Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-08-30
Alleged Conspiracy to Rob the National Bank of
Nexybern and Murder the Cashier.


Newbern and Murder the Cashier.
We learn from the Commercial that the city Of
Newbern was thrown into state of feverish ex-
element on the 21st inst, by the report that a
conspiracy to murder the Cashier OF the National
Bank, Mr.. Ell. Thompson, and rob the safes in
that building, had been discovered and frustrated
The parties implicated in the affair were ID. O..
Lee who was at the close of the war, Captain in
the 99th N. Y. Vol. Infantry, and lately doing
business on South Front Street in Newbern, as a
wholesale liquor merchant, and one John White,
known as Capt. White, not long since keeping a
stall in the market. The was tried before his
Honor, Mayor Washington and Justice Osgood,
and the Court Room was crowded to suffocation
by all classes of citizens.
The first witness examined was Rollie Wilcox,
leader of band at the Dance House near the de-
pot, who testified in substance that few days be-
fore had been taken aside by Capt. White and
asked If l did not want to make o fortune and re-
plying in the affirmative, told that man
would put me in the way of it. Expressing de-
sire to see the man, Capt White told me that if
he saw me with the man he would give sig
nal by which would know him. Next day Capt
W. pointed to Capt Lee, who was walking by the
depot, as the man he referred to on the previous
day. I then had an interview with Capt. Lee,
who told me that he could show me where
there $780, 600 in the city, and how to get it
He said it was in the NATIONAL Bank, and that he
would go into the Bank that evening about s
o'clock and get out Mr.. Eldridge and Mr.. Benson,
and take them down to the Club House or his own
house and treat them to supper and while he
was. away with them, was to go into the bank
and shoot the Cashier. I would find the key in
the large safe or in the Cashiers pocket, and
should then open the safe and put the money in
an oat sack, which he Capt. Lee) would furnish
me with, which was to fill with money and then
make my escape through the of the building
and take the money up to his house where Mr.
Eldridge and Mr.. Benson would then be- I was
to carry it into the back yard. The next evening"
which was Friday last, met Capt Lee at the corner
of Middle and Pollok streets then went with him
to the tree opposite the Bank, and I asked him
why he did not go in. He said &C it is too late to
get the men out, and will have to wait till to-
morrow evening" when will all be on hand and
carry the thing OUT I told him would not
shoot the Cashier, but kill him with a club, as
that would make no noise, he said, Oh that is
just the thing. Here the prisoner, John White,
became i'll that he permitted to retire to
the adjoining in the Police Office) [ let
the matter go so far because [ afraid to dis
close the matte for fear that Capt Lee Capt.
White would put out my lamp tolG two of my
friends, George Brown and Patrick Kelly, who
are clerks for Mr.. Martin Mcnamara, all about
Upon the cross examination by G. c. Clarke,
ESQ, Wilcox testified that Capt. Lee had shown
him the plan of the Bank, and where the safe
were, and how to escape from the building
Mr.. II. Thompson sworn am cashier of the
National Bank I know Capt. Lee. Was intro
duced to him some time ago by Col. Heaton the
President of the Bank. He has been in the bank
frequently to see Mr. Benson, friend of mine,
who was acquainted with him when in the service.
never went out to take dinner supper with
Capt. Lee. He invited me once to go shooting
with him, which was unable to do. The reason
why I did not let the plan reach it's maturity,
which I first intended, and then have the perpe-
rators apptehended, was because [ deemed it adj
7isable for prudential reasons, which appa-
.ent subsequently, to have the parties arrested
Immediately, which was done last night.
Several witnesses were then introduced to cor
tolerate the testimony of Wilcox.
Evidence was introduced by the defence in sup
port of the previous good character Of Lee while
n the army The Court then addressed by
Messrs Leman, Seymour, Justice and Clarke, and
hen bound over the accused to the Superior
Jourt-Lee in the of $1,000 and White in
he sum of $3.50, first stating its ground for its
lction.