The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-05-29
A RIGHT GOOD FAKE.
\ Letter Which it is Claimed Barlow
Warren Wrote to a Relative.

Below we publish a letter which the
Orangeburg Times and Democrat printed
last week. 1t purports tc be written by
Barlow Warren, but the people of Bam-
berg to whom we have shown it are very
incredulous One gentleman who was at
the burial and who knew Warren WELL
boots at the idea of the letter being
genuine. He says Warren S undoubted-
" dead, and that there is nc doubt in his
mind but what the body found in the
river was that cf Warren. Here is the
article and letter:
4 few days ago we recs we'd letter
from prominent citizeI. Of Colleton
county enclosing letter which he says
was written by Barlow Warren. In his
letter the gentleman says under date of
May 13:
Editor Times and Democrat:
II enclose copy of letter which l
would be glad if you would publish. l
have always maintained Barlow Warren's
innocence, and now that he has left the
United States | give you his letter to
publish. saw i near kinsman of his
who asked me to have his letter published.
| send it to you. He has left for parts
unknown-I know not where. He will
never return. copied this letter from
the original, leaving out certain things
not necessary or right to be published"
At the request of the gentleman who
wrote the above letter we withhold his
name, but as we said above, he is prom
inent citizen and is known to many of
our people. Here is the copy of the letter
which is signed by Barlow Warren. 1t
is dated March, 1902, and reads as follows:
Gas | am about to leave my native
country forever, I write you for the last
time to tell you goodbye. [ have been
hunted and bounded down for good
while. Now that it is reported / am
drowned I have an opportunity to escape.
The prowling detectives have constantly
been trying to capture me, but could not.
I am not guilty of the robbery at Fifty
eight, when l was first arrested, and
would have been acquitted, if it had not
been for one stubborn juror. The bribed
testimony of Watson and Connor was
against me and the Express Company
used all their power to convict me, but
thanks tothe efforts of Judge Izlar and
Mr.. Brunson | was not convicted. had
to lie in Jail for awhile till could give
bail. Well, I was poor boy, and driven
to desperation, determined to kill Tom
Watson and Connor. shot Watson to
death because he had lied against me,
and vowed to kill Connor, but did not
have the opportunity. After this, every
crime committed, was laid to my charge.
I was accused of robbing tie postofice at
Walterboro and of attempting to hold up
the train at Fifty-eight, and finally was
accused Of stopping the train near the
same place, and taking the express safe
and carrying it to the Edisto, and finally
my body was found drowned. While all
these things were going On was about
my old home near Buckhead, and had
nothing to do with these things. My
only crime was shooting Tom Watson.
For this would have been hung, so /
kept out of the way. This lodging life
does not suit me, so have concluded to
leave my country and State forever. A
poor orphan hoy now goes to live in
foreign lands, so goodbye. Tell all my
kindred and friends goodbye for ever.
Yours,
J.BARTOW WARREN"
The Times and Democrat publishes
this letter as requested, but as to whether
it was written by Barlow Warren our
readers must decide for themselves on the
testimony given above. The gentleman
who sent it to US is a man who is promi-
nent in church and State and he seems to
have no doubt but that the letter was
written by Warren.