The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-01-29
STATE NEWS.

BURNED TO DEATH-A distressing accident
occurred 10 this vicinity on Thursday An old
woman named Belts, while sleeping in her bed,
was burned to death. 1t is supposed that she
lay down with pipe in her mouth the fire
caught the bedding and caused the accident
Fayetteville Ne~s. .--
IA A Meeting of the Stockholders of the
Wilmington, Charlotte and Rutherford Railroad
Com pany will be held in Wilmington on the
25th day of February, 1867, to consider the act
of the General Assembly now in session pro-
posing an amendment to the Charter of the
Company. ~ 5s-1--s .-g,,s@
Ray The proposition which will be submitted
to the Legislature of North Carolina to charter
a canal from Stokes Ferry, 10 Rowan county on
the 1adkin River, to Prosperity in Moore coun-
ty on Deep River, is one which is of great in
terest to the people residing on the Cape Fear,
Deep and Yadkin rivers, and especially to VIII
mngton and Fayetteville. 1t is contended by
the projectors of this scheme of internal i'm
provement, that above the Narrows in the Yad-
kin river that stream is navigable to Wilkes
boro', aud that volume of water, sufficient to
6ll the thirty, five miles of canal, necessary to
make the connection, and to render Deep aud
Cape Fear rivers navigable to Wilmington, BY
the removal of Instructions and natural barriers,
can be introduced therefrom without dimuni-
ton of its value means of internal naviga
ton Wilmington Dispatch.
Rather wild scheme.
LABoR-The question of labor is now agi-
taing the minds of the planters of this vicinity.
1t is an all-importart question with them, for
labor they must have. The South has been
used to no other labor (that is field labor) than
that of the blacks. While slaves, they titled
the broad acres of our land, and, naturally
enough, We look to them for assistance in the
future They have received liberal propositions
from our planters, but with the birth Of their
freedom they seem to have contracted a feeling
of dislike to field labor, and, as class, manifest
disposition decidedly ayerse TO the require
ments of planter Wilmington Journal
The offers of wages, &c, to freedmen to 60 to
Mississippi and Alabama, is doing great deal to
unsettle labor in this State. 81 1s~@S Il ~~-.A
MURDER IN CHATHAM COUNTY, send
you an account of a most atrocious murder
which took place in Chatham county on Friday
evening the ! lth inst, near Rock river, about
three miles from Egypt, Ga the person of
Mr. John A. johnson, an old. and much re-
spected citizen of the county. MIR. johnson
had been to sale near Deep River, and while
there was paid some money, about three hun
dre0 collars. lie StaTte1 DOme tOWaTUS eF6u-
ing, and when within short distance from his
house, was Knocked from his horse. The horse
ran home, arriving there between sunset aud
dark, aud one of the ueighbors being there, and
fearful of an accident having happened to the
cid man, got On the horse and started up the
road to find him. He was horri6ed to find him
lying in the road rot quite dead, with his kusl
broken in two places. The gentleman who
went to End him, saw, on bis approach to where
the body lay, two negro men running away.
Mr.. johnson was carried to his house, bat was
dead by the time he reached there. There
being snow On the ground, and assistance being
procured, the negroes were tracked anc arrested
in less than one hour after the deed was COM
mitted One of them, named Bill, had formerly
belonged, to Mr.. J., and lived in . cabin on b is
place. He was arrested sitting by the FIRE 10
his cabin, trying to rub the blood off his shoes
and clothes x The pocket book and money was
found 10 chiuk in his cabin. He made full
confession and told where to fnd the money
The other negro, who was named Henry, for
merly belonged to one of the Deighbors. denies
any participation in the murder, but Bills con-
fession duplicates him. They are both in
Pit.sboro' Jail Mr. johnson was between 60
and 70 years of age; a most pleasant and affable
gentleman, who was noted as kind master and
good neighbor.s am glad to say that the
| negroes generally in this section have behaved
we'll, and seem to be very much incensed
against the author of this deed.