Dearest ——:
I wrote to you some time ago, but as you neither come nor wrote I will write again. I have some very important business, would like to have you attend to and if you will come I will pay your expences and pay you any price beside. the business I want you to do for me is to sell my land. I do not think it will be any trouble to sell it for the cash. if you can come please come soon. if not write and let me know if you will come. remember I will pay you well besids expences. I am very anxious to see you as I wrote you before if you come come to the penitentiary and call for J. B. Winslow or if you do not come address letter to J. B. Winslow, care M. L. Jenkins, Jackson, Miss. My health is very bad. Guess it will puzzle you to read this, am writing on my knee, not even a book to lay my paper on. I will not put my right name to this. I am sure you will know the writing anyhow. So I will close, hoping to see you soon.
Respectfully &c.
J. B. Winslow.
N. B. Be sure to come and come in a very few days. I want my land sold now rite away and I will pay you a hansome price to go and make the trade for me. Come as soon as you get this.
Goodbye, Your friend.
Mr. Harrell called on his nephew, Brock, about September 1st, succeeding the date of his letter, and for the first time learned that his nephew was charged with murder and train robbery. He had no idea who J. B. Winslow was until he met his nephew face to face, within the walls of the state-prison. The scene was an affecting one. The conversation between the two occurred in the presence of Sergeant Montgomery, of the prison. Brock made no effort to secure counsel, or to summon any witnesses, but merely expressed a desire to have his uncle sell his land, a tract of two hundred acres owned by him in Coffee County, Ala., and turn the proceeds over to his mother.
On the 16th of October, by appointment, the U. S. District Attorney, A. M. Lea, Col. J. H. Neville, Special Counsel employed by the Government to assist in the trial, and the express officials, who were familiar with the facts, all met at Jackson, Miss., to arrange for the approaching trial of L. C. Brock and Rube Smith. All of these gentlemen called in company upon Brock, in his cell at the penitentiary, and District Attorney Lea told Brock if he had any witnesses he desired summoned he would have subpœnas issued, and that he was free to choose as to whether he would plead guilty or employ counsel. Brock then and there reiterated his determination to plead guilty, so frequently made prior to that time to the author, and said he had no money, and did not intend to employ any counsel. He said he was willing to testify against Smith, but remarked:
“What will people think of me for doing that—see how the world looks upon Bob Ford?”
When told that all fair-minded and Christian people would applaud him for standing on the side of honesty and truth, he added:
“Well, the Bible does not give Judas Iscariot a very fair name.”