The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-06-29
CHARLOTTEITES EXCITED
Over a Mysterious Burglary-A House
Ransacked but Nothing Taken-The Hair
of Two Girls cut Of-Sensational Devel-
opments Expected From the Murder of
Mrs. Observation-Disclosures Day at Char
lOtte.
Correspondence of The Messenger.)
Charlotte. n. c., June %.

Correspondence of The Messenger.)
Charlotte, n. c., m %.
Charlotte has been considerably
wrought up during this week over a
mysterious burglary which took place
in Crab Orchard township, about five
miles from Charlotte, on last Monday
night. Some person or persons enter
ed the house of Mr.. r. B. Orr. went
into the room where two little girls, a
daughter and niece of Mr.. Orr. We're
sleeping, and after ransacking bureau
drawers and turning things generally
topsy turvy, ended by cutting off the
hair of both the sleeping children,
strewing it around the room, and then
making off in safety. Nothing in the
house was taken, although many artl-
cles Of value were exposed and could
have been carried off. The person was
either looking for money or else 1t was
some one who was either trunk or era
w. Why any one should enter a house,
and search it over and then leave with
nothing of value, and before leaving cut
off the hair of two innocent children,
is one of the most mysterious affairs
tina has ever happened in this locality.
I'd 10 the DI6SeIll ilIlt III LUG IDS oNNL
found as to who committed his mys-
ferrous burglary, and great fears are
entertained that it may be repeated
again in some other locality. Neither
Of the children were injured in any
way, and the hair cutting was lone
so cleverly tina they did not even wake
until called by Mr.. Orr the next morn
in.
One of the most horrible affairs that
has ever occurred in this section was
the murder of Mrs. A. A. Springs at
Lexington on last Wednesday morning.
Mrs. Springs was well known in Char
lotte, where nearly all her relatives
| live, and the sad news of her untlme-
ly death cast a gloom over the city the
| like of which has not been known in
| years. It seems hat Mrs. Springs was
| awakened about daybreak by a slight
noise in the room. and seeing some
one there she screamed, when imme-
diately the intruder fired, the shot TAX
ing effect in her left eye. Her hus-
band was awakened by the scream and
| the shot, and Immediately sprang out
of bed, but the murderer made good
his escape, and up to the present time
has not been caught, although blood
| hounds have been on his trail for sever
al days. This is another very mystic
| rious affair, and all kinds of theories
| are advanced as to the probable motive
| of the assassin. The facts in the case
| rather go to point toward a premedi-
tated murder. Burglars, as a rule, do
not shoot unless they are trapped, and,
as the shooting in this case was DELHI
crate and not done with the idea Of self
protection, it looks as if the person,
whoever it may have been. entered the
house with the intention of murder and
for no other purpose. However, time
will probably tell, and it is more than
probable that some very startling de-
velopments will come out in this case
in the near future.
Mecklenburg superior court has been
in session all of this week, Judge SUIT
ton presiding. The case Of the State
VS.. Victor Cotton Mill has occupied the
attention Of the court during the whole
week, and at this time the case is still
on. The suit was brought by the citi-
Zens of Charlotte living in the neigh
borhood of the mill, on the ground that
a pond kept by the mill, just back Of
the factory building, is a menace 10 the
health of that locality, and claiming
in support Of this charge that chills
and fever, which are very prevalent in
that portion of the city, are due entire
ly TO the presence of the pond. This
is a very important case, involving as
it does thousands of dollars Of proper
ty, and numerous experts have been
called in to testify. The malaria germ
has been discussed in all its different
phases, and all kinds Of scientific evil
dence has been introduced. The citi-
zens ant the pond drained, and the
mill owners object on the ground that
it means a loss Of thousands to them
and further that IL Is not the pond that
| creates the malaria.
Tomorrow, Saturday, is Wilmington
| day in Charlotte, and about 100 people
will leave for the coast on the weekly
81 rate. Those who are not able to get