Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-01
TERRIBLE CRIME
RECALLED IN RALEIGH BY THE PAR
DON OF A WHITE CONVICT.
Govornor Holt VIII Work for Cleveland
and carr-The nshtnjps's Fats' Flash.
Other state Affairs.
lspeciAl telogr IN % the nl.pntch.l

RALEIGH. n. c.. June Governor Holt
to-day pardoned James A. Smith. white
convict. who was serving twenty-years'
sentence in the penitentiary for murder.
The pardon recalls one of the most terrible
crimes ever committed here. One night
in June. 1895, John A. Cneatham, an ex-
alderman and merchant, was dying
dead on the floor of his store; in rear
Of the City Hall. In chair near by sat his
brother. James A. Cheatham, almost DIS
embowelled. The latter stated that two OF
the city's street employees. James a.
Smith and william Gooch. had done the
terrible work.
TRIED AND CONVICTED.
Pursuit was made at once and Smith, q
young man, was speedily captured. Go0ch
fed, but two days later was captured
while asleep near a roadside IN Durham
county. The trial was very sensational
| and resulted in conviction ot murder. The
| men appealed and the Supreme Court gave
q new trial. This resulted in sentence OF
twenty wears. Gooch made his escape in O
little while. Smith has been good pri-
soner and for two years has been IN falling
health. having An incurable disease-aneu-
rIsm Of the heart A great petition for bis
pardon was sent TO the Governor.
THE THIRD COMPANY.
Last night the third company of North
Cardinals naval reserve militia was or
ganized at Fayetteville, with sixty-sX
men. j. d. Mcneil was chosen heuten-
ant-commander. The first company is at
Charlotte and the second at Newbcfne.
Governor Holt left this afternoon for
Morehead City TO remain until next Tues
day. He saws he will speak as often as
possible during the campaign, and VIII Do
everything in his power to secure the cleo
ton OF Elias Carr as Governor and Cleye-
land as President. The Governor Is IN
better health than at any time IN three
months past.
State-1reasurer Donald w. Balm, who Is
one of the most faithful and efficient
officers the State has ever had, has by the
advice of his physician Gono TO ConnalIvs
Springs, in the western part OF the STATE.
He left to-day. He has not been well tOr
several weeks.
PROMINENT CITIZENS Ill.
News was received to-day Of the extreme
sickness of Colonel Reuben McBrayer'
one of the most prominent men In Ciove-
land county. and of Rev. DR.. w. A. Nelson,
one of the ablest Baptist preachers III the
State, who was for q long time stationed
here. and was later at Ashevllle. Death
wns IN both cases question OF only ie"
days.
AN EDITOR STUNNED.
Wednesday afternoon bolt Of lightning
struck the Bank Of North Wilkesboro' and
damaged it somewhat. Editor Lowery, OF
the Wilkesboro' N7rs, who was fifty yards
away, was knocked down and stunned.
KILLED Fly LIGHTNING.
While Sam Frazier and his wife were
asleep in their house in Wayne county
lightning struck two trees in front of the
place. passed under the building: ana en-
tered the wall on a line with the bed.
Frazier was killed and his wife severely
shocked.
The Governor to-day commissioned );
n. Gibbons captain Company ID, Second
Regiment, at Rocky Mount.