The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-08-03
FOUND NOT GUILTY.
MIR. CkWTHORSE KILLED HIS As
SAILANT Nv SELF-DEFExSE.
A Resident OF Selma, Ala, Voluntarily App
pears in Court at Hickory. n. C., to he
Tried for Shooting an Offensive Negro.

LINCOLNTON, N. C.. August 2.-Spe-
cial.-Court is in session IN Newton
this week. with quite an extensive docket.
both State and civil The most important
case on the former is the case OF the
State against Charles n. cawthorne. who
is being tried for his life. Cawthorne is
from Selma, Ala. a married man. OF
very intelligent appearance. who about
year ago was passing through this
State with his wife and stopped at IIick-
ory for few days. lie and Mrs. Cav
thorne were walking out on the lawn at
the Hickory Inn. when they saw negro
man moving the grass OFF of the walks
and lawn generally. They stopped and
watched him few minutes. and the de-
fendant suggested lin a very kind and
polite manner) to the negro 'if he would
get a pair Of shears and clip the grass
smoothly on the edge OF the walks he
would have nice Job" at which the
negro became Infatuated. picked up an
iron pitch fork. began cursing and adj
vanced on the defendant i'm a threatening
manner. Defendant ordered him TO stop.
but he continued 10 advance. and when
almost I'm reach OF defendant with tho
fork still drawn, defendant drew his
pistol and shot him. The negro was killed
instantly.
Cawthorne was arrested but escaped
from custody that night, when he left
for his home down South. but at the
next term OF the Superior Court Of Ca
tawha county he wrote the sheriff he
would be on hand and stand his triai
He appeared with his bondsmen. andfar-
ter an investigation by the Judge was
released on bail 10 appear nj tlTss term
OF court He came, and with nine able
lawyers backing him. faced the court ana
boldly cast himself upon his God and his
country that they might careful inquiry
make and true deliverance bring between
him and his feiIow-man.
The investigation consumed about four
days. at the conclusion Of which his coun-
sci did not deem 1t necessary for them 10
argue It very fully, as it was too plain
case and a jury OF too much intelli-
gence 20 require Il. SO the jury took the
case al noon Saturday. and after spending
an hour at dinner they repaired TO the
iury-room aud upon the first ballo. made
verdict Of mot guilty" The judge
having ordered the sheriff TO keep perfect
order and allow 10 demonstration, per-
feet quet was observed for a few minutes,
when court was adjourned. and such a
universal demonstration never disturbed
the quietude Of the town Of Newton as
was participated I'm by all OF the people
for few minutes. The verdict gave uni
versal satisfaction as no one has been
heard to complain and the def ndant has
gone on his way rejoicing. He regrets the
necessity Of his act, but not the fact.
A young man Of This place took Ton
grains Of morphine a few days ago, but
medical aid was gotten Immediately. ana
only painful illness resulted thercfrom
! His name Is Walter Bass. The reason
| why he took 90 much IS not known.
whether through mistake or otherwise
The daily showers are refreshing me
corn and cotton crops very much, and
also reducing the temperature an noon
day. until IL is very much more bearable
than II has been for three weeks past.
The money panic IS not affecting us
much except a general complaint of us
scarcity: and the products OF the cotton
mills. being so low I'm price. are causing
some Of them to cut down their time and
hands very much. They are just running
enough now 10 support their employees
Vances letter on the silver question ~
being discussed pro and con- pretty
generally by those who have energy
enough this hot weather