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As reported in the Oxford Eagle, January 23, 1902
Will Mathis wrote this farewell letter to his wife last
Saturday, under the impression that no respite would be granted, and
that he would be hung on Tuesday:
My Dear Wife
If I have to part with you the 24th, please
don’t grieve after me. I feel prepared to meet my God. Remember,
Jesus had to give up his life in this way. He knows how hard it is
to be took wrongfully and I feel I have got all the sympathy that
he can have for any one. Try and live a Christian life and come meet
me when you die. Raise Cleveland right. Don’t let him keep bad
company. Please don’t let your pa raise Cleveland if he gets
out of trouble. You know he has taken my life away from me. You know
his belief and his wrong way of doing. He is not fit to raise a boy.
You know I left home and give him and Orlando possession and tried
to prove myself away from home to keep from telling on them. You know
I have to pay his debt with my own life, and I think that is enough
without giving him my baby to raise. I wish you could tell me, and
tell me the truth whether you aim to stay with your pa if he gets
out or not. I think you could stay with my people until Cleveland
gets large enough for you and him to go to yourself. Cordie, I don’t
ask you to tell anything on your pa, but I do ask you to remember
me as a kind and true husband, and if they swear lies on me I want
you to go on the witness stand and tell the court they have lied.
My prayer to God is that you and Cleveland get along well and have
plenty and be liked by everybody. So goodbye, your loving husband,
"WILL MATHIS
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