Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-01-30

Philadelphia, Pa, Jan. SO.-Rufus
johnson, the negro suspected Of the muir
der Of Miss Florence w. Allinson, OF
Aloorestown, on January Is, confessed
last night that he and he alone commit
ted the crime He told the story in the
baltimore Jail, in which he had been
hprisoner, on suspicion, several days.
His limbs shaking as If with palsy, his
,roico sunk 10 a whisper, he told the story
40 Police Captain Pamphrey.
The murderer told how, seated in the
Harn ON the Strawbridge farm, he had
watched long hours for his intended vic
tim TO appear, of the womans fight for
BIER life, OF the stealing of her few poor
1rinllets and her little store of money,
while her body lay in the barn; OF his
flight from the scene, and of The days
and nights Of frenzied fear that followed
until he was at last run to earth by the
police.
AT intervals the man would stop to fall
on his knees and, crawling from one to
Abe other of officials around him, entreat
them not 10 take him back TO Moores-
town.
They'll not only lynch mel" he
Ehrieked, they'll burn me alivel Hang
me nt once; shoot me; kill me in any
way you viii, but don't take me back to
Ai0orestowni"
Under Captain Pamphrey's close ques-
Atoms, he told his story in these Words
"My name is Rufus johnson. Some
times / am called Rufus Jones. ! am 81
years old, and was born at or near Ra-
leigh, NC. / think the place is called
mcfarland. SO far az know, my father
land mother are both living, and / am
Wondering how their hearts will be when
they hear Of what / have done. / was
dor some time employed at the Straw
bridge farm. This was in the fall. They
discharged me, and for some time ] was
lin New York. Then / came on to Balti-
more.
81 did not remain IN Baltimore long. II
uns on the night Of Monday, January 10,
4hat / at last made up my mind to 20
mack to MooreAtown, and, travelling ON
the boat, arrived at Chester, Pa, in the
early morning. II was 7 a. m when /
left my grip In a railroad restaurant
kept by a negro and started for Camden
Il had committed burglary at the
CoodeDough farm, In New Jersey, and il
was necessary for me 20 avoid identih.
cation. For this reason took the Read.
ing Ferry 20 KaighnS Point, went along
kairhn's avenue TO Haddon avenue AND
thence to Haddonfeld.
AT this point / did double-going
right back to the Kaighn's Point Ferry
This time i avoided the trolley car for d
good reason. did not want to be stop
ped on this trip, and seeing a mani
wagon going my way rode with him I,
Marlton pike. From that point / go
into the new cemetery, ran through
Church road and Cove road 10 Fellow
ship, where George Small lives"
Small is one Of the cluster Of negroe
now imprisoned con suspicion" in tn
Mount Holly jail.
"In George Smalrs house I stayed AM
waited through Tuesday and Wednesday
don't think he knew why / waited, saw
THAT / was hiding from the police. Tn
morning of Thursday was breaking who
said good-by TO Small and left hi
house. I had meant 70 catch the trole
and get back 10 Camden. The light stop
ped me. l was afraid Of being arreste,
$50 I turned back, went straight fo
The Strawbridge farm, tho Orchards
where ] knew Miss Allinson lived A
was quieti no one was about; no one sa'
me as / hid in the barn. I waited
while. Then / wanted 10 come out, hu
wagons were going mp and down tn
the straw
John stopped for moment at hi
point; his face went ashen gray: .
gulped, choked and az last went ons "A
lay there hidden under the straw an
hay some one came in. 10 was n woma
] had never seen before She look,
around, went out and then from n
other side of the barn gave the cow son
hay Then / altered my position, goir
into the entryway where she had fed u
COW.
"After that I went 70 sleep and ne,
was awakened by some one shaking m
II was Miss Allinson.
What are YOU doing herer she sal
II told her nothing. Next I start
20 run away. and at that she screaml
out thought of tho wagon men.
knew that II they heard her I was gol
for good. They'd have me for the Goo
enough burglary. There was no help T
st. / must stop her noise. I caught h
by the throat and held her tight to ke
her from screaming She sank 70 q
ground and lay quiet I got up n
started 10 come out. She got up aga
as though 20 come after me. I knew s
would scream. 30 / grabbed her by &
throat again and threw her 10 the rrou
once more She lay there still and oui,
It seemed 10 me that she was senseleI
Yet / was afraid that she might recovl
scream and stop me after an. and q
time / cut a strap from a horse blank
and tied round her neck. That kept h
from screaming"
TO SETTLE AN ESTATE.