The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-12-26
CAPTURE OF VIGNNE;R RAY.
The Murderer of Moselcy Again in
..,.. Safc Keeping.

From the Grccnville Mouutaineer.
Sheriff Gilreath has said all along
that he would capture Ravonna hay,
the colored desperate who led the
revolt in the Greenville jail, and
made good his escape after being
placed there for safe keeping. The
sheriff llopt his own counsel in rcgard
to what he was doing, but ho was alert
and alive to tho situation, and felt con-
tident that his plans would come out all
right in the end. His assertions have
come true in regard TO Ray, and very
unexpectedly to the escaped prisoner
he was put back into prison q few
nights ago at Monroe, N. G.
Tho story of his capture is not an
unvsual outcome for a negro who is try
ing to evade the officers of the law.
Whiskey and women Will ordinarily
bctray the whereabouts of the average
negro who is dodging tho laws repre-
scntatives, and Venner Kay is no eX-
ccption to tho general rule. 1t was
whiskey that brought him into the
trouble which ended the life Of Con
stable Mosely. and it was a woman
whose attractive qualities caused him
to enter the snare of the fowler.
Sheriff Gilreath got on the trail of
Ray several weeks ago, when he was
discovered at Hamlet, N. G.. Ray was
not making this his abiding place, how
ever, but was Hitting here and there
with great rapidity, and among other
places visited by him was Monroe, N.
c., fifty miles from Hamlet, whore he
went to see q mulattO girl of whom he
was enamored. His stay was not long
in Monroe, but it was rightly cOnjec-
tured that he would return in due
l>i. No lI,,n
all the while to ~ shrewd detective
who was in the employ of Sheriff Gil
reath. The arrangement was made
for his capture by the chief of police
at Monroe, and on Tuesday night he
walked into the trap set for him. The
chief Of police arrested him, and it
was not long until telegram came
that he was again in jail, awaiting
further orders from the sheriff.
Ray desired to put off coming back
to South Carolina as long as possible,
and so refused to be brought unless a
requisition was made by the Governor
of South Carolina. This causes delay
in his home coming, but he will eat
his Christmas dinner in solitude and
peace at the Hotel Cookscy 1t is fair
to presume that Ray will receive spe-
cial consideration when he arrives at
room to himself, with g. dim light
from the outside world, in order that
his rcilt ctions will not be disturbed by
any extraneous surroundings. He will
enjoy an ample opportunity for rumina-
ting over his past life, which has been
quite eventful in the way of frequent
dealings with court officials. His ac-
Quaintance and familiarity with the
liquor laws antedates the introduction
of tho dispensary, as he was running q
blind tiger long ago in defiance of the
municipal authorities at Greenwood.
The records Of the U. S. Court show
that he was given to fracturing tho
revenue laws, although he managed
to escaped punishment more than once.
He kept the lawyers busy in his de-
fenco, but it is lamentably true that
their fees were notalways forthcoming
when wanted. He is a sleek and oily
darkey, about 2S years old, and has
but gambling and loose women soaked
up his earnings very rapidly.
Governor Evans was asked for re-
QUESTION Immediately after the arrest
of Ray, and the papers will be sent
forward without delay. Sheriff Gil.
reath expects to escort his prisoner
back to Groenville, and for that pur-
poso will leave when notified that the
requisitiOn has reached the Governor
OF North Carolina.
Mr.. c. T.. Dill has been employed to
defend Venuer Ray, and was tole.
graphed to be at tho depot on his ar
rival in this city, as he feared an at
tempt at lynching.
Sheriff Gilrcath was expecting to
hear from the rcquisition papers yes
tcrday afternoon, and he would leave
at once upon their arrival to bring
Ray back to his old quarters.
The Shakers Dipestiye COrdal will