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The text of this note was entered into the court transcripts.
Will Mathis denied writing the note and his handwriting did not match
that in the note.
Mr. Shell Vines:
I will write you this statement, I want you to tell that I come
to Kin's Sunday morning, and that I told you and Kin that Orlandus
Lester had killed Hugh and John Montgomery and burned them and that
I never had anything to do with it; that I was holding the lamp for
them to go to bed, and I got into a fuss with Hugh about my pistol
and the negro jumped in the door and shot them and that I told you
all that the negro had slipped around my house trying to kill them
unbeknowing to me, but he failed. I went in the yard and the negro
made a signal to me but I thought he said shoot and I thought it was
somebody trying to get to kill me and I shot at him and he then let
himself be known and told his name. I told him he should not do it
for they were just doing their duty as officers and made him go after
some wood for me. I told you all that I was afraid they would put
me in jail and I thought I would dodge until Court so if they put
me in jail I wouldn't have to stay long. Tell that I never made any
secret of it at all. That I said I would tell it if I was called.
Tell that I showed you some pistols and you asked me what I was going
to do with them. I told you that I am to give John Montgomerys pistol
to his people and I aimed to keep the other two. I am going to have
you and Kin summonsed to swear this for me. This was the first statement
I made and if you all swear it they will have to take it. I am going
to swear that Orlandus slipped off and got a gun and came back and
tried to get to kill the men unbeknowing to me but failed. That some
of us kept in his way and that I went out after some wood and he said
"shoo" for me to come to him and I thought he said shoot and I shot
at him thinking it was somebody aiming to kill me. He let hisself
be known and told his name. I told him he should not do it and made
him go after some wood and chop it up and I went in the house and
in a few minutes the men went in to lay down and I carried the lamp
in for them to see to go to bed and after they pulled their clothes
off I saw my pistol and I told Hugh Montgomery he had told me a damn'd
lie about my pistol and that I was going to have it and he said to
me God damn you we will take you to Oxford tonight. The negro heard
this and ran and shot them both before I knew he was in the house
and we all left then and went to your Pa's and me and your Pa and
the negro went back up there. There is not any use for me to tell
you anything else that I am going to swear for you was not there.
If you can swear the same that I have right and not get yourself in
trouble I can come clear but I don't want you to tell anything to
hurt yourself to save me. Don't let anybody know that I am going to
try to beat it and that Lester is going to take it all on himself.
If you all will do that I will come clear. The negro will tell he
did it all and Cordie will tell the same and they won't have any witness
against me. I am working the thing a damn sight finer that they think
for. my lawyer says that this will clear me. I have never been sworn
yet. Don't let anybody know anything about this. I want to surprise
them.
Your friend,
Will Mathis,
Oxford, Mi
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