met in the road, near 8
O'clock that night, and went TO Nr.
Eauco's lousc; We took The axe, and
opened tie blinds and went in
through the window, it was already
raised; | hit Mr.. Vance ia the head
with the back Of tie axe; the dog
crowled, / drove it out and broke
the desk to get the money; thong ht
| killed him, and when he groaned
Richards took the axe and hit Mr..
Vance in the head; we took all the
money We could find and left quick:
we went out Of the window we come
in at on the front gallery; we diyi-
ded tho money when we got out on
the road; it was all silver and we
divided it as we'll as we could in the
dark, my part was s22; we crossed
the bridge at Shreveport and Rich
ards went home, l stayed at the
house of colored man and told him
not to tell | had been there.
"Next morning, Tuesday, we went
to Greenwood, Richards went to his
folks house, and I went to my faith
er's; we drank whisky good deal;
that afternoon we got in a wagon to
go to Marshall, but got off three
miles from there; Richards come
back to Shreveport, slipping away.
and l went to MARSHALL; | drank
whisky and gambIed Off the money.
Wednesday morning | went back to
Greenwood, and told my father what
| had done; he told me to give my
self up; went back to Shreveport,
and there they caught me. l don't
know why l wanted to kill Mr..
Vance, he was always kind to tie
and befriendel me; l ought to die for
it, and [ am ready to die
Richards deuied that he tool, part
10 the murder, but, in addition to
Hearn's confession duplicating him,
the corroborative evidence was suf-
fclently strong to prove his guilt
beyond doubt.
The Com n,ittee, accordingly, re-
ported to the Citizens Meeting,
which was then being held in the
Court House-about 500 being pre-.
sent, all sections OF Bossier Parish
being represented, and by leading
citizens, who are interested in the
welfare Of the parish, and 10 the
protection Of the lives and property
of the community.
After calm and mature delibera-
ton, it was decided that as the evi-
dence of guilt was positive, punish
meut should be sure and swift-the
assassins should be hanged.
ACCORDINGLY. a COmmittne Of OK