The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-10-20
NEGRO CONFESSES MURDER
HENRY HUNTLEY ADMITS KILL.
ING JAILER WITH CUSPIDOR.
Negro Says His Companion in Jail De-
livery Should Also be Hanged.
Details of Escape Told.


who, with Jim Cox, another negro,
escaped from the Kershaw county jail
on Saturday, September 8, releasing
at the same time negro woman and
leaving Jailor Cook dying from the
effects of a blow in the back Of the
head inflicted with an iron cuspidor,
has confessed that it was he who
dealt the fatal blow to Mr.. Cook.
According to Mr.. Rowe, Huntley
stated that it had been the intention
of the prisoners to make the break
for liberty for some time and that for
the purpose, in case weapon of any
sort should be found necessary, Cox
had washed the iron cuspidor and
placed it in a convenient place, but
that it was not decided between them
who should strike the blow when the
time came, both fearing lest they
might kill the man, which they did
not desire to do.
The Escape.
The opportunity presented itself
for the delivery when the water
works got out of order and the pris-
oners called Mr.. Cook to see about
it; that upon going back down stairs
after inspecting the trouble he lock-
ed Cox in his cell but having put
Huntley on the task of sweeping up
the water which had overdowed, neg
lected to lock him in his cell. Re-
membering this when he got down
stairs Mr.. Cook went back up to do
so. While upstairs for the second
time he viewed a balloon ascension
from the window with the prisoners,
after which he told Hunt1ey to 60 in
to his cell, comenting upon the fact
that it was after hours for prisoners
to be out and that the sheriff would
reprimand him severely If he knew
! of it. Having sworn to Cox that he
would never go back into his cell
Huntley, instead of doing 80 at
Mr.. Cooks order, demanded of him
the keys and in a tussle succeeded In
getting them from him.
It was then, seeing Mr.. Cook go to
the window and fearing that he might
give an alarm, that Huntley, seizing
the cuspidor, struck him in the back
of the head and, with Cox, started
down stairs. Turning back he saw
the jailer raise himself up a little.
Feeling that he was now in for it, he
| struck the man a second blow and
calling for Cox to hand him his hat,
which was nearby, the two proceeded
down stairs, released the woman
prisoner, left the keys in her cell and
for the time, made good their escape
Mr.. Rowe says that Cox, when
asked if he had any statement tc
! make, said that Huntleys version was
the correct one.
For some time after his recapture
Huntley was inclined to lay the blame
on Cox; afterward he became moody
and silent, only saying that he was
tired of telling lies and would tell
the truth in court. He decided, how
ever, to make his confession and dld
so Friday in the presence of Jailo1
Rowe and few other witnesses. The
above version of the affair was gotten
from the jailor.
Mr.. Cook died of his injuries early
on the morning after the jail deliv'
ery. The prisoners were all three re-
captured later and are now safely
lodged in jail. Huntley, according TO
Mr.. Rowe, says that he knows that ne
will hang, but thinks the other two
prisoners should hang with him.