The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-03-31

Colonel David Outlaw was born IN
Bertie county, North Carolina, on the
14th day of September, 1906. lie was
the son of Rolph Outlaw and Elizabeth
Cherry. who was the daughter Of Solo
mon Cherry, captain in the Reyolu-
tionary army. He went to school in
the neighborhood of his fathers home,
and was prepared for college, and en-
tered the University of North Carolina
in 1920, at the age of fourteen, and
graduated in the class of 1924, at the
age of eighteen. He was member OF
the Philanthropic Society. Among his
classmates were BENZ. B. Blume, John
Bragg, Jas. w. Bryan, Armand j. De-
Rossett. VIM. A. Graham, nj. +. Manly,
James Ell. and Jno. w. Norwood. He
read law under Judge William CASTOR,
at Newbern, n. c., and was admitted
to the bar in June, 1927, and located in
the town of Windsor, BERTHE county,
North Carolina.
Some time after this he moved to
Raleigh, n. c., and at the time Of his
fathers death, which occurred IN 1886,
was editor of the Raleigh Star, which
paper was at that time the organ of the
Wing party in North Carolina. Imme-
diately after the death of his father,
he left Raleigh and returned to Berthe
county, in order to take charge of his
fathers affairs. he being the eldest
son.
He was married in Windsor, on June
z, 1887, to the widow of the late Joseph
J. Ryan. of BERTHE county. Mrs. Ryan
was Miss Emily Turner, of Tennessee.
To his step-daughters, Harriet Ryan,
1.-THE wife of the late Col. David NJ. Car
teri and Emily Ryan, ((NIrs. Gillian,
now of Baltimore, Md he supplied the
place of the lost father, and ever be-
slowed upon the them the most tender
affection and regard. The same con-
sideration and love was impaired, alike
to them as to his own children. No
visitor to his house would observe
otherwise than the same relationship
to them as to his own children. This
was but type OF that true manhood,
and the impulse of a great and gener-
Gus nature that characterized his
course through life, fer the mighty
Maker Of the Universe never implanted
in the human frame nobler instincts
or more elevated and refined purposes
than were instilled in the heart and
soul of David Outlaw.
He had four children, Elizabeth,
Annie Peyton, David and George. Only
two of these survive, Elizabeth, and
Annie, the wife of DR.. William H. SUIT
ton, o native of BERTHE county, but
now residing in Norfolk, Va.
He was a member of the General As
sembly, House of Commons, from Ber-
tie county, in 1892, 1888, 1884, 1854, 1856
and 1858, and member Of the Senate
in 1860 and 1866. He was also a member
of the Convention of 1885.
He was made Solicitor of the First
Judicial district in 1887, and held this
Office several years The State never
had a more diligent or faithful prose
cutting officer. He dispensed favors
to none, but discharged his duty in
strict conformity to conscience and
the law. His best friend, or his ayow-
ed enemy, received alike his persis-
tent endeavor to convict, if in law
he conceived him guilty, and no in
ducement could cause him to seek con-
viction if he thought the party not
guilty. He was bold, determined and
unfiinching in the discharge Of his
official duties, and his love for his ma
tive State was as true as that of any
Of her sons. He once had to prosecute
a warm personal and political friend,
a man of much influence and wealth,
who had, in defiance of law, destroyed
the fishing nets of the little shoe
maker, Augustus Arps, placed in the
Perquimans river, claiming that no
one other than himself should locate
nets in that particular part of the
river Col. Outlaw prosecuted him
with vigor and vehemence. He en-
titled him, 1.-THE Great Lord High Adj
miral of Perquimans River" and so
ridicuIed his lordIy pretence of power
and assumed authority that he was
easily convicted by jury of his coun-
trymen. it so embittered his former
friend and supporter that he became
his open enemy, and in his subse-
quent political contests stroye to de-
feat and crush him, but such iustifca-
ton did Col Outlaw attach to his own
course of action, that he exerted him
self not at all to restore the former
existing fellowship.
In 1915, he was candidate for Con-
gress in the Edenton district, but was
defeated by the late Judge Asa Biggs,
Of williamson, Martin county, by one
hundred and forty-fve majority. In
1847, he was again candidate for Con-
gress, defeating his former opponent,
Judge Biggs, after a strong and heat
ed contest, by seven hundred and TWEEN
ty-four majority.
In 1s49, he was opposed by General
Thomas y. Person, of Northampton
county, whom he defeated by five hum
bred and eleven votes. Few men came
to the front with more sudden politi-
cal prestige and popularity than Gen
eraI Person. Reared from boyhood to
work, with scarcely any educational
advantages, yet he was full of energy
and push. On the rebuilding of the
railroad he took large contracts, and
in a few years had made quite nice
little competency. He Immediately
applied himself TO hard study, and en-
tered college at Chapel Hill, and grad
uated in 1848, at about the age Of
thirty Just before his graduation, he
was nominated for the Legislature,