The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1922-04-20

tie behind schedule this week, we art
able to publish the following state.
ment from Bill Byrd, negro, slayer
Of white man named Murrell in Sep.
TENDER Of last year. This statement
was made before B. f. Barnette.
Notary Public, at II :O5 o'clock and the
execution took place at 2::3O today
friday:
State Of Louisiana, Parish of Bien
vile.
/ Before me the undersigned au,
thority personally came and appeared
Bill Byrd, who after being duly
sworn depOses and says:
ed Smith asked me how far was
going and asked me did 1 want to
60 as far as Shreveport and l told
him yes, but MIR. Murrell, he said he
didn't expect he would let me 90 be.
cause | was young, but would let him
go to water the stock as far as
Shreveport.
l got on the tarin below Homer
there about the old fish pond below
Homer. Me and Ed caught it togeth,
er and rode it to Athens together in
the car with Mr.. Murrell. They put
both of us off there at Athens. Ed
went back to the cabOose or some.
where and l went on down the tracl
and got in a car box by myself and
went to Gibs. never saw Ed Smith
any more except once there in the de-
pot at GIBBS. l don't know how or
when he left GIBBS. 1 hadn't saw Lon
ME Jackson in about three weeks. !
left GIBBS on the freight train in thu
car with Mr.. Murrell just about day
light on the Second day Of September
1921, and after we had got down the
road a piece, got the gun and shot
him on the side of his head. He did
MT know l was shooting him. ]
l thought he had some money and l
wanted it. l got $27.0O or $500
Right after l shot him / got off the
train and took the single barrel shot
gun that l had killed him with and
some clothes with me. l come and
caught train on the L. & N. W. and
a man took the gun and clothes and
throwed them down. got back to
Homer that night about midnight.
When l made up my mind to kill
Mr.. Murrell, Ed Smith or Lonnie
jackson neither one was not on the
train and they didn't know nothing
about it. l am guilty Of the crime
by myself. The reason l said they
was in it was because MIR. Coleman
and MIR. Currie asked me if they was.
mt in it and | says yes, because !
thought it would make it lighter on
me and knew Ed Smith and Lonnie
jackson was charged with it and the
people thought they done it and they
thought l was LOnnie Jackson"
(Signed) BILL BYRD.
Sworn to and subscribed before me
on this April 21st, 1922, at 1905 p. m,
BERTRAM +. BARNETTE,
Notary Public.
| Rev. Kilcrease, Byrds spiritual ad.
wiser conducted song service few
moments prior to the time set for the
execution. Pastor ]. c. Cox, Of thu
Arcadia Baptist church offered prayer
for the condemned man, after which
the latter appeared at the window
and made a brief statement in which
he again exOnerated Jackson and Ed
Smith, and stated that he wished
every one present would feel as safe
as he did when they faced their last
moment on earth. -
In the presence of the legal mum.
Der of witnesses Sheriff Currie sprang
the trap which sent Byrd int
eternity. He Immediately left the Jail
and avoided conversation, with any Of
the crowd which had been attracted
to the vicinity Of the Jail through NOR
bid curiosity.
Byrd Repents During Last Few Days
| OF His Life
| Byrd has been confined in the Cad
do Parish Jail at Shreveport since
his conviction last December 9Th. He
was brought back to Arcadia recent
" and since that time has been max
ing preparations for his execution.
He talks quite freely about the mat
ter, and says he is ready to die, ant
that he holds no ill will to the officers
nor the jury which found him guilty.
Since his return to the Arcadia jai
he has been visited frequently by hi
spiritual adviser, Rev. Kilcrease ant
other colored preachers, who have
prayed with him, and told him tn
necessity Of telling the facts Of TIT
murder before taking the plunge in
to eternity.
Today at 10 30 a. m. Rev. Kilcreas'
held services in the Jail, offering spec
ial prayer for the condemned man
who made a request to be baptized be
| foro tho timo IF hic oynnntiOn stQt