The enquirer southerner., 1875-01-08
A BRUTAL MURDER IN EDGECOMBE.
CONFESSION.
WHITAKER's EDaEooxBE Co., N. c., }

WHIrAKER's EDaEooxBE Co., N. c., J
Dec. 29th, 1874. I
EDITORS SoUTHRRNRR Last night abou
o'clock some person or persons knocked
down and robbed Mr.. e. Cohen, a. promi
nent merchant of this place, while be was
walking from his residence to his store
which is not over SO yards from his resi-
dence, and while he was not ten steps from
the street, and all the stores open. They
have under arrest two negroes, who from
the evidence are supposed to be some Of
the ruffians.
And just here, I would add that society
and the interests of the country sternly de.
mand the strict enforcement of the vagrant
law. The country is swsrming with lazy
lousy negroes who will not work for a
living and are ready to rob steal, or COM
init any act in the catalogue of crimes that
promises any relief from labor. And 80 it
Is everywhere-we have but to look at all
these counties where the people are the
most indolent to find the most vice. the
greatest number of murders and rsbberies.
This can and should be corrected. Let the
proper officials do their whole duty and
these evils will soon be sxterfated; and let
them commence about it to-day.
SENEx.
P. S.-Since writing the above Mr..
Cohen has died. .r
We append below the Roanoke News
correspondence about the murder:
After two days session the Jury of In
quest to find how and in what manner the
late E. Cohen came to his death, reports as
follows:
"This Jury finds that the late Esadere
Cohen came to his death from two blows
on the head inflicted by some blunt instru-
ment in the hands of John Williams, COL
ored and does further find that Hilliard
Whitaker, colored, is accessory to the mur-
DER"
Hilllard Whitaker made a pointed and
direct confession, slowing concIusively that
the plan to murder Mr.. Cohen for his
money was a concOcted one, and .withal tho
most diabolical and cold blooded mu .d4r
ever perpetratei in civilized commLli,r y
The evidence given before the Jury by thA
other white and negro witnesses was al
most enough 10 show that Williams was one
Of the murderers, together with the confess
o'oh Va w hht0n'i3 PldSCo tiC idtc vi " IL
liams beyond the shadow of a doubt. The
following is the confession of Whitaker:
"About a week ago John Williams told
me that he and Freeman (anOtber negro)
wanted to 60 home, and that Cohen and
heap Of these big meu about here had
heap Of money and he was going to have
some Of it. About seven O'Clock on the
night Mr.. Cohen was struck John met me
Nt Mr naarS fEo II
told me if would 60 with him he would do
me good, We then weat between Deals
old store house and the bowlingalley and
came TO the corner of the woodward in the
rear of Mr.. Cutchin's store. Before getting
to the wallins of the yard John stumbled
over something which he picked up and put
against the wall just by the path Mr.. Cohen
would come, aud stood there few moments
talking about the girls, &c. Presently Mr..
Cohen came along when John picked up the
piece of wood he had set up against the was,
and Struck MIR. G. over the heap with it'll
when Mr.. c. sort of staggered of and John
struck him on the back of the head. l was
so frightened l run through Mr.. Cutchin's
gate and through the wall on the back
sides. and run below the residence of Mr..
Cohen and came up the railroad to the
water station. The next morning about 5
O'Clock John came in the water station and
told me if had not been such fool last
night might shave got something. John
then went off to Freeman "a section handy
and their house. .
A piece of scantling and heavy hand
spike, each six foot long, were found at the
place Of the murder, han there is no doubt
doubt both John and Hirliard were waiting
with stick 1or Cohen, and been knew all
about what was going to be done. Whit
aker no doubt told the truth concerning
Williams, but kept back his own completely
John Williams was confined in the jail
at this place on Tuesday.
-s-sue carpet>bag had This is tn
in the field. William which aw;
ssupported by the negro hand of tt
"a the courthouse and You m
ox, rejected nearly all says a d
5tng>papers, and de> officer, 'w,
elf elected Governor. of the pub
S appealed to every for argum
their reach. They way. Th
me local judges, but for the bl;
,aheady master in the man with
pSThev rode to WASH no chanc