The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-28
SHE WAS PROMPT TO CAUSE
THE RELEASE OF SUSPECT
OTrS PARTIES BROUGHT
BEFORE HER FOR
IDENTICAL
TION.
ABuSE or THE PARDoNlNG POWER
The People Of Rockingham Are Inclined Now
to Regret They Did Not Lynch the Negro
Instead of Seeking to Have Virtue
Protected by Process Of Law

Instead of Seeking to Have Virtue
Protected by Process Of Law.
Rockingham, n. c., Nov. &c, 1897.
To the Editor: The action of Governor
Russell in interfering with the sentence
of the court in the Evans case has been
the subject of much discussion among
the people here. They fel that a great
injustice has been done.
A great injustice has been done, par
ticularly to Miss Matte Cole, by the i'm
pression being created that there were
several mulattoes arrested, bearing no
resemblance to Evans, before Evans
was arrested. and that their arrest was
upon information and description gwen
nv Miss Matte Cole. This is untrue.
Miss Matte did not cause the arrest of
the yellow ringers" who were brought
before her Saturday morning; but they
were arrested by jealous friends OF the
outraged family, because they were sus-
pic;ous characters, and their arrest was
only for the purpose of being carried
before Miss Matte, to see If they were
the right ones. At the time these arrests
were made. Miss Matte was ut the Fec
Dee cotton mil, and when she was sent
for. and came to her home, she lmme-
diately said that they were not the right
parties. and they were released. 1 ne hfSt
person to whom she gave DESCRIPTION
of the guilty man was Mr. NAlam
Entwistle. who brought her from the
factory in his buggy. and this deScrlp-
ton was given on the way from the
mill to her home. This description was
testified to by Mr.. Entwlstle, who was
q witness in the case for the defendant,
and his testimony removed the last
doubt that might have existed as to
Evans being the right man. The evil
dence of Entwistle as to what Miss
Matte told him, corrohorated Miss Mat
tie in the description she gave when she
herself was on the stand. And Tn
twistle. who is a very intelligent man,
said while he was on the stand. that
since he had seen the prisoner, that ne
was struck with the resemblance Whlca
he bore to the man described by MISS
Matte to him that same morning the
crime was committed.
So these arrests, which have been used
to throw a doubt about the correctness
of Miss Mattie's Identification, were not
made upon a description furnished by
n.
edge or authority; and as soon as she
was consulted on the subject, those par
ties were Immediately released from GUS
tody.
Miss Matte Cole is n young lady some
IA or IL years old, of good character,
and striking intelligence. She had no
interest in perjuring her soul to convict
John Evans. Her sister was outraged
none the less, whether Evans was
guilty or innocent If she was just try
ing to convict somebody, she had plenty
of opportunity to put the crime on
others; but she never hesitated about
any of the others, nor did she hesitate
about Evans. when he was brought be-
fore her. She claimed from the very
first that she would, know the man IL
she saw him again. She was standing
near enough to him to touch him, it was
light enough for her to see him plainly;
she knew the Importance of her identi-
fcation, and she knew that by her evi.
dence, il law took its course, Evans
would be convicted and hung. She was
positive that he was the man, and she
has no doubt about it to this day.
Evans attempted to prove an alibi.
His alibi put him only about 2o0 or
300 yards from the scene of the crime,
even if it was to be believed. But the
evidence of his alibi depended upon the
oath of two WORTHLESS, unreliable negroes,
whose word ought not to be taken
about a dog-fight. They contradicted
themselves about important points OF
their testimony: they contradicted John
Evans; and they were contradicted by
two good reliable white men of undoubt-
ed character. And then their evidence,
fny hnu
had no watch or time-piece, and If
everything they said was true, it was
within the range Of possibility for
Evans to have committed the crime.
But in addition to the evidence OF
Miss Cole, there was strong circumstan-
tial evidence against Evans. There was
evidence that was given in by men OF
high character, and whose word no one
doubts. that shortly after the crime was
committed, Evans was at the rear enc
of store, which is on a street leading
directly from the scene Of the crime
and shortly after this, he was seen b!
two as good men as there arc in the
State, in a store in town, and his con
duct was so suspicious that it attracted
their attention; and at this time, he was
dressed as Miss Matte Cole described
him. and had dirt on his knees, ant
when told Of the crime, he left the stor,
walking pretty fast, and shortly after
wards, left town.
One of Evanss witnesses swore tina
he worked for him two years ago on !
farm, five miles from Rockingham, o
which the witness was overseer, TO
some four or five months: and tina
during this time, Evans drove a wages
for him. and came to Rockingham ever
Saturday, and spent the day, and some
times he would also come during tn
week. and spend the day in this town
1t is also known that Evans has drive
wagon for a liquor peddler who make
frequent visits to this town. Evan
has sister who cook for Mr.. Hinso
sn this town. and the shortest way fror
the livery stable, where Evans's allege