The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-01-22
AN old MAN TALKS PITIFULLY OF
His own Case
Want TO PAY FOR crime
He Says His Hands Are Stained With
the Blood of His Oldest Son Whom
He Slew, and He Wants to Suffer
for the Crime That He Has Com
mitted.

An Atlanta dispatch says Uncle
Bob" Davis, bent and broken, hair es
white as the driven snow, but his
hands stained crimson with the blood
of his son Hewlett, has taken. his
place in "murderer's" row., at the
convict camp near Miliedgeville, Ga.
He went through Atlanta on his
way from his home in the peaceful
valley Of Mill creek Wednesday
morning. There were no shackles
on his arms nor feet. Uncle Bob"
is Is years old, and carries one Of
Sherman's bullets in his legs. He
wouldn't run away if he had a
chance. His hands are stained with
the blood Of his son, Hewlett, his
first born, and he owes debt to God
Ind fellow man.
"Only punishment can wipe away
my sin," Uncle Bob says. 81 must
| 5rst square myself with man and
hen III get right with the Lord
Uncle Bob" killed a thing he low
e1. 1t was clear case Of self-de-
| :ense, but Uncle Bob" did not try
TO evade the law. It was on Decem-
Der II. He was killing hogs when
his son Hewlett came through the
gate. The old man ordered the boy
away from the premises. Then his
heart softened, and he asked him to
90 on into the house. The son pick
ed up stick, and the old man fed
:rto the house and went where he
had his shotgun handy. When he
came out on the porch, the son was
here. He raised the stick. There
vas a sharp report. The son fell
over dead.
Uncle Bob" had trouble with his
wife. They had lived happily on the
farm in the Mill creek valley. She
left to go to the home Of her son
and grandchildren. That was what
started the trouble. It put murder
in the heart Of the old man. At
least, that is the way he explains the
tragic occurrences.
''I would heap rather 1t be T." he
said. "I loved the boy and I loved
his children. I didn't mean to kill
him. When 7 aimed the gun, it was
at his feet. I jest wanted ter keep
him from me. My hands are stained
with blood and I want to pay for
| what I have done. There IS nothing
here for me-"
| "Uncle Bob" will probably spend
| he balance of his days behind the
prison walls at Milledgeyille. Judge
| Tite sentenced him to serve five
years for manslaughter. Five years
is longer than Uncle Bob" ever
hopes to live. The prospect of dying
behind the walls has no terror for
him.
| II hope III live to pay the debt, !"
he says.
| Uncle Bob'' was granted new
rial by Judge Augustus Fite, in
Whitfield county, and his attorney,
George, C. Glenn, believes that he
would have been acquitted on the
second trial.
! "The blood is on my hands," I'm
lie Bob said, as he was led unshack-
Led to prison.
| He believes that by serving time
he can wash away the blood. He
wants to be alone, in confinement.
Uncle Bob" asked that the for
ualities Of the law be set aside, and
shat George c. Glenn, his attorney,
BE allowed to take him to prison.
He leaves wife and ten children,
with whom he lived in his mountain
home. He wants to serve out his
sentence like man and return some
lay to the hills Of dear old Whit
field.
Uncle Bob" followed Lee and
Jackson through during the stirring
days Of the sixties.
There is not man nor woman IN
the country who is not willing to do
all they can for Uncle Bob" but he
won't let them interfere.
"My hnads are stained he says.
Sorrow and tears alone can make
them white"
-S-
,o,-n ,x-IEc nJ-Ep VOWS