Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1896-02-06
THE BONNER MURDERERS.
Convicted of Murder in the Second
Degree-The Sentence.

convicted or MURDER IN the OeC0nC
Degree-The Sentence.
Washington, N. c., Jan. 81
The Bonner murder trial, which
stands at the head of all murder
trials in the history of North
Carolina, has ended. The mur-
der Of John B. Bonner Was the
end of a second Jesse James
band and it is we'll for Beaufort
county that it had such speedy
termination, and, while perhaps
justice might have been nearer
met, yet, all things considered,
it is well.
At 2 o'clock to-day the court
house bell was rung and from all
quarters the streets were lined
with people making their way in
haste to hear the verdict. The
judge entered and took his seat
and the clerk asked the jury if
they had agreed and the response
came: I'VE have" And he
asked, "What say you, are the
prisoners at the bar guilty Or not
guilty?" And they answered:
Guilty of murder in the second
degree
The jury was polled aG the re-
quest Of the counsel for defen-
dants Bell.
A motion for a new trial was
lodged for all the defendants and
overruled and the judge said in
passing sentences:
ITO my mind there has been
an act of great mercy done this
day in the county of Beaufort.
What has led the jury to this
conclusion, [ do not know It
may be that it was on account of
the youth of the defendants.
Possibly they thought the kill l.
ing was not designed or intended
by the parties at the outset, but
the fatal shot was fred by Sher-
rill Bell, the youngest of the de-
PENDANTS, after the others had
fed, and in some frenzy, fright
or apprehension Of discovery.
The jury, 1 believe, have acted
from conscientious motives, and
they can have the satisfac-
tion of knowing that if
they have erred it has been
on the side of mercy; but
there has been an atrocious and
horrible murder done an in
nocent and inoffensive man,
and none who heard the evidence
and heard it impartially but was
forced to the conclusion that
these defendants were the per
petrators of the deed. They are
all guilty, and every one of them.
And the jury in rendering this
verdict for murder in the second
degree have extended them 1.-the
mercy they deserve or should re-
ceive, and under this verdict the
extreme penalty Of the law for
such an offense must be imposed
in the case. It is considered and
adjudged by the court that Uriah
Bell, Sheriff. Bell and W. II.
Brantley, Jr., be confined at
hard labor in the penitentiary
for and during the term Of thirty
years"
Notice Of appeal was given.
After which the case Of David
Creole, one of the accomplices in
the affair and who confessed, was
called.-He was represented by
Messrs. Stephen G. Bragaw Of
this place and j. S. Mann Of
Swan Quarter. He entered a plea
of guilty of murder in the second
degree and Mr.. Bragaw made a
most touching appeal, He asked
for mercy and referred to the
fact that he had done the State
great service in this case and he
is a weak, ignorant fellow who
has had no parents to rear and
train him.
The Judge sentenced him to
fifteen years in the penitentiary.
The first ballot taken by the
jury showed that seven were for
verdict Of guilty and five for
acquittal. They had the case
twenty hours before finding a
verdict.
The defendent showed no emo
ton or surprise when the ver-
dict was rendered. Brantley's
wife showed some emotion, but
his father and mother sat resign
ed to the circumstances.
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