Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-01-20
Reported for the Journal.

county. by Fsenry Berry L0wrey.
Yesterday morning. at quarter before
nine, Mr.. M. d. McNeiH and Mr.. John
Taylor, having just taken breakfast at Mr..
VIM. G. McNeill's house. started to Moss
Neck depot. on the Wilmington, Char
lotte and Rutherford Railroad. but about
one third of mile distant. As they we're
walking leisurely across the mill dam about
200 yards from the Federal camp, and in
sight of one Of the soldiers, Henry Berry
Lowry stepped on the dam with double
barreled gun and shot Taylor through the
head, killing him instantly. Lowry then
turned the other barrel on McNeill. who
lodged as he fired, and the load passed
over his head, just. grazing him. Two other
men appeared at this instant nd McNeiIl
ran for his life, succeeding in getting be-
hind the mill before they could fire on
him. Lowrey robbed the body of Taylor
taking revolver and about $50 He drew
the body to the place where he stood when
he fred, SO as to be out of sight from the
depot.
At the sound of the gun, Mrs. Taylor,
who was at her fathers, within sight of the
mill, ran screaming down towards it, and
was met by her brother, who took her in
his arms and bore her back TO the house.
Within five minutes the Sergeant in charge
of the squad at the depot was on the
spot. and started in pursuit Of the
murderers, whom he tracked for half
a mile down the creek, when they crossed
Mr.. McNeilrs plantation and made off
through the pine woods. Here he gave
up the chase and returned to his post. Mr.
McNeill is sure that Mr. Taylor never
knew OF the presence of the murderer, as
he was looking up the mill pond at the
time he was shot and talking of business
matters. The whole charge passed through
| his head from tina right temple to the left
ear, and his brains were bio wn twenty feet
out into the pond by the blast of the dis
charge. Mcneil was about two PAGES be
hind Taylor, but on his right, and nearer
| to Lowrey than Taylor. The blast pa. sing
n front scorched his face slightly, and as
Lowrey turned the other barrel upon him
he was not eight feet from him. Nothing
but his quickness III lodging saved his
life. Mr.. M. d. McNeill knows Lowrey
we'll, as he was prisoner to Lowrey the
night that Sanders, the detective, was
captured and slain. Mr.. McNeill thinks
the other two men were Stephen Lowrey
and Boss Strong, but is not positive, as
they did Lot come upon the dam.
Thus has been committed one of the
most diaboilcal murders Of which Lowery
has been guilty within sight of camp
OF u. 5. soldiers; within sight of the de-
pot, where two men witnessed the trans
action. Within sight Of the house where
his wife and child were, in the presence
Of his brother in-law, John Taylor, one of
the most genial, quiet, peaceable and in
n u%n1r of oR DoL
been most foully murdered-murdared in
cold blood murdered when he was max
ing arrangements to leave his home and
take up his abode at another place rather
than have any difficulty with these men.
Warned of his danger he had made every
thing ready to move on Monday next.
But now in the prime of life and useful
ness he is cut off and gone forever.
Can this condition of things be allowed
to exist in North Carolina? Shall no
avengiDg arm of law be stretched forth to
punish if Sheriff's will not do their duty
Are there no grand iuries to force them
to it =? Cannot Justice Sinclair clear his
skirts of the blood of this man, whom he
so ruthlesaly prosecuted and whose murder
he indirectly abetted, by raising posse
and pursuing the murderer Alas alas
We fear the times when Justices were
not afraid to pursue criminals are passed
fends to the bar of the law. We know the
officer in command of the q. s.. troops at
Lumberton will do all he can, but he is
powerless In strange country without
guides and without the sympathy and aid !
of every citizen. Let every good citizen
como to his camp and let campaign be !
instituted which will result in the punish
mont of these base Williams.
AGxtraOrdInarY-A Police |
e Sergeant Rides q Steeple.Chase In Pur-
suit Of Embezzler. and Effects his
Arrest.
Equestrianism is not an exercise pecu-
liar to policemen. It comes handy once
in while, however, as the following will
show,
John Hampden-i name tackled
on to scalawag-was agent for the Mari
Fertlhzing Company, of Pennington, N.
J BY some means he managed to make
his account $4,000 or $4,000 short, and
lied the consequences. This was some
months ago. Not many weeks since word
was sent to the defrauded company that
Hampden had taken up his abode at
Blackberry Station, Kane county, Ill. |
Yesterday member of the Fertilizing |
Company arrived here with an introduce |
ton to Captain Hickey from Inspector
Dilks, of New York.
The Captain advised the gentleman,
whose name is Kinney, to take along Ser
geant Buckley. the well known armory |
officer. Accordingly. the pair started off.
They reached Blackberry in time to find |
the chase on the platform there ready to |
take the Omaha train, It was evident
that he smelled a multiplicity of mice, for
he was wide-awake, and soon recognized |
Mr.. Kinney. The fellow Hampden imme-
dlately struck across the fields with the
view of distancing his pursuers. Sergeant
Buckley Immediately procured farmers |
saddle-horse and started after the fugitive.
The Sergeant learned horsemanship in
Ireland, and had no difficulty in taking
the ''stiffest" jumps right gslIaltly. On |
sped the embezzler; after him hied the
ditehes, few past in rapid succession, and
at last the pursuit ended in the capture of
John Hanpden. Fortunately the capture
geant, having had enough of steeple-
chasing. resolved to get back at his own
leisure: So he placed the unhappy Jer-
k@A&