The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-07-25

for II a. no unusual thing for strangers
~ he encountered there. The man
was smith. the Georgia sheriff. WHAT
ever emotions swept the soul OF this
hunted man who had ENJOYED I'M
rnunity from the avenging hand OF the
law for thirteen years and seven
month"; no one might know. for ne
wore mask OF imperturbality that
scrutinizing eyes could not penetrate
Handing the papers back to
the clerk, Morris was asked by Clerk
Cook:
"Are you the man named therein,
the one to whom that paper refers?"
Confessed His Identity.
With every eye riveted upon MIN
and in the tense silence of the room
the voice OF Morris was distinctly
audible, and it was without excite
ment or tremor:
I'm the man. Mr.. Cook. Those
papers call for Thomas Edgar Strip
ling's presence in Georgia because ne
killed Bill Cornet ] killed that man
and ] did 1t in seif-defense. I'm the
man that pequisition calls for"
In a moment or two more the cor
rectness OF identity became known 10
the expectant ones outside. and with
II the news OF the arrest of the chier
of police. the most startling. romantic,
dramatic and thrilling story that Dam
vile had heard for many years.
Quickly the news spread by WORD OF
mouth 1t was nearly o'clock when
the interview in the courthouse ended,
and by that time the story was spread
ing in geometrical progression.
Stripping. az he then stood UNI
masked and naked to the world q
scorn or to its pity. at first Thought
of suing out a writ OF habeas corpus.
but the prisoner himself quickly In
formed the group OF officers that ne
would go with Smith without demur.
IL permitted to visit his home. see
his family and close up some business
matters. This was readily acceded to,
with the provlso that he would be ac-
companied by an officer.
CrusAing News for wife.
Meanwhile before this arrangement
had been agreed to STRIPPING had asked
leave to telephone his home, and had
done So Calmly he informed his wife;
II won't be home tonight Mr.. Smith
has come for me--Mr. Smith. an officer
from Georgia"
That was all but II was crushing
news TO the wife and mother OF strip
iing's ten children. among whom were
twins less than q year old.
Stripping had killed William Cornett
In September, 1891, by shooting him
through the window OF his tcornetts)
home while the victim was removing
HIS shoes preparatory to retiring for
the night Stripping and hts brother
in-law. Terrell Hun. armed with shot
gun and rife. had seen Cornett drive
up to his home, unhitch his horse from
the buggy and then enter the house.
light lamp and then begin disrobins
The man within was plainly visible
from the darkness without. snddeniy
two shots were heard, almost stimuli
taneously.
Nobody knew OF the bloody deed
until next morning. when Cornetts
wife, who had spent the night at
neighbors. unsuspecttngiv entered the
house. She found the lamp still burn
ing and was horrified 20 hnd her hns-
band seated In a chair. coat OF and
suspenders ioosened. one shoe OF and
hands hanging beside the other shoe.
His head had fallen 10 couch 70 one
side of the chair, and glance showed
the CHASTITY death wound on the side
side of the head having been blowned
or by the dumped charge OF shot.
strspiinEAs Own story.
stripling's story Of the crime re-
iates that Cornett had called at the
horne Of his sister. Mrs. Maude Dur
ham, while her husband was away
and had insuited her. but was re-
strained from a more serious crime bv
tho timely arrival OF physician. who
happened In at the time. Cornett he
claims. Jumped into his buggy and
drove away. Stripping claims that q
few minutes later Ccrnett had met
sim Bryiey his hrosher-in laws broth
err. and told him he fCornettl had
played heir and had gotten into
trouble with Edgar's sister cornett
was then reported to have said: "Ynu
know that when Edgar finds II ont I
viii have TO XIII him or be killed, and
I don't intend TO sleep until kin him
Bryley had told Hun. another broth
err law. and he. In turn, told Strip
ling Stripping spent the NEXT night
at his Observation-Disclosures and then
next day armed himself with a gun
and SAYS he drove to Chipiey. four
miles for the purpose of securing
warrant for Cornett. The magistrate
was not at home. but Stripping met
Mrs Durham and she corroborated the
story he had heard OF Cornett's Insult.
Going back to his brother in laws
STRIPPING asserts that he had been told
that Cornett had been to his home
mounted. armed and under the infu-
ence of liquor.
rowed the shotgun of the man who
tef6 him THAT. and started FOR tfe honte'
OF another magistrate. On the way
he met another man who told him Cor
nett and ave or six of his friends were
out~on drunk. armed and looking for
STRIPPING.
Killed His Man.
A little later he met Bill Langsfori
who told him and Charlie Langford
who was with him mt the time, that
Cornett was not far ahead Of them
STRIPPING relates that a. he and Lang
ford came on down the road they say
that Cornett had Just gotten home,
watched him walk into the door and
then saw him through tho window
Forgetting his claim Of fear for hts
own safety. Stripping himself then re-
lates:
Outraged nj the Insult 20 my sister
and feeling that from the threats he
had made. II was 4 question OF one Of
US getting killed. concluded that ~
I had the opportunity, had better
take IT, so fired and killed him In
stantiy."
Stripping hung around next day a.
the home OF the murdered man and
interest In the crime. help
ing to battle and dress the corpse Of
hts victim. He narrowly escaped be-
oraH On h. rorarnArsa {,srxr