The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-08-25
SAYS HE MURDERED HIS WIFE,
John GoOdlett Now in Oconee Jail
Awaiting Information.

John Goodlett, colored, was lodged
in the Jail at Walhalla early last Fri
day morning and is being held here
pending instructions from Asheville.
Goodlett was first noticed particu-
larly in the Wolf Stake section of
Oconee, when he stopped at the home
of Magistrate P. A. Brown and asked
for something to eat. He was given
some victuals by Mr.. Brown, who
warned him to move on" to other
parts. Goodlett, however, was some
what talkative, and little later vol
unteered to Magistrate Brown the
information that he had killed his
wife at Asheville and was now want
ed in the Old North State on the
charge of murder. On this informa-
ton Mr.. Brown held the negro in
custody, prepared a warrant upon
which Goodlett could be held, had
his constable arrest him and bring
him to Jail.
Since Goodlett has been within the
Jail he has somewhat enlarged upon
his original confession, going more
into detail.
1t was about four years ago, he
says, that he killed his wife, though
information from Asheville fixes the
date about two years ago. Discover
ing that his wife was unfaithful to
him, Goodlett asserts, he killed her
one night while she was in the COM
pany of another negro man. He
then left North Carolina. Arriving
at Toccoa, Ca, he assumed the name
of George Wofford, and shortly after
his arrival he was married to ne
gro woman of that place. He says
that he later learned that she, too,
was nfaithful to him and he became
discouraged and lost confidence In
the "gentler sex" in general, decid-
ing that he would reform" He
told the woman that she could go
her way and he would go his; that
he had killed his first wife, and that
he was wanted for murder and was
going to give himself up to the au-
thorities at Asheville. During his
stay in Georgia, he divided his time
between the towns of Toccoa and
Lavonia, according to his statement.
He claims that he was on his way to
Asheville to give himself up when he
met Mr.. Brown and made the confess
sion that landed him behind the bars
in this State. There is re-
ward of $50 offered by the governor
of North Carolina for the arrest of
Goodlett, and the sheriff of Bun
combe county, that State, has noti-
fed Sheriff Kay, of Oconee that from
the description of Goodlett given by
Sheriff Kay he is satisfied that he
has the man wanted by them.
Goodlett is a light ginger-cake COL
ored negro, of slight built and prom
inent eyes. He weighs about 135 or
140 pounds. Information from
Greenville, this State, is to the effect
that Goodlett is we'll known in that
city, his mother during slavery hav-
ing belonged to the McBee family.
There seems to be considerable inter-
est there in some quarters as to the
negro under arrest.
Goodlett will be held here until in
formation is received as to the wishes
of the North Carolina authorities.
He seems to have been very intel
ligent sort of fellow, though Sheriff
Kay seems to think from his general
conversation that his mind may at
present not be entirely clear.
Goodlett says that he was lockei
up by the Seneca authorities last
Wednesday night, and on Thursday
morning he was told to hunt the
tall timber, and he hunted it.
This morning Sheriff Kay received
from Asheville photograph of Good
lett, and there is no mistaking the
fact that he has in his custody the
right man. He will be taken to
Asheville within a very short time, in
structions to that effect having come
from the sheriff of Buncombe county.
-Keowee Courier.