The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-22

| tlDn IItIlO &. cOIlh- ~ sON
doing out here in your shirt sleeves this
time of night" John replied that he
was going with his father instruments
to Mrs. Hendon's; that Mrs. III. had
been attacked and badly cut by some
one that had broken into the house and
that his father wa there. DAVIS made
no comment but as they approached
Mrs. II gate, said, IL a j%ocular man
ner: John, you don't know where |
have been tonight? No, SAID
John, "where?' Davis replied,
well, [ have been to Grafhn ;, and
passed on, soon after whlstlIng.
This burglary filled the town with W
and excitement. The women We're un-
able to sleep from fear and suspense.
The men felt that matters could no 90
on SO any longer. 4 reward Of $500
was offered. Secret watch was kept in
different parts Of town; a detective was
brought from Richmond an indlgna-
tor meeting was held, and a hundred
men, white and black. stood ready to
take the law into their own hands.
Every voice in the community declared
that hanging was too good for these
villains. Detection at that time would
have been followed by instant death.
Some went SO far as to declare that they
would not live in a village where such
things conld be done and the perpetra-
tors remain alive; and 1t was rumOred
that at least one family was preparing
to move way on that account.
jim and Simon johnson, the two ne
groe boys living on Mrs. Hendon's lot,
were arrested, examined before the
~, +nt .o,,r ,,l iIS.hap na1 cftn,.
an examination lasting two days. There
was not evidence against them except
that they lived on the lot and that Mrs.
Hendon was cut with her own axe,
which the girl Mary was sure she haze
put III the kitchen the night before.
The excitement was intense. Still
the burglaries continued. 1t was evi-
lent that the criminals had no fear of
the public. 1t was not natural for them
to fear the law. Lloyd had killed
Thompson. Mrs. Clements had been
shot down in a drunken quarrel at her
house, and Alfonso Davis had stabbed
his own brother until he was expected
to die. But Lloyd had no difficulty in
escaping, no n was punished for poor
Mrs. Clements death, and Alfonso Da-
Wis was again walking the streets as
boldly as if his short flight from the
village had purged him OF attempted
fratricide. Why should should they
fear the law under these circumstances?
The burglaries continued. \ room
in Mr.. Thomas Kirkland's house, occu-
pied by several ladies attending the
second Normal School, was entered at
ter midnight and a violent struggle re-
.,,1+o1 " Al, 4,.I+ 40, .,,,, 20 thn
burglars. Finally, after several pre-
vious attempts, the burglars broke into
the residence OF the Rev. e. W. Pure
toy, two miles from town. His wife
was aroused by some one plundering
the bureau drawers. The burglars
fled. Suspicion pointed to Albert At
water, who was arrested, and, after a
preliminary examination before the
magistrates court. was ordered to jail
for trial at the next term Of Orange Su-
perior Court. Mr.. j. vi. Alexander,
who had conducted the examinations,
suspected that Atwater knew about the
other burglaries and, taking him aside
by permission OF the magistrate, eX-
horted him to tell all that he knew of
the recent outrages. Atwatcr first en-
quired what effect such revelation
would have on his fate; and was in
formed that he would be hung for
the burglary at Purefoy's, whether he
confessed or not as the others. He
then seemed very indignant at being
deserted by his contederates and
after stating that he was very much
afraid OF death at the hands Of one of
the band, and being assured by Capt.
Nla-a,I,,. that no would Ia4n,I hrI,
personally from any attack, Atwater
stated to Capt. Alexander and Col. ii.
b. Guthrie, who was also present, that
he (Atwater) Alfonso Davis, Henry
Andrews and Louis Carlton formed "a
band of burglars, and that they had
committed the many outrages that had
been perpetrated III the village and Vi
cinity. lie gave minute and clrcum-
~stantial accounts OF the several burgla-
ries. No promises or threats were made
by Alexander or Guthrie. Atwater
also confessed that burglaries on Mrs.
Taylor's premises had been talked of,
and that the next attempt was to be
against Mrs. Pell also that they in
tended to buy fire arm and waylay
farmers on their return from Raleigh
after selling their cotton, flour and pork
in the fall and winter; also that burgla-
ries were planned against parties in
Chatham county. He said that Alfonso
Davis was the captain OF the band, and
that he feared him most. They had all
sworn to kill whoever betrayed them,
even though it be in the court house.
Warrants were issued, and Davis,
Andrews and Carlton were arrested.
Before the magistrates court Atwater's
confession was reUeatcd and was reduced