North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-12-31
THE SAMPSON rRAnEnv

The examination of Beebe and others, CHARGED with
the murder of Milton Mathis. terminated on Saturday
afternoon last, with the commital of Eugene Beebe
the Jail of this county, there remain without bail
mainPrize until the regular term of Sampson
Superior Court. Mr.. Fisher, one of the company,
was ordered to find bail in the sum of one thousand
dollars for his appearance at the same time and the
same order made in reference to one Messersmith
but It. after Court, appearing the satisfaction of
the Judge and Solicitor that he in fact absent,
sAveal miles off, the time of the fatal occurrence,
he was discharged.
No evidence adduced to implicate any other
members of the Circus company saving Messrs. Man
gum and Armon, and these also succeeded at the
animation in proving that they were absent at the
time of the afray and for some time afterwards. 1t
appears from the evidence of Messrs. j. w. Robin
son. VIM. A. Register, Richard Parish, J. S. Parish,
J. Rackley and Oin Pope, that at o'clock Satur-
day before last, the Circus company arrived at Mr..
Parish's, Taylor's Bridge, in Sampson county,
and hired field short distance from his house,
where they erected their tent, and in the afternoon
gave an exhibition of the play of Coleman and
Miller. In part of the play both the characters
tumble off into the ring. Messrs. James Merritt
Watson and Duncan Chestnut, began the disturbance
by throwing sawdust into the faces of these perform
ers, and finally broke up the play. An hour or two
AFTER the principal part of the company being on their
lot and the country people talking and drinking at
liquor stand of VIM. Registers, few yards off, but
the same field, two Of the members of the Circus
Company approached the stand, and used some in
sulting language to Watson. The deceased retorted
in Threatening manner; one of these two men, then,
the direction of the Circus men, and gave them a
signal which they Immediately recognized, and, adj
vancing with blows and shouts, struck down every
man they met. Inthe meantime the other of the two
not idle. The signal had sooner been given,
than he struck down two Of the citizens. Every ct-
zen on the ground levelled, with the exception
of one, who managed to escape, although holly pur-
sued.
1t was in this aray that Mathis received his death
wound. All the witnesses for the State recognised
the prisoner Beebe. and two of them positively
to his using club at that time and with that weapon
striking the deceased. Mr.. Rackley stated that Bee
be struck Mathis two blows after he had fallen.
There some sixteen other citizens beaten and
wounded, among them one named Borcam, who is
since dead,
There was evidence which gives strong reason to
believe that the parties principally concerned in the
affair, the part of the circus company, have made
their escape, but his Honor, Judge Battle, of the
opinion that Beebe was equally guilty with them of
the murder of the deceased This, he said, was MUIR
der, and nothing else.
The Judge stated that he reluctant to commit
any man to Jail upon criminal charge unless there
either positive proof very strong presumption
of his guilt; that he satisfied from ais experience
in criminal matters, (Which had been unfortunately,
very great during the last eighteen monhs,) that Man.
gum and Armon would be acquitted before jury up
on the evidence, and he would not visit them with
imprisonment, which in itself punishment I'M
der the circumstance. He thought that. although
Mr. Fisher might also succeed in establishing his In
nocence, there proof of his participation in the
affair, and motive for it, he of the parties
assaulted in the circus. Messrsmith was discharged
upon subsequent statement of the principal witness
against him, the effect that he had been mistaken.
Many other matters transpred which we have not
felt necessary report, but believe the above
contains the. principal facts of the
Upon the whole, this is of the most painful oc-
currences which we have ever had to record. Like
most other things of the kind, it may be directly
traced to the influence of liquor, which no doubt
caused the first reprehensible conduct the part of
citizens during the exhibition, and the subsequent
nnrdp NV he circ UhO Sj haV
here have conducted themselves in most unexcep-
tionable manner. WILMINGTON Journal
1t will be seen by our paper of to-day, that Gov.
Reid has offered a reward for the apprehension of
three others of this Circus Company, who sup
posed to be implicated in this murder.