The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1907-02-21
CONTRASTING A MURDER NEVER COMMITTED
By LAWRENCE LESLIE.

!
! for his missing master without know
| ing whether he had returned in the
meantime? He answered that he knew
he had not returned for there was q
light burning in his room. which was
never TO be seen there az so late an
hour when he Was in.
Although his answers were plausible,
they were not satisfactory. and the
accused was still kept in custody, and
occasionally ss-oIanined by the
officers 81 justice. The gOssips were
busy, meanwhile, and rumors few
thick and fast. Among others reports
was one that Perry had said that he
knew that his master was murdered
By a tinker. and another that he had
confessed that he saw him killed and
robbed by gentleman's servant, and
described where his body was secreted,
but a careful search failed TO discover
II.
Tho clergy. the officers OF justice
and many OF his relatives then waited
upon Perry. and earnestly exhorted
him To make q full confession. sug-
gcg'iug a fTccr forgiveness Of Heaven
for confessed fault, and likewise hold.
ing out the hope OF moro lenient treat
mont from the officers Of the Law.
These celebrations we're not without
lhcir effect. and he sent word to the
magistrate thar he had concluded to
make q iuil confession. and desired to
be again examined He was accord
ingly again interrOs1tcl. and confessed
that he knew hat his master had been
murdered, but denied having had any
hand in it himself, nor could he tell
who had committed the deed. This
was not satisfactory, the magistrate
Insisting that If he knew his master
was murdered, he must know, also,
who committed the crime.
At last Perry confessed that he did
nov, and on being further urged said
that the murder had been committed
by his own mother and brother. On
, hearing this. the magistrate cautioned
him 10 consider well what he said, as
the words nigh, cost his relatives
their lives.
The prisoner rC pended that he had
fully considered everything, and again
asserted that he spoke the truth, and
he truth only lie then gave a long
and circumstantial relation Of the
whole plot.
lie said that ever since he had been
in Mr. HaIrison's service his mother
and brother had been tempting him 10
/ steel for them. and finally desired him
/ 10 inform them when his master went
/ to collect the rents. for they could then
/ waylay and rob him. he said that
/ when his mistress sent him 10 seek mis-
| master hC met his brother at the gate.
! They talked for some time, when a
man passed by n few rods from them
and entered mis- masters grounds. Sup
| posing 1t 10 he his master. and that he
had collected a large amount in rents,
he advised his brother to follow and
waylay him in. the shadow of the thick
foliage, while he himself would give
him an opportunity by walking about
in the adjacent fields while the deed
was being committed. After waiting a
considerable time, he followed his
brother into the grounds, and soon
found his master lying on the sward,
his brother being on him, and his
mother standing by.
On being asked by the magistrate II
his master was then dead, he replied
that he was not, that after he reached
him he heard him cry:
"Ah, rogues! will you kill me?"
He further said that, when he saw
his dear good master struggling in
their grasp his heart relented, and he
began to beg for his life, when his
brother said, Hush, you fool" and
proceeded TO strangle him.
bag Of money was then taken from
his person and given to his mother
and she secreted 1t. He and his broth
er. he said, carried the body into an
adjoining field, and finally TO the riv-
err, over half a mile distant
His mother and brother then went
home. while he fingered about the gate
and finally met William Reed, as be-
fore mentioned With the dawn OF
day he started to make inquiries, con.
corning his master, carrying the hat
headband and comb, which he cut with
his knife, and finally left on the high.
way, where they were found.
This confession was made with such
apparent candor and profusion Of de.
tail, that it was at once accepted az
the true history of the foul crime o.
course the brother and the mother
we're instantly arrested, and charged
with the deed. They stoutly denied all