The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-17
LAW TO TAKE ITS COURSE
\ LEDGE BROWN s CALM CHARGE
HAD GOOD EFFECT.
SPECIAL VENIRE OF FIFTY SUMMONED
The Case Will be Called For Trial This Morn
inc at Nine O'Clock miss Catlett Did
Hot Appear Except Before
Grand Jury.

Henderson. n. c., Aug. 16.-(Special.)
There has seemingly been no serious
Intention of lynching the negro Brodle,
who is now in Jail here, charged with
the rape Of young Miss Catlett. 1t Is
true last night there was a tabled band
of men from Franklinton, ninety men
some whispered, in the moonlight, ghd-
ing around in a sort of shroud-llke mys-
terry, but investigation at the JAN falled
to pan out the rumor. 1t Is true there
are some men here from Frankllnton,
and some of them do not hesitate to say
that if Brodie is not convicted, he Will
be lynched, but that seems to be about
all there is to the lynching story. The
matter having gone so far, the general
sentiment is that the law should take
its course, and there is little doubt ex-
pressed as to the issue.
Brodie was brought in yesterday from
Raleigh, reaching here a little after
noon. He was Immediately marched to
the jail The day wore on quite Sab
bath-like, and last night the streets
were as becalmed as usual, the quiet be-
ing only emphasized by delicious breeze
that kept the trees in a kind of
weird whisper among themselves.
Following in the wake of the story of
the tabled Ninety of the Nighttime,
your correspondent at about 4:30 this
morning walked out TO the Jail. Three
military figures, one a fat lieutenant, one
a lean lieutenant, and another who
turned out to be the clever, resolute,
watchful Captain Jones, of the Vance
Guards, sailed out to challenge the new
arrival. The three gentlemen kindly put
me in possession of the facts of the case
from the Jail viewpoint, and allowed
me to take a birds eye view of the
company on duty. The watch duty pre-
scribes two hours on and four hours off,
and there are forty-three men in all
about the Jail.
The sentinels were walking silently,
while some of them off duty had their
backs against the trees, others their
chins fallen forward upon their breasts
gun in hand, sleeping after duty.
On entering the Jail and by the courtesy
of Sheriff Smith, your correspondent
went to the cell of Brodie. All was dark
and pciseless; the negro was sleeping.
He did not rouse at the first call, and
even at the second only wallowed back
IN beefy, sluggish kind of way. Then
he moved on his pallet in shuffing,
half answered something.
'How long have you been asleep"
"Since two o'clock"
What did you do before then?'
"Read the Testament"
''What part of the Testament
'''St. John, 18th chapter"
"What was it aboutY'
About I am the true vine and my
father is the husbandman'
"Why were you reading this?'
$40 keep my mind busy
"You don't seem to be worried much
now?''
mot particularly"
''You have been sleeping soundly for
two hours?'
"Yes, SIR
A lamp was passed by the sheriff up
the narrow iron stairway to the second
terrace, on which, at the end, was Bro
dies heavy cell. He lay crossways with
thin something between him and the
floor. His undertaking was clean and
cool and comfortable. He half rose up
facing the door, with his hands roped
across his knees, and his eyes not yet
wide open.
DO you not know that upon conyic-
ton of this crime, you will be hung?"
$ Yes, sir; but Christ was prosecuted"
1t was suggested by some one that
Christ stood his ground, and you ram"
IF / had known they wanted me for
this wouldn't a. run, either; I thought
they wanted me about dem water-mel-
ems" 4 sEswyWWN
when your victim faces you and says
you are guilty, will you deny it?'
"She amt said / was guilty. She said
on the first trial she reckoned / was
the man."
"Haye you a lawyer"
mo, sir; | couldn't get no writing pa
per at Raleigh to write for one"
Have you any money to pay one?
mo, sir; but my nanny got some"
'How old are you?
Eighteen"
But the negro looked twenty-five, was
strongly built, with an Indifferent face.
indicating little of anything unless one
were to get some special impression from
the broad rim of white that surrounded
the black of his large eyes.
Quite a number of the guard were on
duty about the cell during his remarks,
and one other man, also, the man it turn
ed out to be who caught Brodie. Your
correspondent was scarcely at the door
before this man narrated the circum-
stances. Brodie was standing with an
other man when he was approached.
He had gun, and his apprehender, in
order to engage him, proposed to shoot
at black mark with him. Just then
another white man came toward them
when Brodie ran, with my narrator after
him in full chase. The race was for sew
eral hundred yards before he was caught.
A careful investigation was then made
Of all the facts bearing upon the guilt
OF the accused, and no doubt of it was
left in the minds of those who made the
Investigation. Later Brodie was stood
up with four other negroes and was
promptly identified by the young woman.
This story was told completely and clear
~, and coupled with the admission which
Brodie has already made to the sheriff,
the evidence seems conclusive In the
minds of all those who have followed the
details.
The young men of the Vance Guards