Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1921-08-10
CONVERT LAYS BARE PAST LIFE.
Tom jackson Creates Sensation, Con-
1essing to Burning Hotel.


his sins and began preaching
throughout this section, last night
created considerable excitement in
Ayden when he declared that he had
burned the Ayden Hotel about sevon
years ago 20 get the insurance from
building OF his own which ad-
joined the hotel building. Beside
making this startling assertion be-
fore the large gathering OF people
who had assembled OH principal
street Of the town to hear the cal
legged Confession" as previously an
nounced from the pulpit of nearby
church. Jackson laid bare his entire
life and set forth number of deeds
that either subject him to lifetime
confinement in the penitentiary or
minor sentence, which ever way
the courts decide the matter follow
ing his arrest and conviction upon
his own evidence.
Jackson, who is about 35 years Of
age, and a native OF Pitt county, was
converted at the McLendon meeting
in this city last summer, and since
that time has been preaching in va
riouS sections. 1t is said that he be-
came so enthused over religion that
he decided to lay bare his life before
the public and announced the fact at
services near Ayden last week. lie
declared then that his conscience
tortured him beyond endurance and
demanded Of him that he make full
confession. He sci the date for the
confession for yesterday, and as IL re-
suit large crowd gathered in the
town to attend his service,
He was refused permission to hold
services In one Of the principal
churches Of the town, and immedi-
ately stationed himself on one of the
principal streets. The crowd soon
gathered and experienced thrill after
thrill as he told Of a career as con-
demning as any could possibly be.
In describing the fire, which was
one of the most destructive Ayden
had In years, Jackson declared that
he gid not mean to destroy so much
property, but set fire to his own
builaing, which adjoined the hotel,
merfly for the purpose of getting the
insurance.
y slipped to my place of business
thai night armed with shotgun,
intending to kill anybody that in
terfersdAw with me-" he told the as
sembled crowd, "but, thank good
ness Idln't see single soul except
doctor who appeared at his office
for a short time and then departed.
| waited few minutes to see If any
one else might come that way, and
then applied some gasoline to rags in
the rear of my pressing club"
He said he then slipped silently
away to his home, and III q short
time heard screams Of fire, fire from
the direction of his place Of busi-
ness. He looked out and the entire
town was lighted by the flames from
the burning buildings. The fire had
been discovered just in time to save
persons sleeping in the hotel, two or
three Of whom barely escaped being
burned alive.
After this thrilling narrative of
incendiarism, told In voice choked
with emotion, Jackson told of other
deeds not quite so heinous, and de.
clared he felt he could not continue
living, feeling the weight Of the
| crimes upon his shoulders.
81 don't care what the law does
with me because it can't possibly tor.
tnre me as much as the knowledge
Of my own guilt
He said that he did not feel tina
he could continue preaching the Wort
Of God without laying bare his hear
to the world. He believed he woult
be forgiven more quickly, and fel
the responsibility too great one t
continue preaching and fooling tn.
people as he had been doing.
The entire section has been arous
ed over the confession, and there /.
considerable speculation as to wha
action Will be taken against Jackson
Many people believe the man got hi.
idea Of publicly confessing his sins
from Mcllendon, who told a story o.
his life In the series OF sermons tha
he preached here.
1t was intimated in court circle:
here this morning that he would b,
| arrested and placed on trial for tht