The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-02-19
From the Fayetteville News, Feb. 18th.
SHOCKING CRIME AND SWIFT Re
TRIBUTION.

We regret to be called upon to record one of
those distressing cases of aggravated and revolt
ing crime, followed by speedy and terrible retri-
button. occurring in our midst, which have been
repeatedly chronicled, since the war, in different
journals throughout the country, but from
which our own peaceful aud orderly community
has, up to this time, been comparatively free.
Last Sunday afternoon, at about four CLOCK,
young lady, (Eivina Massey, daughter of the
late W. H. Massey vel! and favorably known
by many in this place, while returning to her
home short distance from town, was assaulted
by negro man, Archie Beebe, drayman Of
Fayetteville, and an attempt made by him to
commit an act of that heinous character from
the contemplation of which all right minded
people must turn with shudder.
Ii is not then surprising that the popular in
dignatiou and the sympathy of the friends of
the unfortunate girl (who, in the struggle was
badly bruised and inhumanly choked) were in
tensely aroused against the criminal; and We
Judge that we merely anticipate the expectation
Of the reader when we state that after the nag
istrates' hearing of the case on yesterday, and
while the prisoner was being remanded to Jail, a
crowd gathered around him and his guard, and
he was killed almost instantly oy pistol shot
from the hand of some one, to US unknown.
We conceive it to be our dnty to give the
facts of the ofense committed and the manner
of the prisoners death. By permission, we
were shown the testimony Of the complainants
and another witness, negro girl, at the masis-
trates trial for his commitment The evidence
is plain and unmistakabla of the attempt to VIC
late, and of brutal assault in which the girls
dress was torn off, her person maltreated by
bruises and choking, and she dragged by force
to the woods and thrown down. The approach
of Oily Stewart, the colored witness, who was
attracted by the cries Of the lady, alone pre-
vented the accomplishment of the horrible de-
sign of the deceased, who took fright and rar
off
| We were admitted to the inquest trial this
morning, and give below the evidence of She
riff Hardie and Constable Bond, in substance
regarding the killing of Beebe: -
Sheriff Hardie, although be did not have thu
warrant for the prisoner, ap?rehended some
difficulty during the trial on yesterday, at the
! Market House, and determined, as was bis duty
! to protect him. Almost the entire police force
was at his command, having custody of the &C
cused and the belief of the Sheriff is that thu
prisoners desperate efforts to escape during thu
confusion caused his death, by impeding the eff
! forts of the guard, aud allowing the crowd time
to make two successive attacks. The first rusl
to take the criminal beat back by the police
who were ordered to use their clubs, which the,
did effectually for the time being. But th'
prisoner in his struggle went down, carrying tw
of lis guard with him; he was pulled up BY
Sheriff Hardie and while that officer had bi
hand in his collar, pistol shot was fred from
behind passing near the Sheriff's ear, and lodg
ing in the head of Beebe, who fell and died, g
was testified by Dr. McDuffie at this morning.
| examination, in three minutes. No fact Wa
ELECTED to-day as to who committed the decd
The hearing of the case will be continued a
3 O clock this afternoon.
Further comment upon ttis affair is unne
cessary 1t is of those instances where awfu
justice speaks from the mouth of the people
and the bloody mask of vengeance is stampe
by mans hand.