The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-03-12

were suspected. l agreed, but we
never went to Weldon, on that night,
and were not five minutes separated
from 500 p. m. till 9:45 p. m. Ihad
the bicycle borrowed from Henry
Cullom, and Gurkin used the one
borrowed from Clyde Taylor. After
leaving the scene Of the crime. and
getting on the bicycle l rode straight
into Rosemary by the county road,
and did not go through the woods
| as was testified a: the trial. l was
never nearer Horner's gin than the
depot. and it was all a mistake about
my going or returning that way.
only write this in reference to cir
cumstantial evidence which shows
how easily one can be mistaken, al
| though it convicted me Of crime
Of which l am guilty, it is always
best to know positively, for Jesus
says in John 3:11, eve speak that
we have seen." Now l am not try
ing to exonerate myself, for l am
guilty, but have great hopes of my
soul being saved, even though my
life ,s taken. ! have had eight
months and eighteen days confine-
ment in one little cell, which gave
| me much food for thought, and l
have prayed to our Father in Heaven
the forgiveness Of my sins, not only
mine, but those of my friends and
| enemies alike, and l hold no malice
IN my heart against anvone not even
those who circulated the petition to
have me electrocuted. I pray con-
stantly for the soul of the man
| whom I slew. Also for his wife and
children. May God bless and be
merciful to them all the days of
their life.
| ! can truthfully say am fully as
sorry to have deprived them of their
dear husband and parent as they are
of losing him, and l trust they will
forgive me this great trespass upon
| their affection and love.
1t has been long wait, but have
lost, as all evil doers are sure 10 DO
in the end. But our Lord and Sa-
viour gives US blessed conscience in
Romans 1919, THAT if thou shalt
confess with thy mouth the Lord
Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart
that God hath raised him from the
dead, thou shalt be saved''; and in
Matthew 6:14-15, "For if We forgive
men their trespasses, your Heaven
ly Father will also forgive you: but
if ye forgive not men their tres
passes, neither will your Father for
give your tresspasses," and thank
God have forgiven them every one.
R. w. COBB.
Among those present from near
the scene of the murder were J. D.
Shearin, brother-in-law of Shaw, j.
E. Dobbins and J. F. Stallings.
Cobb was about % years old
at the time of the crime and was
living at Roanoke Rapids. He had
been unemployed for about year
Gerkin is being held under bond
and the case against him will likely
come up for trial. at court next
week.
| A very good history of the case
was also given by the Times few
days before the exec ution, and VIC
produce it as follows:
STORY OF THE CRIME
! The killing of Thomas Shaw, VIII {
ran a store about two miles from
Roanoke Rapids, took place in May
of last year. Mr.. Shaw, wEo was q
middle aged man with wife anc
nine children, was in the habit OF
keeping the store open on Saturday
nights until 10 or II o'clock, ano
carrying from the store to his home
across the road and about hund'
red yards away, the money taken ir
on Saturdays, usually between $4Ot
and $500.
Cobb. having learned of this hab-
t it. went to Shaw's residence one
Saturday night about 10 o'clock and