Bridgeton pioneer., 1902-09-11
foul MURDER
ROBBERY and ARSON
Job Williams Will Unquestion-
ably be Convicted Of the MUIR
der of John s. Holmes and
Catherine Shute.
[From Daily Pioneer. FRIDAY, Sept. s.,

Shute were foully murdered in the
barn burned at Bowentown last week
and the barn was burned to cover up
the crime. The mystery has been en-
tirely cleared, and the public will
learn all of the horrible details at the
October term of Court.
Yesterday afternoon Prosecutor
Fithian, seated in his private office,
gave to the newspaper men the fol-
lowing type written statement
SIN order to relieve the public anxi-
ETY. as to the circumstances of the
death of John s. Holmes and Gath
arine Shute on August 27th last, the
Prosecutor of the Pleas deems it ad-
visable at this time to state that he
is in possession of evidence sufficient
in his Judgment to establish the fact
that they were murdered, and to JUS
tify the indictment and secure the
conviction of Job Williams therefor -
The Prosecutor absolutely declined
to say anything further. In answer
TO all questions he repeatedly de-
clared he could not add to the state
ment that he had given out. This he
felt was justly due the community,
but he deemed it inadvisable to enter
into any OF the details.
The sweeping statement Of the
Prosecuting attorney must be accepted
as conclusive. He would not have
made it under any circumstances
without he was absolutely certain of
the posit ion he assumes.
From the day following the tragedy
the Pioneer has insisted that the
aged farmer and his faithful house
keeper were foully murdered by Job
Murray Williams, and declared en-
phatically that the crime would be
proven. The day following the in
quest, the Pioneer" pointed out the
manner in which Mr.. Holmes could
have entered the barn and how the
opportunity thus presented itself for
Job Williams to carry out his MUIR
derous intent. The testimony to be
presented at the October term of
Court will practically substantiate
that theory.
While Prosecutor Fithian will say
no word more than contained in his
official declaration, and Sheriff Hen
dee and Constable Lore will not say
word, it may be said that the negro
now confined in his solitary cell upon
the third floor of the county prison,
has confessed all the horrible details
the awful crime which will take him
to the gallows.
This confession was made Wednes-
day night and early Thursday morn
ing. 1t isssafe to say that the Prose-
cutor had the confession made person
ally to him, despite the fact that he
will not admit it.
1t was early Wednesday evening
when the Jail officials we're anxiously
inquiring for Prosecutor Fithian, and
he was found by a "Pioneer" re-
porter, who accompanied him to- the
Sheriff's office. When the Prosecutor
entered the room Constable Lore said
to him, 81 have important news for
you The county attorney remained
at the county buildings for some time.
About one o'clock yesterday morn
ing, telephone message from the
Jail got Prosecutor Fithian out of bed,
and in the early, silent hours of the
morning he again visited the Jail and
remained there for considerable
time. He will not say he saw Job
Williams, but it is safe to say that he
did. The Prosecutor again visited
the Jail yesterday morning about eight
O'Clock.
The full and convincing confession,
it is safe to say, was made after mid
night of Wednesday.
Yesterday afternoon lawyer Samuel
Iredell, who has been retained as
counsel for the nergo, visited Will
llams in his CELL and remained there
for more than two hours talking with
the fellow. 1t is quite evident that
the able crimianl lawyer at once real
ICES the enormous task he has before
him, and it is certain that Williams
has told him just what he has told
the authorities. ssSssa@~.aa
When Mr.. Iredell came from the
all he was asked if Williams had
made any confession. He replied
Why, yes. He has made a half
dozen. He confessed to me this after
noon that he was the creator of the
world -
DO you think, Mr.. Iredell that
Williams is insane?' was asked.