ALF IS WILLING TO GO FIRST.
Negro Accomplice of the Rawlingses Makes a Statement.
He Reiterates His Intention to Stick to His Original Story, but Says That to Satisfy Rawlings He Is Willing to Go on the Gallows First and Pay the Debt of His Crime
(From Wednesday’s Daily)
The Times received yesterday afternoon the following signed statement from Alf Moore, the convicted negro accomplice of J.G. Rawlings and his sons. Following our policy of giving both sides a fair show, we publish the statement in its entirety. It is as follows:
“Mr. Editor:
“I learn that Mr. Rawlings is laboring under the impression that I will change my statement when I am placed on the gallows, but I have told the truth, and that I will not change. Although I haven’t anything against him nor his boys. I haven’t killed anyone to be hanged for, but to satisfy Mr. Rawlings and to let him see that I will not change my statement, I am willing to be hanged first.
“I think, however, why he wants me killed first is because he didn’t get a chance to carry out his plans. I am forced to believe that he intended to kill me after everything was over, but as he was in custody of the sheriff, he failed to do so, and that spirit is existing in him to kill me or to see that someone else does kill me.
ALF MOORE”
It seems pretty evident from the above that if Rawlings and his sons are seriously expecting help from Moore when he goes upon the gallows, in the event that he is hanged before Milton and Jesse Rawlings, they will be grievously disappointed. Whether he lied on the stand in the trial of the cases, or whether he told the truth of the terrible affair, it is plain now that he will not change his story when the noose is placed around his neck. True or false, having thus far contended for his original statement, he is likely to face eternity with that declaration.
Only Five More Days for Boys
Next Tuesday, five days from today, is the date set for the execution of Milton and Jesse Rawlings, and they are beginning to realize more forcibly than ever before the perilous position in which they stand. Unless Sheriff Passmore is otherwise instructed by Governor Terrell, both of the men will be executed according to the sentence next Tuesday.
The sheriff thus far has received no intimation from the governor as to whether he will respite the boys again, but according to a statement in the Atlanta Constitution a few days ago, he will not do so. The article in the Atlanta paper was to the effect that the governor had informed Attorney Cooper that he would not again interfere in the execution of the sentences.