The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-30

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Yes"
Did you help select the jury
Yes, looked over them"
sHERRILL BELL on TIE STAND.
Sheriff. Bell was next called He
looked pale and excited when he took
the stanq. He was well dressed in a
new suit Of clothes He showed less
nerve than his brother. and fingered at
his coat with his left hand during the
examination.
His examination was conducted by
Mr. Moore.
He said he is seventeen years of age,
was born in Hyde county, lived there
five or SIX months then his parents
moved to near Aurora, and lived there
until last August, when they moved
back to Hyde county. He went with
his father and came back to Aurora on
9TH Of November to help his brother
house his crop.
He had heard Of ThompsOn's store
being broken into. His father was in
Aurora when it was done. Heard of
Hudnell's store being broken into also
1t was done before he left Hyde coun-
ty. While he was helping his brother
house the crop he boarded at John
Lewis, near his fathers farm. Ben
Jones occupied one-half OF the house
until the Thursday before Mr.. Bonner
was murdered He went to MIR. Best 5
to board with Uriah.
He remembered the ball on Thurs
dav night of the week prior to the week
Of the murder OF Mr.. Bonner, but did
not go to the ball.
"You don't go to balls, do you2" asked
his counsel.
He answered that he did not
Generally about two nights week
be went to town. He generally stayed
Saturday nights with his brother Hugh
| in town.
Friday night of that week he stayed
at home. Saturday he went hunting
AID Saturday night he carried some
squirrels to his brother Hugh's. He
STAYED around the store until 8 O'Clock
STAYED in town Sunday and went to
/ Sunday School. Stayed in town that
night also Monday night he stayed
at home Tuesday Or Wednesday night
he stayed at home waiting for Hay
wood jenkins to COME and go hunting
with him.
Didn't remember going to town from
Monday to Friday. He was at Aurora
Friday night, the night before Mr.. Bon
ner's murder, stayed about the stores
until 7 or o'clock and went home
and stayed all night. Urlah went to a
dance at Oregon that night.
He and Uriah ate supper at Mr..
Best's Saturday night, went to Aurora
about dark. Uriah stopped at viii
Thompson's store and he went to Mr.
Bonner's. His brother Hugh came to
him to talk about his going into DIR.
Smithwic}'s drug store to work. DR..
/ Smlthwicll wanted boy, and minis
ter, Mr.. Harper, had recommended
him.
Tom Bonner came to where he was
him. He first told him he would go,
but then would not go because he did
not have his Sunday clothes. He re-
manned In Mr.. Bonner's store few
minutes went to the barber shop,
stopped at the window and saw the bar
Der was busy, and did no. go in. He
then went to Hudnel's store From
there he went to Thompson's to see if
bis brother Uriah was there looked in,
and not seeing him he then went home
Asked Mr.. Moore 'When you were
going to town that evening whom did
you see?'
Il met Ben Jones. He asked me if !
was going to stay with him that night
and / told him yes He said he would
then leave the back door open SO that
/ could go in"
When he got there he went in at the
back door, went up stairs, went to bed
and went to sleep.
His counsel asked did YOU have
anything to do with Mr.. Bonners muir
der?"
NO"
is there any truth in the statement
of Creole about the murder or the rob
berries in AurOra?'
so far as | am concerned there is not
a word of truth in it.
Il never spoke to Dave Creole IN my
life, except to say good morning, OF
something of the kind. Never had 6
private word with Creole in my life"
| He then detailed how he and hi:
J brother Uriah went ont to the wood: