Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-03-22
PARALLEL TO STRIPPING CASE.
North Carolinian's Story Similar to
that Of Georgia Prisoner.
ATLANTA CONSTITUTIONS

STRIPPING is the story Of Thomas b.
Whitson, of Mitchell county North
Carolina, who, nearly thirty years
ago, was sentenced to a term OF years
In the penitentiary for murder, who
escaped, moved to another State
changed his name, and became a re-.
spected citizen Of the community,
only TO have his identity uncovered
at last by II of the tricks Of fate.
The story Of Wilson's career
came to light a few days ago when
his identity was made known by one
of his enemies, and he was arrested
in Lexington, Ky, and taken back to
Raleigh, N. c., to enc the service
of his sentence.
Two Parallel Cases.
1t is especially interesting because
Of the fact that it almost directly
parallels the case Of Stripping, who
killed w. j.. Co, lett, in Harris coun-
ty, Georgia, and escaped from the
jail fourteen years ago, after a life
sentence had been passed upon him,
moved to Danville, Va, with his fam
lily, changed his name, became chief
Of police, gained the respect Of all
who knew him, and then, after all
those years Of freedom and right
living, had his identity discovered
and was arrested and brought to
Georgia a few days ago to answer for
his crime.
STRIPPING shot Cornett because Of
alleged improper advances made to
his wife.
Whitson shot his business partner,
G. G. Bird, in Mitchell county, North
Carolina, in 1882, because he sus-
pected Bird Of intimacy with his
wife.
Stripling's brother-in-law was in
volved with him in the commission of
the crime, and was sentenced to a
life term along with Stripping. The
brother-in-law served a short time,
II was given a pardon.
Whitson's brother was involved
with him in the killing Of Bird, was
sentenced to the penitentiary and
was pardoned a short time afterward.
The Parallel Continues.
Stripping escaped from the Harris
county jail before he began service
Of his sentence, changed his name,
later moved his family to Danvills,
became chief Of police and was living
peacefully when the strong arm OF
the law again clutched him after
fourteen years Of liberty.
Whitson and his brother escaped
after the killing of Bird, fled to Ken
lucky and eluded capture for nine
years. In the meantime Whitson
married and had a wife and several
children. In 1891 they we're captur-
ed, tried and given the sentence Of
death, but the sentences were COM
muted to thirty years by Governor
Carr, Of North Carolina, in 1893.
Thomas Wilson's case differs
from Stripling's In that he served two
years Of his sentence, while STRIPPING
escaped before he vas turned over to
the ~penitentiary authorities, the for
mer gaining his liberty by a clever
strategy In 1895.
From this point on the two cases
are remarkably alike.
Whitson escaped with two other
convicts from the Raleigh peniten-
tiary by forging a note from the war
den to one of the guards, instructing
the latter to urn over to the bearer
his rifle and keys. Butler, one Of
the escaping men, stole a suit of
clothing from a guard. approached
him with the forged note from the
warden, took his rife aud keys and
dropped the keys over the outer wall
Of the stockade to Whitson and Bal
ley, who opened the main gate and
the three walked out.
Was Guarding Convicts.
Marching the other two prisoners
In front Of him Butler proceeded
down the railroad track toward Dur
ham, telling inquisitive persons
whom they met that he was guarding
convicts. Butler went into Durham
alone and purchased two suits Of
clothes for his pals and then the three
took the train for Lynchburg, Va,
paying the fare with money which
they had saved while in the peniten-
tiary.
AT L%nchburg the three separated,
and Whitson returned to Letchcr
county, Kentucky, where he had a
farm, wife, and four childr,l, and
where he was known as Sam Jonos