The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-07-27

ter, he met Mr.. Robinson coming in the
she'd, and also Rowland and others.
He testified that a fiat vas lying in the
river about 14O feet from where the fire
was set.
JOIN p. Jones, trackman Of the Will
mington street railway was called. He
testified that he came to the power
house after the alarm for the Murchi-
son fire was sent in. Rowland came
into the engine room of the power
house and asked him for some match
es. He came in the Orange street side
and went out through the car shed. He
gave him a couple of matches and
Rowland said he was mighty stingy
with them. Witness then gave him one
more saying it was all he had. Witness
went out through the Orange street
side Of the powerhouse a few minutes
afterward and met Rowland again at
the entrance to car shed. He had
something like a wad Of paper in his
hand and after some conversation went
off towards Robinson & Kings. Cross
examined, the witness said he did not
know whether Rowland had a pipe or
not.
Police Sergeant Thomas Lossin was
called by the state. He corroborated
Officers Wells and Murray with regard
to Howland's actions on Front street
when he went up stairs over Mrs.
Christ's and that he had ordered them
to watch him. He said he had returned
to the city hall and was there When the
alarm for the Murchison-Calder fire
was sent in. He hurried to the fire,
and saw Rowland at Front and Nun
streets talking to two officers. He
Swallowed Rowland down Front street,
to Nun, on Nun to Water and up Wa
ter to the street railway power house.
Witness testified that he hid behind a
car load of coal On the side track of
the dummy line and saw Rowland go
into the power house on the Water
street side. I saw him come out on the
Orange street side, and followed him
back down Water street n lost sight
of him about the gate to Fowler & Nor
rison's coal yard. When he was going
down the street he saw something like
a piece Of paper in his hand About
Is minutes after Rowland disappeared,
Clarence Pridgen, who staid OF a fiat
opposite the end of Robinson & Kings
| wharf, ran up and told him a, man had
set fire to the shed. Witness hurried
through the doors of the shed, and met
Rowland coming through from where
l11C II was Jul LAA6.
Clarence Pridgen was called by the
state and testified that he resides in
Pender county. That he and his father
had a fiat at the powerhouse wharf.
When the Murchison fire broke out his
father went down to the fire, and wit
ness sat on the cabin of the fiat about
ITO feet away from the warehouse,
watching the big fire. While looking
he saw a man strike three matches n
set fire to the place. He jumped off the
fiat AND went and told Sergeant Los
sin. He identified Rowland as the nan
who set the fire. He testified that he
had never seen Rowland before that
night.
After some other testimony including
that of j. L. Sailing as to Pridgen's
identifying Rowland on the street next
day after the fire, and the examination
of B. F. Keith, w. H. Alderman, Frank
p. Lamb and others as to the good
character Of the witness, the defence
called A. j. Marshall, Esq, Captain ].
M. MCGOWAN, and John Wanamaker
who testified that one night they saw
matches struck in a mans face across
Princess street, opposite Mr.. Marshalrs
office and they failed to recognize him
The man was DR.. T. B. Carroll. This
lcSiAIIIOuy was ~1ulTOuUCcu 10 SHOW lHdC
it was impossible for Pridgen to have
recognized Rowland from the fiat.
Mrs. Rowland, the accused's aged
mother who is blind in both eyes, was
called, and she testified that when the
fire alarm sounded that night her son
was at home in his room. She said he
got up and went to the fire. She also
testified that his usual time for coming
home was 10 or II o'clock at night.
There was other testimony but we
have given the gist of the evidence.
AT 4:30 p. m, George L.. Peschau ad-
dressed the jury for the defence, and
was followed by John D. Bellamy, Jr.,
also for the defence. Solicitor Rich
ardson followed for the prosecution and
at the close of his speech, the court at
6:15 p. M, took a recess till 1890 o'clock
this morning.
This morning John D. Bellamy, Esq,
will speak for the state, Marsden Bel
lamy, Esq, will follow for the defence
n C. P. Jockey, Esq, will close for
the state.