Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-05-11
4 DOUBLE TRAGEDY.
TERRIBLE MURDER SPEEDILY
AVENGED.
A DESPERATE CHARACTER RIDDLED
BY LYNCHERS' BULLETS-CRIME
MAKES WIDOWS ANN ORPHANS.
From Washington Gazette


Again has our community been
shocked by another terrible tragedy.
Like thunder clap the startling
announcement came that Mr.. Joshua
A. Cox, a peaceable and useful
citizen and successful lumbermar of
Blount's Creek, l . miles from " ash-
ington, had been murdered by
Thomas Frazier, an employee of MIR.
II. Mac Cox, deceasefs brother.
Bad blood for Cox had boiled in the
veins Of Frazier for some time past
and on Saturday afternoon, accom-
panied by two friends, Newton and
Adams, he entered COX's store and
demanded liquor. which Cox refused.
and then walked off towards his mill,
a few yards distant. Frazier. who
had been drinking. now boiling with
rage, thought it id strange
others could buy when he could no.
and Selling gun which was in the
near, emptied the contents OF both
barrels, which literally riddled Mr..
Cox with buck shot, producing almost
instant death. Frazier fed through
the swamp near by to the house OF
Mr. II. Mac Cox, where his clothes
were thinking to secure them and
escape. believing his employer absent.
Mr.. Cox, however, had heard OF the
murder, but not having left the house,
arrested Frazier, and with the aid OF
others, who came up, bound him and
carried him to a small dwelling near
the mill, where he was placed under
a strong guard, preparatory to bring
ing him to this city, the following
morning, for incarceration iI the
county jail. A magistrate, fearin3
attempted release by Frazler's
friends, posted sentinels at different
points around the premises, securing
the murderer with heavy chains
fastened to post within the building.
Toward morning company OF
masked men, adroitly eluded the
sentinels and gained admission to
the temporary prison. and overpower-
ing the guard, took possession ct
Frazier, knocked off the irons, and
gagged and bound, dragged him
near to the exact spot where he stood
when he fred the first shot at his
innocent victim. Here a vollev of
gun and pistol shots was emptied
into his body, Instantly killing him
and mutilatlng him almost beyond
recognition, and then the lynchers
dispersed, having done their work
in much less time than it takes to
tell the story.
Frazier was considered desperate
character, having confessed to several
other murders, among them the kill
ing of Mac Waters, several years ago.
while night watch at Kugler's mill, IN
this town. The community around
the scene of the tragedy is mulch
excited, and fears are entertained
for the safety of Frazier's friends.
who had not been seen since SATURDAY.
night, and is supposed to have got
an iukling of danger and fled to-
parts unknown. Frazier was the son
of a prominent lawyer in Fender
county, but had lived in this county
for number of years.
Mr.. Cox was a very highly re-
spected citizen. hard worker, and
useful man. Many will morn his
death, out none will feel it so keenly
as his widow with her five small
children, whom we all pity in their
sore affection.
LATER.-At the Coroner's inquest
held Sunday over the body of Frazier
q verdict of death at the hands OF
parties unknown to the Jury" was
rendered.