The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-07-03
N0RTA CAROLINA.

AAo eAcitemenb lhCluent 10 the arrest OIL the
man alleged to be Partin is still undated and
SO far the mystery concerning his identity is
unsolved. The prisoner was Tuesday after
noon shaved and furnished with new suit of
clothes. The changes in his personnel will
compare better with Scott Partin as he appear
ed at the time of the murder. All sort of ru-
mors are afoat of what the prisoner says and
does and some declare most positively that he
said he knew Scott Partin and that he was
dead. Others say to the contrary. When
questioned as to why he first stated that he
was native of Buncombe county and then
retracted the statement, he gave the excuse
that he had motive for it, being DESTROYS of
finding the names Of certain parties in that
section of the state.
Whether the man is the veritable Scott Par
tin or not may be questioned, but the circum-
stances OF the case point to the fact that he has
been guilty of some crime for which he fears
detection. His varied stories and shifting
statements of details all point to this, and this
is the general sentiment now in the public
mind.
The nephew of Partin has been in Raleigh
and saw the prisoner There are con-
hicting rumors of his decision. One state
nlent is that he was uncertain as to the iden-
tIty OF his uncle, but another is to the effect
that while on his way home he met q gentle
man whom he told he was positive it was his
uncle.
j. III. Walton, father-in-law of,Partin, inter-
viewed the prisoner after which Walton made
the following affidavit
am fatherin-law of Scott Partin; have this day
examined the man who was arrested for him. There
is nothing about the man that can identify. There
is nothing about him that looks like.Scott Paltn.
Partin had dark blue eyes; this man has brown
eyes; Partn had small or squint eye; this man has
an open, or bland look. This mans hair is blacker
than Partin's. Partns eyebrows were heavier than
TINS mans. This man stands erect; Partin
beard is more reddish than Partin's.
This evidence of Walton's was not conelu-
sive, as he stated that he did not know of the
loss of a finger sustained by Partin. and knew
nothing Of certain marks on Partn's shoulder,
which are exactly reproduced on the shoulder
OF the prisoner. The officials are in q guam
dairy. They fear to release the prisoner and
have nothing to justify them in holding
the prisoner. The case is one of extreme per-
plexlty, and the identity of the man is as
much i'll doubt as ever.
There is great excitement at the town of
Coleraine, in BERTHE county. Week before last
DR.. LII. S. Keith died and was buried 1t was
believed by some people that there was foul
play i'll the case. Public feeling grew SO high
that there was demand for disinterment of
the body and post norton examination The
grave was opened, and the casket was lifted
out. 1t was found to contain no body, only
some brick and pieces of wood. Whatbecame
OF the body, or whether there was burial is
profound mystery. There arc no medical
colleges anywhere in that region. Supersti-
tious negroes say that DIR. Keith roso from the
grave, by what power they know not There
are no signs that the grave had been disturbed
prior to this official opening. Some think that
the doctor was poisoned; that his body was
taken out Of the coffin by the person who
poisoned him. and the body was buried in some
secret place, so that investigation would be
fruitless.
The most remarkable murder case in North
Carolina was the assassination of Paul Lincke,
in Beaufort county, by William A. Potts, a
disolute young lawyer, whom Lincke had be-
friended For months this case has been the
talk of the state. Lincke's wife was Potts's
paramount Potts was convicted, appealed to
the supreme court and the sentence was re-
affirmed, and then Governor Scales issued his
death warrant, fixing July 18th as the date of
execution. Since he took that ac-
ton the governor has been besieged
with petitions for Communication,
and demands that mercy be not shown this
cruel and cowardly criminal. Potts's father
and mother have been here ten days. They
declare that they will not return home until
they discover whether the governor will COM
mute the sentence to life imprisonment. Many
letters are received demanding that Potts be
hanged. 1t is said, that if his sentence is
committed, he will be lynched before the
authorities can remove him from the jail to the
penitentiary. Public feeling gets higher and
higher, day by day. Governor Scales has
He has called a council, composed of Eugene
insane asylum p. i. Murphy, superintendent
of the Western insane asylum, and J. L. Mil
Ter, superintendent of the Eastern insane asy-
lum, to discuss and advise him touching the
sanity OF Potts. Tho council met Friday.