The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1885-06-17

viii tboAic N'' So'iA y hiI'i = II II
to view the body for many minutes.
....IIenry Davis, the negro who was
reported TO have been lynched near CLAY
ton the day before last Christmas. re
turned here Friday Afternoon. Davis
said he was confined in Clayton in a little
office on the street. There were several
guards, perhaps a dozen. These came
and went, some being always in the room
Some time III the night a bell was tapped
twice. Tie man SAID to Davis aud
Charles Smith, the burglar, who wa,
with him, Come on; lets be going =
They said they were going to Smithfield.
and soon started. Two men had Smith
and Davis specially in charge. They
walked and walked, rctractIng their steps
from time to time and travelling different
roads. They crossed the railroad and
went perhaps a coupie Of miles farther
BY and by Davis felt water, and soon say
a bridge on a river. On this bridge the
guards halted. An old man rode up on
horseback. This mysterious man had
first appeared at the office and said some
thing to the guards, had afterwards met
them twice IN the road and then at the
bridge, There was some talk. Most of
the dozen guards drew away to one side
Presently the two men personally in
charge of Smith and DAVIS fired. Smith
dropped like a shot Davis felt a knee
burning pain from the powder of the pis
tol, on his neck lie gave a leap and ran,
the two men followed and firing many
times. Twice again he was hit: in the
ed by a uursuer, who with a heavy pistol
Strrnt him 49,, tho ~ - ~ ll IL
knocked him on bis face. There he Law
10 the road, until in a little while, his
eDses returning, he walked to a fence
bridge and fell over it into the bushes.
The last he saw Of Smith the latter was
lying on the bridge apparently dead.
man Was thrown into the water
He does not know that Smith was really
dead, but he appeared So. The men dis
appeared, there was no more pursuit or
shooting. Davis made his way barely to
Franklin county, not Knowing the rods
The bitter weather trostbit him His toot
began to decay and he cut off his toes
with a knife. His handcutf. had been
knocked over his hands by repeated blows
With a hammer. His wrists were sore.
and he was badly wounded. He airel-
wards went to Nash cunty. He was
looked after by his brother. who
aided 10 secreting him when Stewart
Ellison and the other negroes sent by GOV.
jarvis went there to look for hun. DAVIS
went from Nash back to Franklin. aud
from the latter county came here
Ills story Is given as he told i 1t
was apparently not a true story. There
were VIDE variations here and there He
heSltated a little at first about speaking
but was treasured and proceeded. 4 30
officer was present. II viii be re
nembered that colored people 10 Frank
I'm county made affdavits that both Dl
Wis and Smith were alive Many who
heard Davis story yet believe that the
guards were having a Christmas spree
aud that both men made their escape.
untouched. Da Is owe 10 wounds
True be booked weary aud weak. How
ever, this stOry l. given for what it i,
worth. He has been a centre Of ~attrac-
Ion for the colored people every moment
his arrival He says he wa e%ntiretv
innocent OF the bui Elary. and wa a. work
His old employer, Mr.. Goodwin.
vas very kind to him He was working
u Nr. GoOdwin's brickyard. Davis saws
smith swore lies on him, and never avsw
"a that he Davis was innocent. He
1t was Smiths desire to get | i'm into
rouble and let him stay in 1t II !. not
probable that Davi. will be IN an, Va,
nolested here.