The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1891-12-17
Is HE a EURaLAR4
A Suspicious Character Arrested In
Barn.

For some time past Mr.. j. A.
White has suspicioned that some one
was sleeping in his barn loft but no
clue as to who it was could be OBJ
tanned until Sunday morning
when the colored woman who STAYS
at his house, in getting up in the
loft discovered a white man in the
hay.
The fact was reported to Officer
Cofer about eleven o'clock, and he
proceeded to the stable whore he
found the man who gave his name
as James Prather.
Prather resisted arrest at first but
when the officer proved to him that
he meant business by drawing his
pistol, he threw up his hands and
gave himself up. Mr.. Cofer took
his man to Jail and locked him up
until this morning when he was
81 zen hearing before Mayor Mast.
Mr.. j. A. Styers was one of the
witnesses 10 appear. He said that
this same man came to his back
door one night last week and knock
ed. The stranger then went out to
the well and whistled as though he
was signalling for some one to come
to him. He went to the back door
of Mr.. Styers again and knocked.
Mrs. Styers went to the door and
asked him what he wanted. He re-
piled in an abrupt manner, "Some-
thing to eat" Mr.. Styers went to
the door and asked Prather if he
wanted something to eat why he
I,3x - L.
stranger started around the house
but by the time Mr.. Styers reached
the front door he was out on the
street running. The same man also
went to the house of the widow
Blum, opposite Mr.. Styers, and
asked for something to eat, which
was given him.
WHAT WAS FOUND ON HIM.
Prather had a bundle containing
a number of articles on his person
when arrested.
Among them were silk handker-
chiefs, children's hose, scarfs, a trav-
cling cap, a lady's gold breast pin
and watch chain, number of matches
and large bunch of trunk, door,
cafe, bureau and paddock keys.
Prather gives history of his trav-
els in a little note book. Says that
he has been through Ohio, Pennsyl-
vania, Maryland, West Virginia,
Virginia and North Carolina. The
towns in this State he has visited are
Raleigh, Weldon, Henderson, Jones'
boro, Egypt, Greensboro and Win
ston.
Officer Cofer informs US that as
the night train came in from Green's
boro at 2:2O last Friday morning he
saw man jump off at the water
tank at the old freight depot. He
put off after the man but he made
tracks too fast for the officer. Mr..
Cofer is of the belief that Prather
is the very same man whom he saw
that night.
Prather admitted on the witness
stand that he was run away from
Erie, Pa, for stealing candy. He
claims to have come here in search
of employment. Mayor Mast fined
him S. and cost for being vagrant,
and then remanded him to Jail to
await until kilograms could be sent
to some of the towns where he has
been.
dlSIOR1 ttlS TRAY EL6s
son Monday, November 80, 1891.
l started out on the following jour-
ney: Left my home at Titusville,
Pa, went to Oil City; from there to
Pittsburg In a car load of oil, riding
all night and half the next day,
suffering with the cold. From
Pittsburg to Cumberland, Md, 1
travelled in box car; from there to
Baltimore in with a car load of beef
cattle. Pawned my watch for S.,
and went from Baltimore to Rich
mond, Va, via Chesapeake Bay.
From Richmond to Norfolk through
Petersburg; from Norfolk to Wei
don, N. c.; from there to f leigh
and clear through to Jonesboro
locked in car load Of merchandise,
and was carried through to Jones'
boro: Was about two days in con-
finement. cut my way out with a
pocket knife after being in the car
two days and one night. Rode from
Jonesboro to Greensboro in a ca
bose with the conductor and then
walked % miles from Greensboro to
Winston"
It is stated also that Prather has
told one of the prisoners in the Jail
that there is enough evidence against
him (Prather) to send him to the
penltentiary for five years if it
could be found out.
Prather is white man, robust
looking and appears to be about sc
years of age. His weight is about
It's pounds.