Frank Henderson Confesses to Murdering His Wife, August 1920

From the front page of the Hickory Daily Record, Aug. 30, 1920.

Henderson of Madison Confesses to Murder

Asheville, Aug. 30--Surrounded by two sheriffs in his call in the Buncombe county jail, where he was brought for safe keeping, Frank Henderson of Madison county broke down under the constant torment of his conscience and confessed to the murder of his wife in the little village of Runion on the night of August 24, according to Sheriff Mitchell of this county, and Sheriff Bailey of Madison county, who visited him late yesterday afternoon. In his statement Henderson exonerated Susie Sams from any blame for the death of his wife.

Sheriff Mitchell stated that the Madison county sheriff made no effort to put Henderson through the third degree, but that when he was asked to tell all he knew of the case he broke down and confessed, stating that the murder followed the alleged infidelity of his wife.