The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-04
THAXTON PLOTTING
AGAINST WITNESS
Condemned Man Writes Sem
Sational Letter to Sister
INTERCEPTED BY GUARDS
The Prisoner Says It Is Necessary To
Get Jim o'Hear Out of the Way
To Save His Own
Neck.
INTERCEPTED BY GUARDS

A genuine sensation has been sprung
at the county Jail in the discovery of a
letter written by Henry Thaxton the
convicted murderer of Samuel W. I-un-
stueker, to his sister, Tilla johnson. in
which he intimates strongly that it is
necessary to put Jim O'Hear, a white
man, out of the way as the means of
saving his own neck. Thaxton would
have been hanged last Friday had it not
ben for a 15-day reprieve which was re-
ceived from Governor Conner by Sheriff
Higdon, while the condemned man stood
on the scaffold, almost in readiness for
the trap to be sprung.
The letter from Thaxton to his sister
was intercepted by the deputy sheriffs,
who had been instructed to keep a close
watch on the condemned negro. 1t was
written and concealed in an envelope and
another letter was handed the guard to
read before it was sent out. After the
letter was handed back to the negro he
placed both letters in an envelope, sealed
it, and handed it back to the guard. I'm
der the rule such letters are opened be-
fore being placed in the hands of Uncle
Sam and in this way the letter was dis
covered 1t follows;
Copy of Letter.
Now look here sister, tell pap l don't
want this man hurt unless l hurt
and Mr.. Higdon and some more men are
trying to get life time for me and if they
get it why don't have this man hurt.
will tell you more later and don't let
anyone know anything about this piece
= AZ =,
you mention it in writing and If you can
get Jim OHear out of the way in some
way I will get things fixed my way and
you see if you can't get this man down
here at once but don't let anyone know
your business for they don't know that
sent you this piece in the letter but don't
fail to go and see Andie and il you
need eny money to get that man here
just let me no and will get or dol
lars for you for the boys here told me
if l needed eny money they would help
me all they could.
80 goodnight but go and see Annie
and get her to come and write to that
man and let me know at once. Your
brother H. Il.
Plot To Get Rid of o'Hear.
1t is easily seen by the letter that there
was evidently a murderous plot being
planned to get Jim O'EIear out of the
way. O'Eear, whom Thaxton mentions
in the letter, kept a saloon in the Vi
cinity of the murder, and was one of
the chief witnesses against the negro in
his trial. Realizing the fact that the
| letter indicated a plot, Chief Deputy
| Sheriff Lucien c.. Brown Immediately
upon its discovery, made a copy of it,,
Enclosed the original, and sent the follow
| ing letter to Governor Conner:
/ ,.-rl,a 10 Tar,
| Hon. B. B. Conner, Governor, Birming-
| ham, Ala.
Dear Sir:-Enclosed please find a let
ter which the condemned negro, Henry
Thaxton, tried to smuggle out of the jail
| to his sister and which was intercepted
by one of the guards There is also a
copy attached. After you have seen the
original. please return the same and keep
the copy to take up when you have the
matter of further time for him or a re-
quest comes to you for committing his
sentence
The man O'Hear that he mentions that
he wants put out of the way Is the prin-
cipal witness against him. We do not
doubt that he is trying to get some of
his partners on the outside to do away
with this witness.
The sheriff is out of the city. and as
the time is brief before the ID days is
out I take the liberty of sending you
this. Yours very truly.
LUCIEN c. BROWN, Deputy.
What steps will be taken are as yet
O matter of conjecture. 1t will be re-
called that Thaxton was given reprieve
of Is days in order to give some of his
friends an opportunity to make good the
statement that new testimony has been
found
The man spoken of in the letter as
this man. is supposed to be RED john
son." whom ThaXton claims actually
committed the murder.