Wayne County NcArchives News.....Willis H. Brogden & Fab. E. Sasser 1892 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Guy Potts http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00017.html#0004214 October 28, 2007, 5:10 am Daily Charlotte Observer 1892 Daily Charlotte Observer, 27 Jul 1892 - Fab. E. Sasser of Wayne County was assaulted two weeks ago by Willis H. Brogden, a brother of ex-Gov. Curtis H. Brogden, and has since died. ***** Daily Charlotte Observer, 23 Sep 1892 - Willis H. Brogden of Wayne, brother of ex-Gov. Brogden, was tried in Wayne Superior Court this week for the murder of Fab. E. Sasser, a neighbor, convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to six years in the penitentiary from which sentence he appealed. His brother, the ex- Governor, furnished bail for him in $5,000. ***** Daily Charlotte Observer, 6 Jan 1893 - Willis H. Brogden Pardoned - Executive Clemency Estended for Entirely Good Reasons - Special to the Observer - Raleigh, Jan. 5 - Governor Holt today gave to the press the fact that he had pardoned Willis H. Brogden of Wayne County, a brother of ex-Governor Curtis H. Brogden. Brogden was last September convicted of killing F.H. Sasser in July last, and senteced to six years imprisonment. The Governor gives the following reasons for granting the pardon: "In this case there was no malice or premeditation but it was one of those unfortunate acts which might be committed by any good citizen. Brogden got into a fight with Sasser. The latter used a knife freely. Brogden picked up a small stick with which to defend himself and unfortunately struck a blow which resulted in death 20 days after. Sasser asked that Brogden be not punished as he was somewhat to blame. The jury recommended mercy and now ask for pardon. This request is joined in by nearly all of the people of Wayne, on account of Brogden's high character, which he has not lost on account of the unfortunate occurrence. For these reasons and considering his long confinement in jail and his deep humiliation, pardon is granted." Governor Holt says that Brogden, upon sentence, went to the penitentiary by himself and not under the charge of any officer. He started to the railroad station in his own buggy. It broke down and he hired a mule and rode so as to catch the train for Raleigh. ***** Daily Charlotte Observer, 24 Jan 1893 - The Pardon of Willis Brogden - The Reasons Given for It Not Based on Fact - The Slayer and the Slain - To the Editor of the Observer - In a recent issue of your most excellent paper, the reasons which you assign, * for the pardon of Willis Brogden of Wayne County, do a great injustice to the lamented F.E. Sasser, whom he murdered; and in behalf of his aged, heart broken father, his many firends and numerous relatives, I write this article to correct that statement, and give you the truth regarding the lamentable affair. Sasser's deposition, taken a few days previous to his death when perfectly conscious, was to the effect that Brogden came to him where he was at work - as the Argus says, "sought him in his own field" - and assaulted him with a club, which had a leather string on it, which was known to be a police "billy" used by Brogden while on the force in Goldsboro. The first blow rendered Sasser unconscious, and when reaction took place 18 hours afterward, he did not know he had received but one lick. He positively denied using a knife and replied when asked: "Brogden knows that is not so, for he knocked me down the first lick and I remembered no more." The autopsy revealed four fractures of the skull and eleven distinct blows. Sasser did not ask that Brogden should not be prosecuted, as you say, but when he was told that Judge Lynch possibly would try the case, in all the goodness of his heart and nobleness of character, admitting, though, that he would not receive justice, should he die, but that when Brogden appeared before the Great Tribunal in High Heaven, there justice would be meted out to him. Often during his last conscious hours he would say to my mother, who was with him: "Sister, I had no idea Mr. Brogden was mad enough with me to strike me, or had that much enmity in his heart for me; still, if I do not get well, I do not want him lynched." The characters of the two men contrast as widely as ever men's could. F.E. Sasser was a most exemplary young man. All the noble attributes which characterize a perfect Christian gentleman clustered around him and radiated from his life, filling him and those around him with love and brightness. But the brightest stars which shed their effulgence over his pathway and sent many glimmering beams of light into the unsteady, tottering footprints of his aged parents, was his untiring devotion, his constant, watchful care and ever present cheerful presence, and love, and self sacrifice for the comforts of his dear old father and mother. His devotion to them (both of whom were more than three score and ten) was commented on by all who knew the family, and helped to endear him to the hearts of all the people among whom he lived. He was a steward in the M.E. Church, a justice of the peace, and in a life long association with him, I never heard him utter an oath, never saw him take a drink of intoxicating liquor, or say an unkind word of a fellow creature. He was the only source of dependence for an aged father, his mother having died a year ago, and no wonder the dear old man is heart broken at the sad ending of his noble boy. Further, he was a man physically inferior to Brogden. He was a small man, never weighted more than 125 pounds, while his murderer is 6 feet or more, and weighs nearly 200 pounds and is the same character of man as the Third party candidate for Governor. I have no criticism to make in regard to the pardon, but will quote to you what my uncle, the cashier of the Bank of Wayne writes me: "There is great indignation in regard to the pardon of Brogden. No one seems to know how it was done. Such an outrage on justice is a strong argument for lynch law." The latter clause is my sentiments. But at the same time I am willing to abide a future settlement of the matter, remembering that "vengence is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Very respectfully, Will B. Crawford Lexington, Jan. 21, 1893 * [Dr. Crawford is much in error in supposing that the reasons given in this paper for the pardon of Brogden were the Observer's reasons. They were the Governor's, sent to this paper by its Raleigh correspondent. The Observer has never discussed the case at all, having known nothing about it. Editor] File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/wayne/newspapers/willishb21nnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ncfiles/ File size: 7.0 Kb