The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-14

themselves. The reporter who came
down, summoned for the state, to con-
tradict Evans, was put on the stand.
He told me van statement was not
at variance with his testimony on the
stand, o n any substantial point. One
Mr.. Watkins, white, who proved an
excellent character, told on the stand
that he left his home as the town clock
was striking 6, and after a walk Of
some 200 yards, arrived at the stable,
went in, saw a stranger and inquired
who it was, was told, but did not re-
the name or see the face well,
but did remember that party, a negro.
was putting on his shoes. as if he was
just getting up within four TO six, and
positively not over ten minutes after
6 O'Clock. The crime was committed
five minutes before s, some 400 to 500
yards "a quarter Of a mile) away, or
even more. All Of this fully corrobo-
rated, and man identified as John
! Evans.
They say these witnesses had NJ
| eimepieces. The town clock was strik-
| ing every half hour, and il was in sight
| of the stable, and if not too cloudy and
foggy CD it must a been plainly VS.
| ible.
They say Evans went the most direct
route TO see his sister at Mr.. Hinson's.
Mr.. Hinson does not go that route
home from MS stable. There was not a
scinSlla of evidence that Evans had
ever been in that part Of town, and his
sister and he both testified hat he had
never been to Mr.. Hinson's to see her.
He said he did not know where Mr..
Hinson lived, and there is not n
thing to indicate that he die.
Evans was seen in Captain Everett's
store at Z a. m, asking for the clerks
office to get a certificate that he had
not committed a crime in Richmond
county, which should keep him from
voting. He had dirt on his knees, got
ten there, as 1 I'VE shown, by afti-
daVits filed, and interviews with parties
for Who he worked, by picking cotton
on his knees, the day before. After
being soundly cursed by a ~bystander in
the store and warned that one crime
having been committed there that
morning, he would do we'll to beware
lest he get his neck in a halter, he re-
manned around town until IL O'Clock,
greasing a wagon for a man, and then
walked out of town. He testified that
he went up town to a new building,
inouiring for work, and was fully cor
roborated in that. This was 200 yards
or more from the scene, n some con-
siderable time after the crime. He was
not discovered at any time with a broad
toed shoe, which the criminal had, as
shown by his tracks. Good men here,
white. say he worked for them for some
time prior to October 23d, and that he
was quiet, peaceable, respectful. Two
years ago, it was testified, he HVed q
short time about five miles from ROCK
ingham, going into town occasionally
with a farm wagon, and, after dlsposlns
of his load, or getting one, he Woulc
drive home. Not much opportunity tt
. see the town in this, or to become ac'
quainted with the haunts OF It's people
, The father Of the girl told it to one
!. who will declare on his cath, telling /
= on Wednesday of court, the day Evan
was arraigned, that he, the father
: feared, that Evans was not the rlgh
: man: that if the truth were known, n
. would not be surprised if it should turf
out to be a white man in Rockingham
not vet suspected. Not the white MAJ
e arrested and carried to Raleigh, Wher
), he remained some days under suspl
. cion of having committed this CRIME.
= have not heard that Miss Matte wa
- consulted" abOut that white suspect
{ but her father doubted her identified
= tion of John Evans, already MAD
y heretofore.
:. If anything herein can be taken a
= personal. I disclaim any such lnten
ton. I have written only TO lnIorl
= the people Of the state. 1t has pee
=; asserted that after Mr.. Everetts art
- Gle, the people are fast turning over I
~ believe in Evans guilt. AND those WI
- think him innocent are held up 70 rlC
- icule. Among those who think wit
y me I can count three former judges
- the state, one of whom graced an
20 adorned the supreme court bench, WI
- believes Evans the wrong man. II IT
~ right man, let US remove the doup
-, If the wrong man God pity those WI
~ would hang him. If the wrong ma.
- NAV God help those into whose hanC
'e his life was placed, but who failed
~ prove him innocent, to the satlsfactlc
"a of the jury.
IL MAXCY L.. JOHN.
- One Of Counsel Assigned for the D
20 fence.