The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-06-28
A MURDERER'S STORY.
Confession of a Negro Who Was
Hanged in Newberry Many
Years Ago.

liam R. Thompson. made February
I4th, 1876, in regard 70 the killing OF
Mr.. Reed, and robbing and burning
the store. at Pomaria. Newberry
county, South Carolina. on the night
of December o4th, 1875. 1t was fur
nished The Herald and News b. a
gentleman OF Pomaria who preserved
one OF the copies printed at that
time:
On Thursday the 23rd OF Dec.
1875, I, William R. Thompson and
Alf Roof talked at the depot about
killing Mr.. Reed and robbing the
store. And we went there Thurs
day night to carry it through, but
some one stayed in the store all
night with Mr.. Reed. and that pre-
vented it.
Friday evening we went down to
the depot, or at least Alf Roof did,
sometime after dinner, and l went
down afterwards to mail letter,
about train time. ! found ALI Roof
down there at the depot. He said
Everything is all right" He said
we would get him (Mr. Reed to-
night between the house (Mr. Hollo-
way's) and the store as he goes to
supper. We went down there
when it was first dark. Alf Roof
stationed himself at the path through
the cotton patch in the fence corner
by the road, and I went down to the
depot to see if there was any one
there. l had my four shooter pistol
and two barrels were loaded with
cartridges. Ali Roof had my double
barreled gun. the same as was shown
in the court at the trial, and it was
loaded with or 7 balls Of ALI Roofs
pistol moulds. loaded it on Friday
evening. I had my four shooter
when we went down on Thursday
evening to the depot, and ALI Roof
had his pistol. Neither of US had
Cal. Wilson's army pistol; it had
been broken for some time. We, Cal
and I, shot mark often, and it was
out OF order. We were in our nat
ural clothing. and not disguised. Alt
Roof was in the fence corner at the
road where the path comes into the
cotton patch. on this Friday night
for the purpose OF waylaying and
killing Mr.. Reed, as Mr.. Reed came
from supper or as he was going or
coming either way. :Alf Roof had
my dcutle-barreled gun.
I went to the depot to see if any
one was there and I found some
body in the store trading, bui
did not know who it was. l stayed
right at the we'll inside OF the yard
of the rail road house for IS or 20
minutes. About that time Tucker
Koon, Joe Sigh and Paul Alstin
came out OF the store. They
came out and went up the
path toward where ALI Roof
was. They knew nothing OF this
thing, and had no connection with it
whatever to my knowledge. In 10
or IS minutes more Wade. Cook
came out OF the store. He went to-
wards the railroad and in the direc-
ton of his home He had no con-
nection with it. and knew nothing
about it to my knowledge.
1 stayed at the we'll all this time.
After Wade Cook had gone. 1 went
up the path where .Alf Roof was,
I found ALI Roof in the same fence
corner where | had left him. near the
path at the road. l said to Ali Roof.
they are al gone now. and there is
no one there but Mr.. Reed. and if
! he don't come along soon YOU must
come down to the store in 10 or IS
Pr1inutes." Alf Roof said he saw three
men pass. and he asked me if l knew
who they were. | told him. no,
did not know. ! only found out who
they were from the testimony which
they gave in before the coroner's in
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