Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1853-04-20
THE STATE Us. PARKER PERRY.

/ a. r IS : -.
the testimony in this case, the material portions q
which we lay before our readers. We do this be-
cause OF the interest taken in the case. and in the
belief that the facts may not be, injurious to the
public morals. .szs.ss ~ ssSfz
Ihe following gentlemen composed the Jury :
Merrell Olive, Alse Rochell, Jacob Mordecai, Har-
dy Poole, Marion Jackson, ohm G. Moore. William
Poole, William II. Scott, William F. Collins, VIII
liam Rhodes, Daniel Couch, and Frederic John
son. Mr.. Attorney General Ransom and 3. F.
Moore, Esq, for the State, and Messrs. Badger, P.
Busbee, Miller, and 6. w. Haywood for the pris-
oner. -s.f.-s
EVIDENCE.
CoRBlN EDWARDS, being sworn. said he had been
the owner OF the premises staid there on certain
nlght-Mrs. Ferry slept the floor, and covered
win bed quilt; Perry slept on good feather bed,
and witness slept on feather bed. Mrs. Perry had
young chld-she made up the beds next morning.
and witness left little after seven o'clock Prisoner
had on, when witness left, light homespun pants
trock coat sniarty worn, and the evening witness
came 10 his house; mex. morning had same clothes
ltness returned III the evening" prisoner had chan
ged his clothes, had on the same suit now wears in
Court-witness Identifies the clothes first saw on
prisoner.
Mrs. Perry did not eat at the same table with the
family. bu: after family had fnished-she appeared
in good health, and quietly engaged in domestic du.
ties.
Polly Lasster was not there. Family was com.
posed of old Rams, two little negro girls and prison
ef's children. The witness, certain about the
clothes-had been with the prisoner enough to know
what he wore. Conld not say that Mrs. p. was de-
ranged-spoke her but tx ice she was said 10 be
deranged. The little daughter got the breakfast.
Prisoner was engaged. on the morning of The HON.
icide, in moving corn out Of crib into another
Mrs. ELLEN EDWARDS, testified that she lived in
abouta mile OF the prisoner-saw Perry down in the
held lille before he came to her house; he was d.
bout mdway-he came up shop; the fence was
little down; she left her house and went into the
kitchen; prisoners children following him he
in half run, and calling hogs. In few minutes
after, he came to witnesses house mule, and said
his wife was in the we'll, and he wanted witness to
send help to get her out; but didn't know whether
she was dead or not, as he had not looked. Witness
said, she would go herself; he wished she would.
Witness did go and carry her black girl. Rained all
the way she went-found Mary Manner and Sarah
Edwards there. Mrs. Perry was In the well-we,l
cuEbing was all up in place.
Ferry sat In the house, when witness got there;
said ''he knowed he couldn't know how she came
in the well-hs couldn't be with her all the time.
Said he Fad heard the fence down, and had SEM
the children to see if any thing was in the field and
then went himself 10 put the fence up
Perry left In a great hurry, and said he would get
help. Often during the day spoke of his grea, love
and kindness her; and after his wife was 90, out
of the well, asked witness if she didn't see him thai
morning in TIE field.
SETH EDWARDS. Ga nsighbor) testified, that prs-
oner came TO his house, and slated that his wife had
fallen into the WE'LL and wanted him to go and help
get her out. On their way to Pery's house, witness
asked i he had gone TO the Well to whett she
was up out of under. Prisoner said no; that
his feelings were badly hurt, he hadn't the heart
to do it. Both rode together thirty yards so,
when Perry b.oke silence, and said, he'd have 10 take
bed cord TO get her out.
AS Perry had not been to if Mrs. P. was dead,
witness hurried to if she might not be alive to
save her. On arriving a, the well, found The windass
and bucket were in, but could not see any body
bucket was broken to pieces. Was fixing TO get her
out bat Jesse Manor and Allen Manor came up and
said, they thought they had no right to touch dead
body without higher authority. Witness found an
axe lying the well. Procured pair of pot hooks
and made preparations to yet her out Prisoner said,
" God knows never hurl her," lie repeated this
often--no one accused him, and he accused no enc;
he seemed to be hurt in feeling. ..-.
ALLEN MANOR testified that he lives half mile
from The prisoner; that negro girl, on the morning
OF the 9th OF December, came to his house after
hammer, about O'Clock; not long after that wit
ness was sent for; girl aged about IL, had line 10
get home and return. When he got there found sew.
eral persOns-went with Jesse Mainard to the well,
and there he an axe; looked at the WELL Fished
up the body with the pot hooks. One wound was
discovered the left side Of the head the
top, Two and half inches deep, another slight wound
near it, the right broke just below the elbow
on the inside. During this examination, Perry pro-
tested his innocence, without being accused. He
stated he had sent girl after the hammer and the
other two to the field to see if The fence down.
and if there ylGng in the field. AT another
time he stated ' his daughter came running down to
the crib where he was, and asked him to let her 90
and the pigs, and, the little thing had worked
SO hard, he though, he'd let her go and they then
went together. On their return, they got back TO
fence, which was 200 yards from the house, and he
heard Rams hollow. and said he believed Miss Caro-
line in the well ~ and prisoner said run France;
he could not himself, he felt so bad-but, that he
would get his mule, [aready tied 10 haul polesl and
60 after help--he didn't go to looh himself"
Some one asked him why he went alter help if he
didn't know she was in there . He ahe,Oed she
was in there. - -s-
Witness further testified, that blood poured out of
the head, like water, she was drawn up.
JESSE SANDERS helped TO take the body out, eyes
nearly closed, mouth loose, (nearly shut he lhnks,)
body warm he examined the wound on the head
put his finger in itit bed great deal-fethe skull,
thinks il was broke with three. something,
saw an axe near, fitted tito the wound. Did not see
Perry about the well. Manor and witness took the
ropes from off the body; had been passed, in three
PLY around the body and confned,by loop, the
end of the .windIass. The well curb had been
ed and badly put backsaw blood on the curb, which
had been covered with clay--blood was on the
back side of the well, not the side the body
taken out. Perry said. in previous conversation to
witness, he wanted them to get the poor thing out of
The we'll. At another time. he said, II she was IN
the well he didn't know 1T, went to the we'll 10
see-if she was. he didnt put her there. No one
accused him. .,s 80 ~. -. ss.s.5.s,, a
down. &c..
Witness said Rams seemed to be 10 or 80 years
vo, d. feahe: didn't think he could nut the