Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1892-03-09


Found-Marks OF Foul Playa
Suspect Arrested.
On Monday, February 1, THE ClTI-
zEN's advertising columns contained the
following notice:
r oST-A small dark colored boy. 8 years
i 4 old; left home on Thursday last; name.
Andrew Webb. Information to James Webb.
Biltmore, N. c.
The boy has been found, but the news
of the discovery will bring sadness in
stead ofjoy to the heart of James Webb,
the father OF the lad.
Andrew Webb was found near the city
yesterday, dead, and it is believed that
he was murdered.
Yesterday afternoon R.W. Johnston,
young man who lives just cast of Beau
catcher, was out in the woods near his
home shooting crows. He reached a
point 100 or $50 Yards from the road
which leads up the mountain from
Chunn's cove. and seeing a crow above
him, started to shoot.
As Mr.. Johnston started to fire, how
ever, he noticed pile Of leaves some
thirty feet below him. and looking closer
was horrifed to discover that the leaves
partially covered human body. He
dropped his gun, and went after his
brother.
Together they went back to the spot
and going close found that the body
was that of colored boy.
The body was lying on its stom,
ach, the head toward the north. the face
turned to the cast, and the legs and hips
coverei with leaves. The men called D.
d. Suttle, who happened to be near, and
| word was sent to Coroner l.. B. Nc
Brayer. in the city. As the discovery
was made so late, the coroner did not GO
to the spot, but employed a couple o.
colored men to watch the body until this
morning.
About 10 o'clock Coroner McBrayel
summoned V. 7. Belote, Ed. W. White
side, I. c. Moore, d. M. Davenport anf
u. W. Neely as jury. and went to exam
inc the body. 1t was found to be in {
sickening state of decomposition, but OF
the throat were marks which demonstra
ted to the jury that the boy had beer
lchoked to DEATH The marks indicated
that the murderer had caught the boy b,
the throat with both hands, and choket
him until there was no chance of his re
covering. There was blood on the ches
and in and about the right ear. Th
body had evidently been covered by tn
murderer, but not carefully enough t,
keep it from being discovered and mutt
lated by dogs.
When the examination had been CON
pleted the body was turned over to ]. H
Met. onnell, the county undertaken. Til
coroner and jury returned to the cit
and held an ninvestigationin in the coroner
Office. r. w. Johnston and d. D. Suttl
testified to the facts as stated abov'
The most important witness was "
P. Cheesborough, a justice OF the peace
who lives east of Asheville. on the Swar
nanoa river. He had seen the dead body
] and positively identified it as that Of til
son of James Webb, colored. Mr. Chee'
borough had inc Der of last year rente
house on his plantation to James Webl
and knew the boy very well: he came
Mr.. Cheesboroughs often for mill
Some time about the last of January tt
bows father asked Mr.. Cheesborough fc
a warrant for Frank Goodson, colore'
. Webb said trunk in his house had bee
' broken open and 500 stolen, and his be
! Andrew had also mysteriously disa
ptared. He believed Goodson ha
stolen the money and the boy. NJ
Cheesborough did not issue the warran
as Webb could not swear positivel
e He told Webb, however, to 20 to Arde
where Webb's wife was then living, ha
" ing left her husband short time befor
and perhaps the boy would be four
there. This Webb did but the boy cou
n not be found. Webb had advertised
posters and in THE CITIZEN for his bo
a but without result. About the time
the boys disappearance, Mr.. Ches
borough testified, Goodson was Sc
displaying considerable money, and h;
come to town add gone on drunk
spree. He had finally wound up in t
recorders court and was sent to t
chain gang to work out a SIS fine. We
had hunted several days for his boy.
Will Aiken, of THE CITIZEN, testitl
that lanes Webb, the father. had insert
the advertisement in THE CITIZEN
Monday, Feb, l, 1891.
r. At the conclusion of the testimony, t
investigation was adjourned until ne
Friday morning at 10 O'Clock. 1
dead boys father. who is now at Flet'
er's, will be present, as will numl
of other witnesses.
II GOodSOn Arrested.
G On the strength Of the testimony
W warrant was issued for Frank Goods
and he was arrested on Baptist Hill
Deputy Sheriff H. c. Jones and Detect
I. H. Hampton. Goodson was placed
. iail, and will be given preliminary he
ing on Friday at 10 O'Clock.
of Goodson, the suspect, 10 a tall, sps
a. very black negro. Hestoutly asserts
Inc innocence, and told THE CITIZEN
to afternoon that on the day Andrew W.
OtoappSdICu uS \OoouSonI 49, 49,
-" house, where he was boarding,
res started toward the city looking
work. When he came into town it ,
lust IL o'clock. That afternoon he
drunk and was sent to the chain ga
C, He denied that he had left Webb's ho
in company with the boy, and said
had nothing in the world against b
A Goodson 10 from Lincolnton, this st
. He was very i'll at ease, rocking from
W to side as he told the story.
Jailer Iamison said that on the
after Goodson had been locked up ia
Webb came to the Jail and asked ali
Goodsen. On learning that he had
put to work on the streets, Webb al
II Goodson had had boy with
= Mr.. Jamison replied in the negat
Webb then said that GoodsOn and
boy had been seen leaving the hous'
gether on the day Of the boy disapr
ance.
Mr.. Iamison also said that Goot