Year: 1868

Wilmington. Runciman and Childress sent Mary


McCumber's little child to Chas. Gloss store after
some spirits, and all dI ank some of it. Then
Runclman asked Childress, Dunn and myself if
we would not like TO take a walk to Henry Tar
bours house, saying there were two girls there
with whom we might have some fun. We all went
except Jake Dunn, who remained at Mary Nc
Cumber's


It had been raining all that day and was sprnk-
ling when Runciman, Chldress and l started for
Tar bours house, which think is three or four
hundred yards from Mary McCumber's and the
last house in the city limits. We went through
the grove OF little oaks, until we passed down by
the left of the house and entered into the woods


Van Runciman and Childress were little ahead
of me, talking together, and when came up with
them Runclmsn had thrown ChildresS down, and
was standing with one foot on his breast or neck
l am not certain which, but think it was his
neck. l asked him to get off the mans neck, and
told him If he did not he would kill him. He made
some reply, which l have forgotten, and at the
same time was busy feeling for Childress' money
L stopped down and took off Childress watch


and gave it to Rnnciman, and then said, "Let
us CO."


Runciman then said Childress will know my
face if he ever seesit again" Said l. "Whst are
you going to do then?" "Night has no eyes,"


l then said You are not going to kill Chidress?"
but have forgotten what reply he made me.


said all could to stop him. but saw that Run
Gilman was determined to kill Childress, and


thought us in danger of losing MY own life if I
tried to prevent the deed by force


Runciman and then went towards the creek





ciman asked me if was not going further with
him, When we got to the creek, Runciman told
me to strike Childress with pine limb that Ihad


10 my hand. which did, but the limb being small,
1t was broken by the force Of the blow. Runci-
| man then told me to strike Childress with his
| (Runciman's) knife. / did so once over the eye,
but not hard enough to have killed him for, as
God knows did it against my will for had it not
been so I would have struck him again. When
Runciman saw that would not do what he wish


ed me to, he took the knife out of my hand, at the


same time uttering an oath, and struck Childress
with it. The latter then started to run but Run
ciman caught him, threw him backwards to the
ground. and then commenced his bloody work. /
think Runciman cut him eight or ten times and
that he died after the first second stroke he
never arose from the ground or spoke after Run
ciman first struck him.


After Runcman had killed Chdress he asked
me to help him throw the body into the creek,
which did, for knew it was no use to say any
thing more to Runcinian as the poor man Chill
dress was dead.


1 wish the public to know that what cid was
done through fear of Van Runciman, as | was
once badly beaten by him in the year 1860 in front
Of Marks Il Neff7s tin factory, on Front street. /
wish it also knoan to all that did not know
me that he must kill him to prevent his recog
nizlnS him (Runciman) again. [ begged Runci-'
man not to kill Chill 'ress, and, God knows, did all
i'll my power to keep him from it.


But ! will say more about it, for when that
crime was committed WAS only seventeen years
of age. and did not know what the laws of the
country were as | now do. feel that when they
are administered in proper manner they are
necessary and right, and should be respected and
regarded by all citizens of the country.


And ], William Wright Parker, do hereby
knowledge that have transgressed the laws of
God and of the country, and deserve punishment,
that is to say, imprisonment, for DO not think
my crime worthy of death Had l committed
wilIful murder would not hesitate to acknowl.
edge it, or to abide the penalty of the law; but,
being, Rs was, al unwilling accomplice, do not
teel that my punishment should be death Yet,
If the authorities Of this city think deserve such
punishment let thom do unto me they think
proper and will ask mercy from the Great Law
giver Of the Universe who has promised it
through our Lord and Saviour. Jesus Christ


tSigned), WILLIAM W. PAREER.