The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-06-02
CONFESSED FROM FEAR.
Was Sentenced to the Penitentiary
For Life.-Now a Pardon is
Wanted For Him,

| confessions from Ignorant prisoners,
especially negroes, have often been
declared illegal and wrong, but nine
times out of ten these methods are
never exposed in the courts. A very
curious case has been brought to the
attention of Governor Hayward, pri-
ma-facie circumstances showing that
a confession OF murder had been OBJ
tanned from an ignorant and super
! stitious negro by means Of ghostly
appartition in his cell, especially pre-
pared for the occasion. The negro's
name is John Harrison and he is now
in the penitentiary. He was SEN
fenced in Williamsburg in May, 1895,
for murder, the jury having recon-
mended him to mercy. A petition
for pardon has been presented to the
Governir the main grounds for which
were shown in the following affi-
davit:
George w. Arms sworn says that
he remembers the trial and convic-
ton Of John Harrison for murder,
with recommendation for mercy at
| the court Of general session for said
county and state, and that he is now
aware Of the fact that the said Har-.
rison is onhned in the state prison
for the remainder of his natural life.
That at the time of the trial of the
said Harrison this deponent worked
at the jail and it was to him that the
said Harrison made his confession,
acknowledging the murder of Single
terry This deponent desires to
state how said confession was obtain
| ed in order that justice may be done.
Prior to the trial Of Harrison he was
incarcerated in the Jail at Kingstree,
and this deponent, in order to get
evidence on which to convict said
Harrison appeared at night, at the
door of the said Harrison's cell and
then and there with the use of q
chain tried to scare the said Harri-
son into confession. After working
his scheme for several nights the
said Harrison complained to this de-
ponent Of the occurrence and this
said deponent told the said Harri-
son that he had best confess as the
'nds he heard was the ghost of
Singleterry. Even with this pressure
being brought to bear upon
him Harrison maintained his
innonence. Finding that this
procedure would not work the re-
suits wished this deponent then ap-
peared at the cell door of the said
Harrison covered with a white sheet
and demanded then and there that he
make his confession and it was upon
this action the said confession was
made. This deponent was a witness
in the said case against Harrison on
his trial and told his confession in |
court. and Harrison. being an ignor-
ant negro. and being scared, made
this confession through far and du-
ress and by being worked upon by !
the various methods set forth in this
-, ,,o1-t,cr of bsc |
confession it was scattered and talk |
ed about through the entire county |
and worked considerable feeling
against Harrison on his trial. There
fore this deponent tried to get evil
dence to convict said Harrison and |
tried to get the reward of $500 which
had been offered by the governor for
proof to convict"
The governor has written the fol-
lowing letter to Solicitor Wilson in
regard to the case.
Il have before me petition ask
.;,g for the pardon of John Harrison,
whO was convicted in the court of
general sessions Of Williamsburg
county in 1905 OF murder with recon-
mendation TO mercy. Tn the record
YOU will note that there is an affidavit
from George W. Arms wherein he
states that the said John Harrison
was convicted upon a confession OBJ