The Forrest City times., 1905-06-16

rendered. Potts leading him to believe posse Of white men were near by and in hot pursuit.
 Potts searched him and told him to disgorge the money. and placed him under arrest. Potts got sl.95 in money. plugs et tobacco and d kuife.and then brought him to jail charging him with being an accomplice in the awful crime
 As they came along thc negro Davis confessed the details of the whole diabotical assassination. duplicating Gus Benton, Bob Martin and Berry Minor all white men. and him self. He said that Benton first men toned and planned to kill Gray. and Martin came into Be affair secondly. That Benton and Martin had been coming to his house for week or more discussing and tal>ingoNer their 1 plans. Berry Minor had never been to Davis house to discuss the horrible affair, and Davis did not know that Minor Was connecte ed with if untilthe night ef the execution of their terri ble plans.
 On that night it was arranged for Benton to give the signal when Gray should go to sleep. Martin. Minor and the negro were in waiting under the bluff. When the signal was given they advanced upon the store armed with an axe, heavy piece of iron about three feet long. some barbed wire, and some twine.
 The negro was put to watch the approaches and sound the alarm i'll ease anyone should come upon the scene. The white men told him that fl he failed to warn them of any ap- proaching danger to them or their plans they would put him in hell in d minute.
 According to this confession. the three williams then entered the room where Gray lay quitely sleeping. and with one fell blow with the axe. sent l his soul before its Maker. The negro i says he could not see which one struck l the blow. but he heard il. and heard the victim utter a terrible groan, which will no doubt haunt him to his dying day.
 The weight was then attached to the body, and it was carried to boat which had been moored to convenient place, and laying it in they rowed away, afterwards dropping it over l board
 They returned presently, and after drinking several bottles of patent nos trums containing alcohol, Minor took the red comfort and the bloody sheets and clothing. and dropped them into the river as he passed over to his ho me which was just across the river.
 Davis received his pay, which he says was $l.00 and went away to set up with negro corpse on the Cooper place. Said they were to pay him more money later.
 We understand that he now says he did not receive a cent of money.
 Davis says further that the object of the killing was to secure Gray's property and business. It is also stated that Gray had something like 5000 in the house, which is missing, and that Benton deposited something over $2OO in the Bank of Eastern Arkansas, and that Martin was spend ing money freely in town day or two after the killing.
 MT. Sweet had an order from Sheriff Williams to have the keys of the store turned over to him, and when he sent to PickenS for them, Pickens would not bring them, but Martin volunteered to do so, and when he confronted Mir Sweet, stated that he had SIP which Benton had given him to keep for him. and asked to turn il over to Sweet The latter took the money. requiring him to count il il the presence of witnesses, and is suing receipt therefor.
 The three white men make a gen eral denial of the whole matter. , Benton is we'll connected. He i, related to Mr Brooks Norlleet, oi
 Memphis. who came over "Wednesday to look after Benton's interests. Ben ton is also brother of Mrs. --- Cooyer, a highly respected lady
 of this city, who lives on south Ros ser street with Mrs. Marshall anc , who is quite overcome by the awful charges against her brother, f The preliminary examination has
 been set for next Tuesday, at whicl time there will probably be quite al array of legal talent for and against
 the prisoners. Hon. R. J. William, has been retained to prosecute.
 There was some little talk of lynch