The Detroit times., 1912-12-28
WIFE OF RICH
FARMER ADMITS
PLOT TO STAY
Man Partner in Crime Blamed
BY Relatives Of Woman,
Declared Insane
MOTHER OF SIX AND
LEADER IN THE CHURCH
Confessed Because She Could
Not Die With Lie On
Her Lips

MACON, Ca. Dec. 2s.-Relatiyes
and friends OF Mrs. James King,
widow OF one OF the wealthiest farm
ers in this section OF the state. were
taking steps today to nave Mrs. King
declared insane, la order that she
may escape the gallows, following her
confession that she forced Nicholas
Wllourn, young farmer, TO Kill her
husband.
Wilburn confessed the crime and
insisted that it was instigated by Mrs.
King. who had promised % pay him
$1,000, the proceeds OF an insurance
policy on Kings life, and also to mar
ny him. Arrested, Mrs. King FIRST
denied the crime, but under cross
examination by the sheriff and dis
trict attorney 1T last admitted her
guilt.
Her confession followed a sensa-
tional scene in the jail ONCE. Pressed
TO admit the truth OF the Wilburn
charge, she cried again and again
that, ''as God was her judge" she
was innocent. Finally, she threw her
hands In the air, and, falling prone
on the floor, sobbed bitterly:
Yes, yes, yes! | did IL. did It.
Do you think God will forgive me-
Ask The people to have mercy on me,
not for myself. but for my children"
Later, when partially Gained, Mrs
King made complete confession,
which was reduced TO writing and
sworn TO.
Last March," she said, Mick Will
burn and myself were slttiug in my
dining room. Nick told me that he
did not have friend In the world.
patted him on the back and told him
that I would be his friend.
Had 1t not been for the $4,000 in
suranoe, we would never have plotted
Ito kill my husband. My first attempt
the strychnine and we put 1t In my
husbands whisky. When he became
sick, he took an emedc and recov-
cred saa
Then we plotted to shoot him.
Nick told me that he would catch
him out hunting and. Kill him with
his own gun. The day OF the killing
Nick came in after Mr.. King had been
gone for about an hoGr. told him
my husband had gone and that now
was our time He left and soon after
ward he came back and told me that
James was dead. sent johnny Cor.
idon and Frank Wilburn to find my
husband. They came back. and said
he had accidentally killed himself
This was on Dec. IL, when they
found the body, but II was the day
before that he was killed On Dec.
II, Detective Moore came around and
then Nick told me that he was
suspected of having done the killing
! told him to brave up. / didn't be-
lieve he would give me away, and
after he did / was determined to
deny all and go To. the galloWs, II /
had TO, with lie on my lips--But
now | have decided 10 tell the truth,
as could not meet my God with such
a lie"
Mrs. King is 80 years old, the
mother Of six children, and had been
a leader OF church circles in Jones
county. Wilburn was 10 years her
junior. Because Of the threats OF
lynching made by friends Of King, a
guard has been placed about the Jail
here The feeling Is intense against
both the man and widow, although
the members OF the woman's family,
which is one OF the most prominent
in this seytion OF Georgia, Is standing
by her, on the ground that she was
insane. They say that since the birth
of her last baby she has been
irrational and they declare that VIII
burn worked on her weakened men
tally.
Wilburn has made complete con-
fession, in which he tried to put all
OF the blame on the woman, alleging
that she cajoled and tempted him into
committing the murder.