The Durham daily globe., 1894-10-26
WILCOX SHOOTS gROTH=RS.
An IA sheriff Takes the Life of IA Regis
trar of Election.


the peaceful lives of our people who
dwell by the waters Of the beautiful
PasquOtank shocked by the awful vista
tion of tragedy, but we have been labor
ing, during this week, with an agitation
that has stirred US to the depths of our
| social and political beings
On Monday morning, the 22d instant,
James S. Wilcox shot two pistols balls |
into the body Of John E Brothers, regis |
trar Of election in Salem township, from |
the effects of which Mr. Brothers died |
Tuesday morning. There were no wit
nesses TO the trouble except colored |
man who was some twenty five or thirty |
yards away and whose wits do not seem |
to have gathered in the details in very
ineligible degree Wixcox is an ex-
sheriff of the county, an active republi- |
clan and worker whose zeal has often |
brought upon him the censure of his op
ponents.
1t seems that he had some trouble with
Brothers last week over the registration
books through his insistence upon ex-
amining them and his applications for
certificates of removal for voters other
than himself. Brothers became annoyed
at it and came to Elizabeth City to get
advice as to what his duties and the
rights Of the voters were He was ad-
vised, and very properly, that every other
had the right to see that his own name
was on the book, but had no right to ex-
anime it otherwise. He thereupon told
Wilcox that be should decline further to
permit his inspection of the list, and that
he should refuse, henceforth, to issue Ger.
thcates of removal to any but the parties
themselves applying for them He did
this, no because he objected to having
the book examined, but because the man
ner of Wilcox was annoying and abnOx-
ious to him. They had some words at
/ that time, but no serious results were
b. anticipated by him or his friends All Of
0 this gather fIom reputable gentlemen
living near them both.
On Monday morning Wilcox went to
Brothers house where he was living with
, his mother and stepfather. He was in
the cotton field, but came to the house
The colored man above referred to was
i with Wilcox and desired to register, but,
having stated that he only came to h e
~ county the last of August and therefore,
y not being entitled to vote at the comm 9
election, he was not permitted to registe
and left. After he had gone the dispute
} b egan, which ended in the death of Mr.
Brothers. From his ante mortem state
ment and from tho testimony Of gentle
men who talked with him after the shoot
IN ing, his version is as follows:
That, when the cOlored man hal gone
- Wilcox demanded a certificate Of rem0v.
40 al for another voter. Brothers told him
. the man already had his certiic ate. He
=, insisted on the certificate an became
:. very angry, until finally, Brothers pa
u tience being worn out, he ordered Wilcox
,, to leave the hOusa, whi; the latter re
= fused to d. saying it was not Brothers
., house but his parents. The order wa:
- repea e ! several times with NJ effect un
10 til Brothers remarked, see yOu wDn1
leave any way" anl jlmpe up VIE
attempted 10 Ora" MS plS'o' anu nrothe'
got cane ana Strock at MN. Ihe P'~
toI was not ura"A lo'y un Il "'''"'
nv reached the steps," len n llFe ''o'' ne'
ur in the meantime striking at MIN with IN
cane The second shot dill n damage
but the third went into the abdomen al
II. was fatal. Alter the last sAot bro'hcl
- b>t
n sald' you nave shot me en- oush' nov
he stop. WILCOX hren no more ana bfo'h
cd ers went IN the house. Inc tofeg 1inS
At. the stateme 1t m'13 by Br1thars,a' s"or
to 10y Mr.. |. 4 Palmor' mag strtt
who took the ante m 'Ft3m ain th'lt' an
as related oy oth9r gent'em N VIII
nd heard II.
MIR. w HOOK Sttteme 1T Is that he dl