The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-07-27
The CRIMINAL COURT.
MISTRIAL IN THE INCENDIARY
CASE.

Four Men Held Out for the Acquittal of
Fred p. H~owland-He VIII BE Disposed
of This Observation-Disclosures and StyroR
on Trial for Turning In q False: Fire
Alarm.
Pursuant to adjournment for recess
on Thursday evening, the circuit GRIM
inal court Of New Hanover county met
yesterday at $3.50 O'Clock.
THE INCENDIARY CASE.
The case of the State against F. P.
Rowland, charged with setting fire to
the naval stores yard Of Robinson &
King on the morning Of the Srd OF
March, was resumed. Thursday after
noon the jury was addressed by
Messrs. George L. Peschau for the de-
fence, John D. Bellamy, Jr., for the
defence, Solicitor NJ. G. Richardson for
the state and Herbert McClammy for
the defence. When the case was re-
sumed yesterday morning, John ID.
Bellamy, ESQ, spoke for the state,
Marsden Bellamy, Esq, for the de-
tense, and the argument was closed by
c. p. Jockey, Esq, for the state. The
was closed at 12:45 p. m.
His Honor Judge Sutton delivered a
splendid charge to the jury and they
retired at Ills p. m. The following COM
posed the jury: d. c. Littleton, j. j.
Jackson, VIM. Harker, George Nc
Clammy, j. c. Smith, Henry Rodgers,
B. K. Sykes, j. E. Kelly, ]. X. Taylor,
]. N. Reece, March Walker, colored,
Samuel Bennett, colored.
When the jury retired the court took
a recess till 2:3O p. m. At 2:30 p. m.
the court reconvened and disposed Of
cases as follows:
State VS.. Bruce Morgan and Henry
Peterson, colOred, larceny, defendants
entered a plea of nolo contendere, and
judgment was suspended on payment
of the costs. The defendants were dis
charged as 'insolvents.
State VS.. Moses Mcdonald, colored,
forcible trespass, verdict guilty. Sem
fenced to W months Imprisonment in
the county Jail.
State VS.. John Henry, larceny, de-
PENDANT submitted and was sentenced
to two months in the county jail. Hen
ry stole two umbrellas from the Rack
ct Store Wednesday night.
State VS.. Willie Walker, larceny,
verdict not guilty.
FALSE ALARM CASE.
Most of the afternoon session was
4-1x1 .- 18th, xlo 1850 re tho c%ofo
against Fletcher Thompson and Henry
Styron, the two young white men
charged with sending in a false alarm
of fire from box "a on Seventh and
Grace streets, Thursday morning be-
tween 1 and 2 o'clock, July 18th. Solic-
itor M. c.. Richardson and David B.
Sutton, Esq, prosecuted, and the de-
PENDANTS were in court and were rep
resented by their counsel, Herbert Nc
Clammy, Esq, and G. P. Jockey, Esq.
The following jury was drawn to pass
upon the case: Eben Horton. G.. j.
Dale, Lewis Gordon, J. M. King, j. N.
Moore, c.. B. Caps, S. A. Craig, Ed.
Yopp, P. D. Cowan, ]. w. Eubank,
Thomas Williams, Benz. Motto.
The first witness called by the state
was Policeman L. P. Thomas. He tes-
titled that on the morning the alarm
was sent in he and Policeman N. J.
McDuffie, eolored, were on duty on
Walnut street, between Seventh and
Eighth streets. They were about the
middle of the block. a block n a half
I;c%o~ fr~o ho~ "a THEW hoard on
alarm turned in from box 81 at
Twelfth and Market streets about 1870
o'clock and afterwards an alarm was
sent in from box "a. When they heard
the latter alarm they started on a run
for the box. Witness said he drop
ped his club n Officer McDuffie got
ahead of him a hort distance. When
he got to the box Officer Thomas had
Thompson and Styron under arrest
and he heard Officer McDuf1ie say they
turned in the alarm. They denied it.
Witness said he did not see them u
in any alarm and did not know any
thing about it. further than stated.
When witness got to the box where
Officer McDuffie and the two young
men were some fremen had also reach
ed there. Witness never saw the boys
till he got to Seventh and Grace
streets. When he came mp, he and Off
Ger McDuffie carried Thompson and
Styron to the city hall and they were
locked up in the guardbouse.
Policeman N. j. McDuffie, colored,
was called by the state and testified
that while on duty with Officer Thorn
as about midway of the block on Wal
nue. street, between Seventh and
Eighth streets, they heard an alarm
go in from box "a. Witness started in
q fast run to so to the box. He ran
down Walnut street to Seventh and
when he got to the corner of Seventh
street he had box "a. at the corner of
Seventh and Grace streets, in line.
He saw two men at the box
anG the alarm was still going in.
They stood there a minute and broke
and aan up Seventh street. coming to-
wards him.. He stopped in the shadow
of some trees and they ran into his
arms. Witness ordered them to halt,
and they obeyed. Thompson said,
Can YOU tell me where box "a is?'
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