The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-06-09
TO GET THE REWARD.

A Williamsburg Man swore Away
the Liberty of Negro.
Peculiar Case Brought to Attention
OF Gov. Hayward In a Petition
for Pardon.
The State says Gov. Hayward has
been asked to pardon Williams burg
man who has served several years OF a
sentence after having bsen convicted
unjustly, 1t seems. The negro was
frightened into making confession
by a white man who wanted the re-
ward Of $500.
John Harrison was convicted Of
having killed Alfred Singletary and
was sent to the penitentiary for life
Now ccme several aff1dants who testify
that Harrieon was at the store OF ] :.
M. Brown, 13 miles away, at the time
Of the killing. Mr.. T. Barron Grier,
who represented Solicitor Wilson at
the trial, declares the negro deserving
Of pardon. Judge Gary interpt ses
no Objection although the case is not
fresh Ia bis memory.
| Butsthe singular part about this
case fs that one Geo. w. Arms tried
to swear away the liberty OF the &C.
cused because q reward of $500 had
been offered. 1t is probable that
ArmsSWill be indicted on his own evil
dence against himself. His affidavit
is as follows:
George W. Arms, who being duly
sworn, says that he remembers the
trial and conviction Of John Harrison
for murder, With q recommendation
for mercy at the court Of general ses-
sions for; said county and State, and
that he ts now aware of the fact that
the said Harrison Is confined in the
State prison for the remainder of his
natural life.
"T'hat at the time of the trial of
the said Harrison this deponent work
ed at the jail, and it was to him that
the said. Harrison made bis confession
acknowledging the murder of Single.
tary; this deponent desires to state
how said confession was obtained in
order that Justice may be done. Prior
TO 1.-The Trial OF HARRISON he was in
carcerated in the jail at Kingstree;
this deponent, In order to get evidence
on which to convict said Harrison,
appeared at night at the cell door of
the said Harrison and then and there
with tho use Of q chain tried to scare
h a IL - Ior rrfc lv,k@
Afte working this scheme for several
nigh The said Harrison complained
to; IL % deponent Of the occurrence and
thia3 3ieponent told tho said Harrison
!, bar = had best confess as sounds he
4 jIieoF9t tho ghUs6 OF Singlebary.
IEvenl with this pressure being brought
to bear upon the feelings of said Har-
risonle ne still maintained his limo.
cence. Finding that this procedure
would not work the results wished,
this 'depoDent then appeared at the
cell door of the said Harrison covered
With white sheet and demanded
then and there that ne make his con.
fesslon, and 1t was upon this action
the said confession was made. This
deponent was witness In the said
ca3o against Harrison On his trial
and told his confession in court, ard
he now honestly believes that Harri.
son being an ignorant negro and be.
ing scared, made this confession
through fear and under duress and by
being worked upon by the various
methods set forth in this affidavit
After the making Of this confession 1t
was scattered and talked about
; through the entire county and worked
considerable feeling against Harrison
! OH his trial
Tho reason this deponent tried tC
get evidence to convict said Harrison
was TO try and get the reward OF $500
which had been offered by the g1ver-
nor for proof to convict"
The governor has written the fol
lowing letter to Solicitor Wilson i1
regard to the case:
Il have before me petition asking
for the pardon of John Harrison, who
vas convicted In the cuurt Of genera
! sessions Of Williamsburg county Ii
! 1895 of murder with recommendation
to mercy.
In the record you will note that
there Is an affidavit from George w
| hAh'cj WiiCloIu uc SIdtt y JtldU UIlS Sal(
| John Harrison was convicted upon
) confession obtained from him Will,
} 1orking in the jail, by means thai
3 scared the defendant into comics
( sion, assigning the reason that depon
] ent tried to get the evidence in orde
to secure the reward OF $500 offered
: By the governor for proof to convict
8 And the deponent further alleging
that he honestly believed that tn
said Harrison, being an ignorant ne
I gro, and being scared, made this con
o fession through fear and under duress
!. being worked upon by the variou
Q methods set forth in this petition.
@ If the effect OF the guilty comics
!, sion were obtained in such a manne
O and by such means as are alleged b
Q deponent, 1t Is manifest that such i
+ not conducive to justice. And Will
q l appreciate the fact that you ar
r not the prosecuting attorney in thi
y case-being Ill at the time-as sole
Il tor OF that circuit l respectfully re
quest that you investigate the fact
set forth In the petition, and the afl
daYit which herewith return to you
!" Il enclose complete record in orde
e that you may note that an alibi
= urged as reason for the pardon"
j.