The Green Forest tribune., 1913-08-15

TOW. All hope of respite is gone. ! had been told by 5. G. Mitchell. my attorney, that Gov. Futrel had promise to grant me few days in order to get my case. in the supreme court of the United States. He told me that Gov Futrell said that Gov. Hays promised him to carry out this agreement. 1 relied on this promise. Who would not? ! have learned in a few hours that Gov. Hays has gone back on his promise and that l am to be hung It was cruel to deprive me of this chance to have my case passed on blythe highest court in the land. Know ing absolutely that 1 am to die to- morrow, that there is not the slightest 'hope, do solemnly swear that l am innocent. 1 swear that did not kill Ella Barham, or have anything to do with her death. This I say as my last breath.
 ask Judge Mitchell to convey this statement to my parents or to any others who may be interested enough to enquire. For my parents, 1 desire them to know that l have made my peace with God. I have always be- lieved in the Christian religion and l die in full faith. To them 1 say that would not die with perjury on my lips. If I were guilty of killing Ella Barham, I could even then be saved through Christ
 l have never been a criminal. never was convicted of anything only one small misdemeanor. was born and raised in this county ] appeal to all men who believe in Gods religion, if 1 should not have had a few days, stay of execution. But that is past. If a governor could go back on his word, ] forgive him as I do those who prosecuted me. 1 do not blame the jury. They were surrounded by mob who had already condemned me. do not blame the mob. They were honest. Some one had committed an awful crime. The public demanded victim. l was arrested. A great many rumors were circulated and had the effect of making every one believe in my guilt. Two of these rumors were that my bloody clothes were found, and that witnesses would be found that was in love with Miss Barham, and that she would not go with me, and that l had threatened to kill her. Of course they were wholly untrue, and no effort was made to establish them. There was not a single fact or circumstance that was relied on by the state that was not met by honest reasoning, and as 8 fact tended to show my guilt.
 The prosecuting attorney, in opening the case, stated to the jury that ny socks would be shown, and that they had human blood on them. They were shown but no blood on them, and this was conceded, even by the state. But l was hurt by the rumor.
 With no i'll will toward any human being, I ask that charity that all may some time need, not so much for my own memory, but as an honest lesson l sincerely hope that the real guilty parties may some time be known. God being my witness 1 say to you, my father and mother, that 1 die innocent. May God bless you. Let me say that l have no blame for my lawyers. They were true, and spent more than their fees in my defense. They could not help results. ! believe no one could have avoided my fate had they been surrounded by the same conditions.
 Good bye, all. go to my God not in bravado, but fearlessly. He knows my innocence, if the world does not.
 0DUS DAVIDSON.
 Subscribed and sworn to before me this August 10, 1913.
 N. A. FREELING,
 County Court Clerk.