The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-07-28
EFoR THE WESTERN DEMOCRAT
Nixon Curry.

MR.. EDITOR :-You interesting extract from
the Little Rock Gazette, of May, 1910, in refer
ence to Nixon Curry, has induced me to ascer-
tain the facts of the case so far as known from
his surviving sister, respectable old lady now
in the 80th year of her age, citizen of your
county. Her narrative of the case involves
something Of the manners and customs of fifty
years ago, but will not on that account be less
interesting
James Curry, the father of Nixon Curry, a
respectable citizen of Mecklenburg county, but
not preacher, owned and lived on the place
now known as the Springs place, four miles South
OF Davidson College, on the Charlotte and States
vile Road. He had eight children of whom
Nixon was the youngest James Curry died
when Nixon was about IL years old.
AT that time horse racing was the favorite
amusement of our people. The race was grand
festival, which attracted large crowds of both
sexes from distance, similar to the crowds which
now attend our College Commandments. Many
OF our most substantial citizens raised horses for
the turf and at fixed times carried them to the
race courses, and carried their wives and daugh-
tiers to witness the races. Nixon Curry became
a celebrated rider after he grew up, and fire.
quently had charge for several days of horses
brought from distance which he rode on the
race. He was thus brought in contact and &C
quaintance with men-of substance and business.
1t was at one of these races, also, that he saw
Dovey --, his future wife, for the first time.
They were then both grown and they married
not a great while after their acquaintance. So
that the story about their love from childhood
is all fancy. 1t is true he married against the
wishes of his wife's uncle, with whom she was
living. But there was no pursuit, or bringing
to bay, Or shooting rivals. a short time after
wards, Benjamin Wilson was found dead and
Nixon Curry was suspected of being his MUIR
derer He avoided the officers for several weeks,
but remained in the neighborhood among his
friends. AT length, by the advice of Mr. -,
whose horses he had been in the habit of riding
on the race courses, he went to Charlotte, and
surrendered himself His trial was removed to
Morganton and he was acquitted. He was, how
ever, soon after indicted and convicted upon
another charge.
Before he was married, and before the murder
of Wilson, he went on one occasion to Georgia
to attend the race courses there as rider. He
and another young man went together IN small
wagon. About the same time negro belonging
to MIR Gibson missing and never afterwards
found. While Curry was on his trial for the
murder of Wilson, the companion of this trip to
the Georgia race paths, told that Gibson's miss
ing negro had gone to Georgia with them, and
that he (the negro) and Nixon left the wagon
one morning ana That NIXON returned without
the negro On this evidence Nixon was indicted
as soon as he was acquitted of Wilson's murder,
and convicted in Iredell county. He afterwards
broke Jail in Statesville by the aid of friends and
went to his sisters in Kentucky. He remained
with her till his nephew came to North Carolina
and carried his wife out to him. He and his
wife Immediately went to Arkansas where his
wife soon after died, and he afterwards married
a second wife and had three children by her.
He had none by his first wife. He was killed
in fight in public place by STAB given him,
with his own dirk, by his political opponent and
antagonist, upon sudden quarrel on political
question. Mr. Montgomery, who was raised
in the same neighborhood with Nixon Curry,
was present and witnessed his death and retailed
it to his surviving sister. When Curry escaped
from Iredell jail he found near the Jail waiting
for him saddled horse which he mounted and
rode to Kentucky. This occurred just forty-fve
years ago. His sister remembers the date from
the age of her son Nixon, whom she named after
him while he was in Jail in Statesville, and whom
she frequently bore in her arms visiting him in
jail He was in prison about. three years in all
on both indictments. His bold robberies the
Alleghanies of North Carolina are much the
fgment of fancy as the story of his dream to his
first and childhood's love.
Davidson College, July %, 1868.
rGze Cant A w Shaffer who has been the Assist