Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-06-03
CRIME In ROBRSON.
+" CRIMINAL ECHOES OF BAD GOV
ERNMENT.o
SHOE HEEL, N. c., May 90, 1870.

ettevllle Eagle was badly mistaken in say
ing that things were quiet in Robson
"That anarchy, bloodshed and universal
danger and distraction to human life and
property, SO horribly depicted by the Will
mington papers. never existed" He is
very badly mistaken. Would to God he
was right, and we were able to join with
him in denouncing those horrible pic
lures" as merely sensational articles.
| It is painful fact that for moro than
three years the county of Robson has
been infested by an organized band of the
most desperate and bloody negro bandits
that ever cursed a country. They have
gone from one revolving crime to another,
encouraged by their exemption from pun
ishment, until they are now infiicting on
the people of Robson the most brutal and
damnable outrages known in modern
times. Scarcely week elapses but We are
furnished the intelligence of some horri-
BILE crime or violence perpetrated in our
midst. During tho whole period of the
past three years, these bloody valtures,
with Henry Berry Lowery at their head,
have held, without moIestation, high
carnival of crime, feasting with indiscrim-
mate vengeance upon the blood of our
best citizens.
| There is indeed "reign Of terror p"
here no mans life or property is safe
constant dread and apprehension fills the
minds of the people. Carnage and VIC
lence are running riot through tle land
startling whole eigbborhoods,. and strik
ing terror into the hearts -Four most
J afx,1 Ian III
do these negro monst.fa confne their OPP
erations alone to mill Sight hours They
conduct them in IN thn day light, in the
broad blaze of the midday sun, and with
boldpess and impunity that would appal
the most abandoned devil Oh Gods green
earth. These are indeed evil and alarming
times. Outrages can no longer endure ii,
and time more terrible and hideous than
that which deluged the highways Of Greece
and Italy, with the blood Of thousands of
slaughtered victims, seems to threaten Us.
In view Of this great danger, We tell
Governor Holden, and the criminal Sheriff
of this county, that these monster demons
must be exterminated; that these hellish
outrages must cease; that Ihe citizens of
Robson must have some security and pro
lection to life and property.
These are times when no one can retire
to rest with feelings Of safety, or repair to
his labor without approximations. We
know not the hour, day or night, that our
dwellings will be drenchcd in blood, or
our barnes destroyed by fire. Ere we are
aware OF danger, We are startled by the
crack of the murderer's rifle, or appalled,
by the lurid blaze of the inoendiary' s
torch. Yet, amidst all these sceues of
blood and strife, we are told there is no
band of gurrillas. no highway robbers, no
violence or murder committed here.
But oh not one half OF the terrible
crimes perpetrated by those Union
Leaguers are given to the press, and many
that are given do not tell one half the mis-
chief and crime committed. SIMEON.
The Cumberland Outrage-MurIer OF the
Mcleod Family.
FAYETTEVILLE, n. c., May %, 1870.
Dear Journal One Of the most terri
bic outrages that ever occurred in this
section was committed in this county last
"Wednesday evening, the Oath instant. Mr..
NeilI Mcleod, an old and very respectable
citizen, lived some twenty-five miles west
of here in Cumberland. An unmarried !
brother, Daniel Mcleod, lived with him,
also an old man and rather infirm. On |
Wednesday evening three or four robbers, |
disguised unknown persons, came to
McLeods and made hostile demonstra-
ton. Before the McLeods could make de-
fence, the robbers shot Neill Mcleod |
down, killing him instantly. They then
shot Daniel down. of which he died |
in three or four hours. During the attack
John Mcleod, Neill's son, who waa near
the house, came up, and, it is said, got a
gun and attempted TO fire on the
robbers, bnt the cap faulty,
and his gun failed to fire, and they at once
shot him down. Some twenty or thirty |
buckshot entered his body, though he is
still living and il is thought his wounds
are not fatal He had been severely |
wounded in the war, having lost an eye by
minnie ball. Two young ladies, Neill's
daughters. were present, one OF whom ran
up stairs to get pistol and while return
ing was shot on the stair steps by the rob-
bers. seriously wounded in the arm and
disabled. The other daughter, having es-
capped through the BACK yard after the
Mrs. Mcleod, their mother, was also shot
and badly wounded in the arm, though
not dangerous, perhaps. The wounded
daughter was also gashed on the he ad with
a bowie knife, and perhaps her and her
mother were struck with guns or sticks.
They will probably recover.
This included, it seems, all the family
present, anu GucI0 WeFo no OIueF p0ESOUS
on the plantation at the time. Both the
old men were buried Friday. After the
killing and shooting, the robbers pro
ceeded to plumber the house, aud they
took of all the valuables they could carry,
clothing, guns, provisions, jewelry, money,
watches. DC The amount robbed is not
yet known. From 800 to 5000 and
large amount of clothing, &C., is known to
have been taken. The McLeods were
formerly wealthy, and there is still landed
possessions and other property, but it is
thought they did not have much money
on hand at the time, although they have
been receiving considerable amounts. -
Whether the robbers got more than some
5000 is not yet known. The nearest
neighbor is some two miles away, and it
was late in the night or early next morn
ing before assistance was had or alarm
could be given.