Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-06-01
THE NEW COMET.

Prof. SharpleSS, OF HaVerford COllege, Has
been observing the new comet with particular
interest. He says it reached it's nearest point
to the earth Tuesday about IS, 100000 miles.
When first discovered by Prof. Wells, of the
Albany University, on March 90, it was 15O,-
600, 900 miles distant from the earth. Its Or
the earth. On June 10 it will have arrived at
it's nearest position to the sun, calculated to be
about 100000 miles. 1t is visible now to the
naked eye, being in the constellation Cassie
peia, and at midnight is about midway from
the horizon to Polaris. 1t will remain visible
to the eye for about two weeks longer, from
shortly after midnight until the break of day.
AS seen through the telescope it has nucleus
equal in brightness to star of the seventh
magnitude. 1t is of unusual size, Prof. Sharp
less says how large he has not estimated, but
it whisks it's tail not less than half a million
miles long. Prof. Sharpless says the comet is
remarkable, first, for it's exceptional size, and
secondly, because it will approach nearer to
the sun than the majority of comets have done.
1t is now on it's way down to the Southern
hemisphere, from which it will be best seen,
especially from South America When seen
there it will he in it's greatest brilliancy, which
naturally increases as it nears the sun. I'm
fortunately, the conditions were not as favor
able for observing this comet as they were for
the one of last Summer. The professor says
astronomers have agreed upon the fact that
this is an entirely new comet, and not the
comet of 1915, which is announced to appear
this year. That may appear later. The orbit
of this differs in too many respects for it to be
accepted as that comet.
AN INTERESTING MURDER CASE.
The case of B. F. Scott, colored, and Mrs
Wilson, white on trial at Chesterfield Court
house, last week, for the murder of Odom d.
Wilson, the husband of Mrs Wilson, termi-
mated by verdict of acquittal as to both the
prisoners. The story of the crime is as fol-
lows:
On Saturday night, December II, 1881,
Odom D. Wilson, white man, formerly of
Fayetteville, n. c., but for the last four years
a resident of Chesterfield county, while seated
at supper, surrounded by his wife and seven
children, was fired at by some party or parties
from the outside and instantly killed, five
buckshot lodging in his head. The deceased
had recently figured before United States
Commissioner Ladd as a defendant in one
case and as a Government witness in other
cases for violation of revenue laws, and had
been bound over for his appearance at the
United States Court in Charleston. He ex-
pressed some fear as to his safety to Commits
sioner Ladd, having, as he stated, heard
threats made that he would not be alive to
attend Court. In the February following B.
F. Scott colored man, was arrested in North
Carolina on the charge of having committed
the murder, having been found with the dead
mans wife, with whom he had gone off a
short time after the killing. In March the
grand jury found true bill against Scott,
and subsequently Mrs. Wilson was also indict
ed as an accessory with Scott in the murder
of her husband. The trial was postponed un-
til the recent term of the Court in order to
allow the State to secure some absent witness
es. Great interest was felt in the trial owing
to the fact that Mrs. Wilson, white woman,
was accused of assisting in numbering her
husband in order to have closer relations with
a cOlOred man, condition Of things that
would excite feeling of horror anywhere.
The jury after being out for a little over
one hour returned verdict of not guilty as
to both of the defendants and an order for
their discharge was then granted, but before
their leaving the prisoners dock they were
rearrested by Deputy United States Marshal
Robert E. Evans upon a warrant issued by
United States Commissioner Ladd, charging
them, together with Albert Brewer, Daniel
McClendon and Richardson, with interfering
with, intimidating and removing United
States witness, which witness was Odom ID.
Wilson, the deceased.
After a hearing before United States Com
missioner Ladd all the parties arrested except
Scott and Mrs. Wilson, were discharged and
bound over as witnesses, and the two were
Immediately started to Charleston for trial
in the District Court. Mrs. Wilson in making
her statement, concluded it would be best to
disclose all she knew about the case which
implicated Scott very deeply, and Scott after
listening to her story, doubtless concluded
that he too would do likewise, and proceeded
to tell what he knew which duplicates the
former. The two who have been so closely
united up to now are equally arrayed against
each other and it may be that the guilty party
will yet be reached. The case will be one
of the liyeliest and most interesting accounts
of one of the most cold blooded murders ever