The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-29
SHERIFF LEE
TELLS; The STORY. '' I
Gives an Account OF the
Tragic Happenings.
.C0TTONSC CAREERTO
. The Officer Asks the Public to Suspend
Judgment
---
UNTIL ALL FACTS ARE KNOWN.
Col. Field, of Pctersbur:$, Thinks the
Lyuchins Vas Incxcusablc and Says
a Few Determined Men Could
Have Prevented it-Crowd
Numbering Not Over
Five Thousand.
. - = = .sl+= =
COTTONSCAREERTOLD.
The Officer Asks the Public to Suspend
UNTIL ALL FACTS ARE KNOWN,

Five Thousand.
EMPORIA, VA, March 2s-special.-
Sheriff S. w. Lee in response to a re-
quest from The Times sends the follow
ing written statement Of the occurrences
in connection with the tragic events here
Saturday and the occurrences and causes
that led UP to them.
SHERIFF LEES, STATEMENT.
On February I'D George w. Blick was
brutally murdered in his house in En-
poria, Va, and no trace of the murderer
could be found. The money, keys, pistol.
&C., OF the murdered man We're taken,
and great indignation was expressed bW
the citizens of Emporia and surrounding
country.
On the night of March goth the dwelling
house OF Mrs. E. a. PEBBLES was entered
by burglars and money, two gold watches
and clothing were taken from Mr.. J. R
! Grtzzard, the son-in-law Of Mrs. PEBBLES.
Mr. Grizzard was aroused by. his wife
and demanded ) of the robber what he
wanted. Immediately Mr.. Gr1zzard was
covered with a pistol in the hands Of the
! robber and the demand was made for
| money. Mrs. Grizzard replied tfat they
had no money. Mr.. Grizzard was told
that if he moved .-his ID top piece
would be blown off" He wisely remain
ed quiet and the robber left.
On the next morning public spirited cid-
zens of E1mporia wired for a detective
and blood hounds 0Ir. Branch = came
| from Suffolk and brought his dog. Tne
search commenced. The robber went east
and was traced to Arningdale,a station
on the Atlantic and 7Danville= Railroad
[ His breakfast was Furnished him oy 4
negro, and while his breakfast was pre-
pairing the robber went to a shack and
! divestinc himself of his own, put on Mr..
| Grizzard's clothes. Arringdale is about
fifteen miles east of Emporia. The whole
! OF the day of the 21st instant and much
of the night we're spent In tracing the
robber.
COTTON IN EMPORIA.
| On the morning of the 22d instant he.
| had been traced from Arringdale 20 a
alton called Green Palms, about
seven miles from Emporia. It has been
ascertained that at Green Plains he
! boarded a west-bound train on the night
| of the 21st and came to EnDoria.
| Having reached Emporia on the night
! OF the 2lst instant, he walked down the
( Coast Line to Turner's or Shippers, a
way station about five miles south OF En-
| poria.
| ABOUT T.. M Oll Lie -, q AAAS--r'eA-N
| was received from Emporia by the parties
who had traced the criminal to ArrinS-
! dale and thence back to Green Plains,
| that John w Saunders and Joseph 3.
Welton had been murdered by the robber,
! and all parties at once returned TO
! Greensville to join in pursuit of the mur-
! derer. This party, with Mr. Branch ana
/! his dog, reached shippers about 4 O'Clock
| Z. NJ. The dog was at once put on the
| al hour
| fore the arrival of the dog Mr. j. 5.
| weaver saw the murderer rapidly running.
| through a pine wood. SwampS and
! marshes prevented immediate pursuit. Mr
(! Weaver found a lot of hands VINO were
1 cutting logs for G. L. Vincent & Co., ana
/; upon inquiry found out that ne hao
| Itraded off the coat and vest stolen @ @hrois.
c1r. Jack Grizzard. These wee rscoVer-
( ed, brought to EmporIa and 1dentllled
oGlRADY FOUND
| O'Grady was found and arrested about
| 9 o'clock in, the evening he stated elisi
( he was hunting for his partner, ana
| wanted to see If he had been hurt. Messrs.
| Saunders. Welton and Morriss entered
/ deserted cabin near. Shippers, thinking
that there would be found a White tramp,
! (who proved to be O'GradD, and 1ntend-
| ed to- search him and ascertain II ne na.s
| upon his person any property. wnicn s hio
/ been taken from Mrs. Peeo1es house. :.
! Iron entering the house Cotton was nod
! ding before the fire. He was awakened
I by O.Grady. Immediately arose. a pistol
| wa in each hand and he commenced to
! shoot Mr. Welton fell at the first nre.
! MIR. saunders was struck four times, ana,
! leaving the house, fell dead at distance
| of twenty feet. Upon the arrest OF
/, O,Grady no violence was attempted he
was conveyed by deputy to the county
/ jail. .=s
About s O. clock it was ascertained tn at
/ Cotton had been seen near Emporla. head
ing north. immediately horsemen Went
in search Of the hunting crowd and the
| dog. When Emporia was reached the
/ hunt was resumed. About . o'clock r
M. telegram was received fram jar
rats Depot, ten miles north OF Emporta,
I stating that man, wounded in the hand,
| was there. Men, worn and weary from
excitement and chase. Immediately re-
F! sumed the search. and started for jar
rats. Farmers In the country were
aroused, scouts sent out, and the rail
I road and bridges guarded. Every precau-
iionlwass taken to get the murderer.
About S o'clock "a. NJ, on the 2sd in
| slant Cotton was arrested by Mr.. Mosre
a nd carried to Stony Creek to await the
arrival Of the southhound train. lie
reached Emporfa at 11:15 clock. was
guarded by citizens and safely placed IN
the county jail. and In the cell with
lOGrady.
I few quiet and conservative citizens
entered the jail.s and Cotton made con-
fesslons He denied that he was the mtlr- ::
5. i,erer of Blick. but Blick.s ksys wers
] found in his pockets. He wore the pants
i ftwosuair1 of Jack Grizzard. and had the
n;stnl and q two 4 wa tchsSs4p of which Afr.