The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-14
MURDER CONFESSED
THEODORE SMITH TELLS STORY
OF BRONSON CRIME.
WAS HEARTLEss AND BLOODY.
KILLING OF MIR. AND MRS. LEWIS
WAS PART OF PLOT.

To Morning News Representative
Smith Talks without Reserve.
Claims II Was FaircIoth's sugges-
tiOn and That He Was Over-Per-
suaded--At First Attempt Their
Courage Failed Them-Caught in
the House While Engaged In Sec
Ond Attempt Both Mr.. and Mrs.
Lewis Were Shot Down in Cola
Blood.
Gainesville, Fla. Sept. 13.-The
Morning News special representative
| arrived in Bronson at o'clock this
afternoon, and at once proceeded to
the county jail, where he secured per-
mission to interview Theodore Smith.
one of the principals in the murder of
Mr.. and Mrs. l.. B. Lewis, a tragedy
which will go down in the history of
Levy county as one of the most das-
tardly ever perpetrated in the state.
Smith. who is about 26 years of age,
FIVE feet. eight inches in hight and
weighs one hundred and twenty-five
pounds, light complexion with a sandy
moustache, was found sitting on a stool
in his cell, and the swelled condition
of his eyes was the best evidence that
he had been grieving over his trouble.
| Much credit is due Deputy Sheriff
c. Wellman for bringing out the con-
fession of Smith, as 1t was
solely through his determined
efforts to secure the facts that the
man confessed. Your correspondent is
also indebted to officer Wellman. who
acted as guide while the confession
was being given for the News.
Smiths confession follows:
II am twenty-six years of age. /
was born near Bronson and have lived
here virtually all my life. l am mar
ried. and have wife and two sweet
| children at home (breaking down in
| tears) and was comfortably situated
| with my family at our little home when
| Tom Faircloth came to my house one
evening and proposed the scheme of
| robbing Mr.. and Mrs. Lewis. whora
/ Faircloth said had lots Of money in
worthless iron safe at their home
AT first / scorned the proposition.
but Faircioth, whom / have known FOR
! years. was so persistent and present
! ed the proposition in such tempting
manner that finally consented.
1T was agreed that we should make
| the attempt the following night, which
| was Monday. Faircloth came to my
| home about 6 o'clock, notifying me
that he was ready. He had no wea-
| pom and asked me If / didn't have
| gun or a pistol. / told him that I
did not, so we decided to use pine
knots for the deadly work. Our plan
was to secret ourselves in close prox-
unity to the Lewis home, and when
he al I. t.
were to slip into their bedroom and
brain them with the cudgeIs, after
| which we were to crack the cafe.
I'VE proceeded to the Lewis home,
but upon reaching the yard we talked
the matter over and our courage left
us, when we decided to return to our
homes and tryit over again the follow
| ing Friday.
"On the following Friday, the date
set for the job, Faircloth came to my
house late in the afternoon, where he
| took supper. He had a shotgun, which
| he left outside to keep my wife from
suspecting anything, and l had a rifle.
% calibre, which / had borrowed,
and which was also hid
when we finished supper, which
was in the early evening about dusk,
told my wife that Tom Faircloth
and l had some business to attend to
in Bronson. and we left the place
! We went straightaway to the Lewis
| home. On the way it was decided il
Mr.. and Mrs. Lewis were at home
to first kill them, by means of cudgels
IL possible, otherwise with the guns.
and then loot the safe.
Everything worked favorable from
! the first, for when we arrived
at the house the place was in
| darkness, and there was no one
there, Tom Faircloth told me to go
| over to Jim Lewis house a short dis
| lance away, and ascertain, If possible,
| il the old couple We're there. / did go,
and just as ! reached the gate I saw
old man Lewis sitting in the room.
| knew 1t was him, for his features we're
| plainly visible from the 1anplight. I
was in the dark, and they could not
| see me.
II returned to the house and told
Faircloth that old man Lewis and his
wife were at Jim Lewis. whereupon
we forced an entrance into the house
through a window. We at once set to
work to open the safe. Tom and took
watch alternately at the front door,
while the other worked with the drill.
I'VE had not been at work more
than five minutes when Faircloth, VINO
was on watch, said: Smith, they are
coming. We are in it sure enongn.
II quit my work at the drill, and,
rifle IN nand, reinforced Falrcloth at
the door When I reached the door
Mr.. Lewis was within a few feet and
Faircloth fired and old man Lewis fell
dead. Faircloth then turned to me and
said. Shoot, you - -, or |
will kill you now l did shoot, bur
do not think my ball took effect. Fair
cloth then turned the gun on Mrs
Lewis and emptied the other barrel at
her, when she sank over the old man.
Wanted to XIII Another.
"Faircloth did not seem satisfied with
this, but suggested that we wait and
kill Jim Lewis, the son, as his house
was only seventy-five yards distant
However. realizing that the shotgun
was empty and the rifle mighty poor
dependence, we left the place immedi-
ately. going OFT the back way
We carried our arms with us
for about seven miles, and
when we reached the Wacas-
sasa river we threw the rifle over
board and hid the drill and brace I'M
der the bridge.
"A few miles further we overlook an
old colored man with a team. and took
a short ride with him. After leaving
the team we slept IN the woods all
night.
after travelling q few miles further,
about 1880 O'Clock we lay down Ia tha
woods ard slept all night The neKt
f.ans A.