Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1896-10-01
NATHANIEL MOORE
Follows the Example of Gil. Ward in
Committing Murder, and Lands in
the Penitcniiary, While Ward Co.'s
Unpunished.


Unpunish+tl.
r he day set apart for the trial
of Nathaniel Moore for the muir
der of his wife, Polly Ann Moore,
on the night of the 1st of last
August, dawnel dark aud dreary
yesterday and lowering, threaten
ing clouds had hung luund about
the city all day. The rain had
been falling incess,ntIy and the
sun had covered its face and re-
fused to look on the assembly
gathered within the drcary walls
of Wayne county's temple of
Justice. The exposition of the
d;l~ tnrdly, dark deed was made on
an appropriate o.ark day.
A fter all the evidence had been
heard and all the arguments by
counsel and the charge of the
Judge had been made, the jury re-
tired to consider their verdict, and
court adjourned.
Soon after adjournment the
jury gave notice that they had
agreed upon a verdict. Sheriff
Scott Immediately notified Judge
Boykin and Solicitor Pou and the
counsel for defendant. In max
ing this notification, the large
crowd that had hung around the
court house all day, eager to learn
of the termination of the case, also
learned of the decision of the jury
and soon the court house was
crowded. Every face present bore
Il look of deep interest when
Judge Bovkin took his seat and
the prisoner was Aligned at tie
bur. Every whisl CT was hushc
and heart throbs were almost aud
ible, when the Clerk arose and
asked the jury if they had all
agreed and then commanded the
jury and the prisoner to stand up,
while he read the bill of indlct-
mcnt with which the prisoner was
charged. Moore stood firm i'll the
dock, holding his right haud to-
ward the heavens, and not a muscle
on his brawny face was seen to
move as the clerk read the words,
"For the murder of Polly Ann
| Moore His few weeks of con-
finement had failed to bleach his
countenance, and if he had suf
fered mental anguish, it had failed
to leave its mark on his sunburned
features, and not an ounce of flesh
had left him.
| In response to the question OF
"Guilty or not guilty!' by the
Clerk, the spokesman of the jury
arose and i'll clear voice uttered
the words, "Guilty of murder in
the second degree" which broke
the dcath-like stiffness of the sun
j, set hour.
! The Judge expressed regret al
not being furnished any evidence
commendatory of Moore's char
acter and sentenced him to i'm
+ prisonment for 80 years in the
State Eenitentiary.
And so ends another chapter o.
crime in the annals of Wayne
county.
, The ARGUS has no adverse crit
icism to make upon the jury: they
, are men of sterling character ano
irreproachable integrity, whowoulo
. not condone crime, unless under
+ conviction of duty. Neither have
we a word of reproach for th'
conduct of the case by the counse
( in charge, or the Judge presid
ing.
The evidence, as it was unfoldet
on the stand, revealed a state Q
living in the murderer S home, be
tween him and his murdered wife
on the part of both, little, if any
removed from brutes.
That Moore intended to slaY hi
wife is certaln-that he had mur
der in his heart we are convinced
: how the jury arrived at lesse
6 sfverdict we cannot understand; bu
e they were under oath, and ma
a have had conscientious scruple
# that we, as an outsider, cannC
:. comprehend. Be this AS it may
e Nat Moore goes to the penitentiary
: instead of the gallows.
II There was one significant an
= weighty fact that came out in th
q evidence which our citizens shoul
f, ponder we'll and deep and Ions
d The little 12-year-old son of th
:. murdered woman, in whose pres
ence she was slain, stated in b
evidence before the jury, that {
Is Nat. Moore approached her wit
T. drawn knife in hand and murde
% in his heart, he said to her, "I'll d
) you like Gil. Ward did Mas
at Dinkins, and leave" and immed
re ately he slew her and left.
10 He had Gil. Wards example b
fore his mind. Had Gil. Wal
= paid the penalty of his crime, Ma
:, Moore would have had ANOTHT
EXAMPLE before him that wou
10 doubtless have staid him in b
as murderous in 'ent and in the e.
IL ecution thereof.
to And where is Gil. Ward? VIII
M effort has ever been made to al