The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-14


shackles upon his wrists, and between
two soldiers took him down into the
court house by private stairway. There
Il detachment of the Governors Guard
took him back to the Jail.
All this time the, door of the court
house had been unlocked. but mot one
Of the vast crowd of men-whitc and
black-in the square below knew it. and
not one suspected what was going on
in the court room above, until the sol
d:ers came out with Evans. No violence
was attempted, though all the factories
were closed during the day and all the
operatives were in town. ,,-
But just as the special train was
about to start for Hamlet there were
open threats, principally from Pee Dee
| factory men, of taking the negro away
from the soldiers and lynching him. AT
one time trouble seemed imminent. but
wise counsel prevailed. Even after the
train left there were propositions made
| to go down to Hamlet, through the
country and take the condemned man
away and bring him back.
Many citizens of Richmond county
have not liked the presence of the mill
tary among them, not so much because
of their desire to do the negro violence
J as because they considered the presence
! nf ermna man on evidence of lack Of
confidence on the part of the authori-
| ties in the citizens of the town.
| The verdict Of the jury was generally
| applauded, and, it was only now and
then that white man was found who
expressed doubt as to the condemned
mans guilt. The negroes for the most
part were uncommunicative, but most
u ot,>s-
said they thought it must have been
John who committed the crime, and if
! it was he ought to be hanged.
While the jury was out l asked Ev-
ans TO tell me whether or not he was
really guilty. now that confession
could do him no narm.
| mo, sir. / am innocent. If were
on the gallows would lift my hand up
to God and say so.'
"Are you afraid to die?
''No-I don't think / am. i wouldn't
mind it if I'd done what they accuse
me Of" ~
On the way home / asked him IL he
! thought he had had fair trial. IS
"Yes.' he said. II think | have. The
Judge was very kind. my lawyers work
ed hard and aid all for me that could be
done. / reckon with the evidence the
| jury couldn't hare brought in any other
verdict. but the young woman was
simply mistaken. I'm an innocent man."
He said he knew he would die. that
there was nothing now that could save
him. hut that he was innocent and ready
| for the end: that lie had always been
/ christian and he believed he would 20
TO heaven. He asked those around him
10 pray for him.
TfRmeslia ely after IRE Jury went out
70 consider the evidence Evans sent for
] his sister and several of bis friends. He
tod them where bis clothes and other
belongings We're and gave directions for
/ their disposal. He told his lawyers that
! in a certain pair Of trousers that would be
| sent from his home there was between
three and four dollars, that they could
lfake this If he were convicted. as he
!. would have no use for il. that he wished
/ be conld give them more, but it was all
he had in the world. @
/ In this connection it may be mention
cd that the attorneys-Dockery and
| Dockery and Maxcy L.john-who were
assigned by the court TO defend Evans,
performed their duty most ably and
! eonscientiously. They did all for him
/ that attorneys could do. marshalIing all
/ the evidence that could be obtained for
/ him and fighting stubbornly every at
tempt of the prosecution to prove his
guilt. 8 i
Half dozen witnesses were introduc-
| ed this morning by the defense. and
about an equal number by the prosecu-
ton, TO rebut evidence brought out by
the defense. i
The two most important witnesses
were Mr.. Entwhistle, SUPERINTENDENT OF
the cotton mill in which Miss Cole works,
and Miss Matte Cole. ao3
Mr.. Entwhistle was put upon the stand
by the defense, but he proved most
valuable witness for the State, and his
testimony went a long way in deciding
the case. He sa:d on the morning of the
assault Miss Matte Cole told him the
man had on blue overalls. a dingy coat.
and she thought n brown hat: was a
dark brown mulatto. with lips stick
ing out and a little black mustache. The
witness said this description was inn
pressed unon his memory very distinctly.
because he cautioned Miss Matte to
| fix these things in her memory, while the
incident was fresh.
On cross-examnat:on the witness said
as soon as he saw the prisoner. the de-
scription Miss Matte had given him
came to his mind. suggested especially
by his lips. He heard her say when two
other negroes were brought before her
that they were both too light. Further
he testified that the place, where the as
sault was committed was directly on the
path leading from the stable where
Evans slept to Hinson's, here his sister
works.
VIII Tillman. who slept at HinSons
stable the Friday night before the crime.
testified that John Evans also slept.
there that night. WI got mp and left
John in bed. Later heswent mp to the
bar and found John there-this was a.
bout sun up. He~sa;d he went to he'd
abQlt 8 O'Clock. and when he went to-
he's there were two lanterns in the room
8fAmos Powell had sworn there was no
lantern there: and Fletcher Tiel had
sworn there was and then that there
wasn't