The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1896-11-26
ATTEMPTED ARSON.
Nothing Like it Here Before.

Thursday night. In every communi
ty there are persons to whom the mind
OF every one turns as the last one against
whom any man, however wicked, would
point shaft of evil. In Scotland Neck
DIR. w. O. Mcdowell is one of those
persons. And yet an attempt was made
last Thursday night to burn his dwell
ling.
About 9 80 O'Clock, Mr.. G.. L. Nc
Dowell, DR.. McDowell's Oldest son. went
on the back porch, and saw some one
standing in the back yard not far from
the door. He spoke to the man In the
yard who bounded away through the
moonlight. Upon investigation it was
found that splinters and matches were
prepared, the wood on the back porch
and door-steps had been saturated with
kerosene oil, and thus sure preparations
had been made to burn the house.
Messengers were at once sent for
blood-hounds from the State farm near
Tillery. The hounds were brought
and put on the track of the incendiary-
intent and the track was followed
around Hassell's old shop, through an
open lot near Mr.. E. 2. Powell's store,
across Greenwood street by the dwelling
Of Mr.. j. II. Hopkins, down by the
knitting mill, around by the race track
and back to 18th street near the Brick
Mill, where it was evident from tracks
that the person got on a buggy and
drove away. At this point the hounds
lost the trail. They were taken back
to the house and put on the same trail
again, and they went over the same
ground again and lost it at the same
place.
DR.. Mcdowell would be the last man
in town to be suspected of having an
enemy. There is no clue as to who
made the attempt to burn his house,
and the whole thing is shrouded In
mystery. The affair created quite a
sensation.
Superior Court.
Superior court is in session in Hall
fax this week, Judge w. S. OBJ. Rob-
inson presiding. The following is
list of the grand jury:
c. H. Hale, foreman; Bug Parker,
A. NJ. Southall, T. W. Myrick, J. B.
Dickens, J. r. johnson, B. F. Moore,
J. II. Overstreet, w. T. Jenkins, w. S.
Hockaday, 7. H. Taylor, Richard Nor
ris, Robert Gary, J. B. Dickens, J. 3.
Gray, R. w. Harrison, E. S. S1edge, T.
B. Browning and J. B. Dickens.
JUDGE MADE NO CHARGE.
After the jury was called and sworn,
Judge Robinson stated that inasmuch
as all criminal matters would be trans
ferred from this to the Criminal court
which holds session two weeks hence,
he would deliver no charge. He in
structed the foreman to appoint COM
mittee to visit the Jail and county
home and report ON the condition of
the same. Solicitor Daniel suggested
that the grand jury could appoint the
visiting committee, so that they could
report and be discharged before night.
The civil docket had forty cases,
number of which were continued, some
non-suited and some marked for trial.
ATTORNEYS PRESENT.
Attorneys present at opening of
court we're: Solicitor w. E. Daniel,
w. H. Day, D. Bell, R. O. Burton, w.
A. Dunn, Claude Kitchln, J. M. Griz-
card, E. L. Travis, T. n. Hill, Howard
Aston, Norwood Hill, Mack Furger-
son, F. D. winston, of Windsor, and
Mr.. Calvert, of Jackson.
An interesting injunction case came
up Tuesday. Some time ago Judge
Robinson set Tuesday to hear the argu-
ments In the injunction against the
leace of the North Carolina railroad.
The case came up Tuesday, Judge Al
len, Mess. r. 0. Burton, and Mr.. Clark
of New Berne appearing in the sup
port OF the injunction, Capt. Day,
Judge McRae, w. T. Purnell, and
Mess. Stephenson and Thomas of New
Berne appearing for the corporation.
The matter was postponed until Fri
day of next week when the case will
come up again before Judge Robinson
at Craven court.
An interesting suit between Mr..
Aringdale OF Virginia and the Enfield
Lumber Co. came up Tuesday also. 1t
involves SIS, 900, and has not been set
tied.
Onite q number Of able cOunselOrs