The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-04
Tough I stayed away from homo the
next day to keep from coming In con-

Tough. 1 stayed away from homo tho
next day to keep from coming In con-
tact With Cornctt
The next night spent ut my
brother In laws home and the mex,
morning went to my home to lnycs-
tlgate. | lived some 500 to 500 yards
from my brother-In-law. There were
fresh horse tracks at the doors and
windows OF The houge. and I took I,
for granted that Cornett had beer
there looking for me. SO got gun
hooked up my horse and went TO
Chipler. about four miles distant. foi
tho purpose Of getting Il warrant foi
Him. The magistrate was not there,
and While in Chipey met my sister,
Mrs. Durham. told her what had
heard and asked her vas II true She
replied tina, II was.
II left Chipley late in the afternoon
and went homo bs a different route
from the one that | knew Cornett used.
My wife and children were still! at my
brother-in- laws home.
About dark when ] got 10 my
brother-in-,a a man by the name
Of Bob i.edfovd. who lived In the
neighborhood. came TO see me- and told
me that Cornett had been to my home
late that evening under the In fluence
az whisky. mounted and armed Led
ford did not know whether he came
to apologize or TO Kill me.
~ borrowed Mr.. Ledford's shotgun
loaded it and started TO the home Of
another magistrate for the purpose OF
having Cornett arrested About mile
beyond where Cornett lived met
young man named Charles Landlord.
who told nc that Cornett and Eve
or six Of his friends were out on
drunk, armed. and looking for me. and
that ] had better look out Landlord
and myself then turned around and
started back TO my brother-in- la" $.
intended to spend the night in barn.
After We had gone some dlstanee, v,
met Landlords uncle. Bill Landlord
who told us that Cornctt was not far
ahead OF us.
we came on down the road, OF
course expecting trouble, and when we
.rea chcd a point just III front OF Cor
nett's home We saw that he had Just
gotten there. saw him walk into the
door and pass IN front Of window,
where he stopped. outraged at the
insul, TO my sister, and feeling that
from the threats that lie had made
tina; II was question OF one OF us
getting Killed. 1 concluded that as
had the oppor.unity' had better take
ii, 50 frcd and killed him instantly.
The next day got on the train
and went TO Columbus. Ga. where
surrendered 20 Sheriff Roberts | did
not care TO stay in the county AND
take the chance OF being handled BY
gang Of roughs. friends Of Cornett.
Later Sheriff Henderson, OF Harris
county. ca me for me and went with
him to Hamilton. the county seat
How lie Escaped
Later on my brother-in-iaw HouEh
and myself were tried jointly for the
crime, convicted and sentenced 10 lie
imprisonment. Pending a hearing for
ne,v trial was in the county jail.
4 q
nigh, in the fall of 1925. negro muir
dererer who was confined III the same
section OF the Jail that my brother
in-Iaw and myself We're in was Fb-
Grated by gang Of his friends, who
broke in for that purpose. came out
side ano my brother IN law stayed in
tail walked aoout three miles 70 my
uucies home. My uncle's name was
Tom Ransom. Here stayed for
couple az months right in the COUNTY
where the shooting had taken place
and within a few miles of my home.
Some Of my friends came to me and
begged me 10 leave, but would not
consent TO o SO until was assured
that my wife and children would be
soni after me. The people Told me
that there Was not Il man in the county
but VINO was glad 10 be rid OF Cornett.
II finally decided to leave. and Wen.
by private conveyance TO place about
nifty miles froi, my nome. and there
took :. train and came 10 hbheviilc. 5
20 Here stayed ono night, attending
the services II ne Baptist Church. The
nest morning took the train asd
came 10 Whitmire. y. g.. and here Sc
cured Il position as superintendent OF
ia cotton plantation owned ny Mr.. J.
lis. Spca rrnan Here ii was that I as
sGmed The name of +. F.. Morris ]
stayed there until the crop was laid
by and then came TO he orchard OF the
Nan LindieN Nursery Company at
Southern Pines y, C.. and here Was
engaged in packing and Shipping fruit.
When the season was over they sent
nc 10 Greensboro where got q posi-
ZION with the Pomona Terra Gotta
Company. Here my wife and TWO chill
dren joined me. | stayed there unit l
November. 1890 when came to Dan
VILE. lived here for about two ye-rs
and then moved TO Reidsville, y. c..
where worked in the general mer-
chandise store OF ". r. Ware for about
three years, From Reidsville went
back TO Greensboro. and worked about
one year for the Southern Railway and
they sent me back to Danville as
special officer. was rarely ever seen
on the street here, as my work was
mostly at night. came to know Mr.
Chalmers Patterson. however, and
when he heard that Officer Brothers
was 10 resign from the police force he
sent for me and asked ME to apply for
the position. This did. and was elect
ed on the first ballot, although four
Candidates were in the field After
being on the force something less than
year vas elected by the Police
Commission a. Chief Of Police and +
have held this position for four years
Always Tried to Live Right.
II have always tried TO live with an
pl IN. oy,1 ! 10