The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-13
TRIES TO PROVE AN ALlBl
WAS HE TELLING TRUTH OR on
LY HAS WONDERFUL MEMORY.
CASE GOES TO JURY THIS AFTERNOON
Several Other Witnesses to be Examined The
People Feel that They Have Safe
Jury and They Win Abide
by the Verdict.
by the Verdict.

by the Verdict.
Rockingham. n. c.. Nov. 12.-(SpeciaD
.aaas gaiiows, almost a certainty to
1hn Evans last night, is tonight, only
Q threa tening probability. Tomorrow
will decide it.
The defense has today brought togeth-
er such evidence as would under or
dinary circumstances be accounted suf-
fcient to prove the prisoners innocence.
But against this testimony principally
Of negro men and boys, and all of them
more or less contradictory, stand the
words of little Matte Cole, '.He is the
man."
1t will take most overwhelming evi-
dence to. prove to the jury that she was
either mistaken or telling an untruth
when she pointed at Evans in the
crowded court room yesterday and ut
tered those words.
The accused man went on the stand
this morning and gave an account of
himself on the night before the crime
and the morning it was committed. Ii
was practically the same story he told
the News and Observer when he was
taken to Raleigh and put in Jail. Stoi-
Idly and carelessly he began it. but as
be proceeded he became animated and
excited and once or twice rose from his
chair to explain something TO the jury.
forced to make his story plain by fear
OF death. Either he was telling the
truth or he is a negro of wonderful
memory. There was tone of earnest
pleading in his voice as he said. Il
never committed that crime; l haven't
even seen the woman before; | haven't t
had any talk with her and l had no
hand in any such business. | swear
didn't do it."
But there before his dark brutal face
sat that sweet faced girl of IA who sad
she saw him crouching by the path wait
Ing to spring upon her sister. Her face
wore the same childish innocent ex-
preston it did when she pointed him out
a the guilty man.
Which will the jury believe?
That Of course depends upon the evil
dence that is introduced in corrobora-
ton of Evans story. Nearly dozen
witnesses were introduced today who
corroborated his statements in one or
more particulars, but in some others
there were contradictions or evasions
that still render it uncertain whether at
6:55 o'clock he was in his bed asleep or
in that field two hundred yards away
committing devilish deed.
Abe case is being stubbornly fought
and the evidence carefully sifted by
both sides and when the verdict is re-
turned by the jury both sides will be
willing to abide by it. Several more wit
nesses are to be introduced by both the
State and the defense and the case will
not be given to the jury before tomorrow
afternoon. ArsA ~
Three witnesses were introduced be-
fore Evans-Mr. John q. Terry and Mr..
John =. Cameron and negro, Chas.
Allen.
Mr.. Terry said he examined the scene
Of the assault; that there was nothing
to prevent Miss Matte Coles getting a
good view of her sisters assalant. He
said further that the tracks Of the rapist
were made by rather br0ad-t0e, No. =
shoe.
The toe Of the prisoner is of medium
width. 1t was shown the jury.
Deputy Sheriff Cameron said tnat when
he took the banjo picker "a very bright
mulatto) before Miss Matte Cole, she
said that he looked something like the
right man, but that he had no mustache.
Chas. Allen, who is quite dark in COM
plexion, said he was arrested and taken
before Miss Cole, but she said he was too
light.
what is your name?" was the first
question asked the prisoner when he
went on the stand.
John Evans is my name,' he replied
in a loud but careless voice.
"Where were you when this crime
was committed?
81 was down here at Mr.. Hinson's liv-
cry stable in bed asleep"
"Where do you live?
son Mr.. Lee Little's plantation, in
AnsOn county. I've been working there
since January, 1896. / left there Sept.
/, 1897. l then went down to Laurin-
burg to pick cotton. On Friday night
before the crime was committed l came
from Laurinburg on the evening train.
When ] reached here / came up to
COley's bar with my bucket and cotton
sack. Mr.. Wood was in there and spoke