The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-04-30
THE CRIMINAL COURT
Third Day of the Spring TERMED Sharp
less Pleads Guilty of Manslaughter-A
True Bill Fouod in Dross Neck Murder
No.. 1-Othcr Cases.

ACbS II hC"uS ""hh
True Bill Fouod in Dross Neck Murder
No. 1-Othcr Cases.
- Pursuant to adjournment for recess
on Tuesday evening the circuit criml-
nal court of New Hanover county met
Yesterday at 10 a. m, Judge Sutton
presiding.
The case of the State VS.. edward
Sharpless, cOlored, Charged with the
murder of Sam Register, cOlored, near
Castle Haynes March 18th ult., was
called up. Marsden Bellamy, Esq, ap-
peared as counsel for the accused and
Solicitor NJ. c. Richardson for the
state. The prisoner through his coun-
sci put in a plea of guilty Of man
slaughter, and it was accepted by the
solicitor. No jury was drawn in the
case, but the judge called the witnesses
and stated that If, upon examining
them, he found the circumstances to
warrant it, he would strike out the
plea of manslaughter and try Sharpless
for murder.
HANNAH Clark, a colored girl, IA years
of age, testified: Ed Shep1ess and Sam
Register were at the house of Mr.. k
Hines, near Castle Haynes, some time
last month, when the shooting occur
red. They were in the yard and there
seemed to be a dispute between them
about the inspection Of some light
wood. Heard Sharpless tell Register to
come out of Hines yard. Register
went out of the northwest gate, and
Sharpless was standing in the south
west gate. Register had an axe and a
bag Of grub on his shoulder and was
starting for home. Sharpless a
raised his gun and shot Register as he
cleared the gate. Register fell and was
carried into the house by some men.
d. A. Carter was sworn and testified
mainly as follows: I passed by Mr.
Hines house OF the 18th of last March.
Mrs. Hines called me and I stopped.
She old me Ed. Sharpless had shot
Sam Register and that some men had
carried Register in the kitchen. I was
requested to take Register in my bug
gy to a physician to have his wound
dressed. I went into see Register and
he told me Ed. Sharpless shot him. I
asked him what Sharpless did that for,
and he said he had lone nothing to
Sharpless. I asked him where he was
shot, and he put his han on his right
side. I exabined him anu found that
he was too badly wounded to be moved.
I told him if he were carried to the
doctor in a buggy or cart the jolting
might cause his death. The judge
asked witness if he were a doctor, and
he said: No, 1 am not a doctor, but I
passed through the war and know
when a man is seriously wounded. 1
tried to nov Register, but he could
not g to be touched. From the APP
pearance of the wound, I would sup
pose it was caused by No 3 shot-bird
shot. I went back next morning to see
Register and found him worse.
Owen Hansly and other witnesses
were examined, but the testimony was
about the same as above. Judge SUIT
ton reserved his judgment til! today.
The court took up and disposed Of
other cases as follows:
, State VS.. r. F. Holmes, colored, as
Sault and battery with a deadly wea-
pom on r.. F. Hamme. continued till
next term.
State VS.. Julia Hart, assault and
battery with a deadly weapon. Defend
ant submitted and judgment was sus-
pended on payment of the costs. The
defendant took the insolvent oath and
was discharged.
State VS.. Mary Cole, larceny, mol
pressed with leave.
State VS.. William James, colored, lar
ceny. Defendant submitted and was
sentenced to II months in the peniten-
tiary.
State VS.. Henry Johnson, larceny,
pleaded not guilty, verdict guilty. Sem
fenced to II months in the penitentiary.
State VS.. Annie Graham, larceny, YER
dict guilty. Sentenced to 6 months in
the county work house.
State VS.. Percy Lamb. colored, carry
ing concealed deadly weapon, verdict
guilty. Judgment suspended on pay
ment Of the costs.
State VS.. John Moore. colored. lar
ceny, verdict guilty. Sentenced to II
months in the penitentiary.
State vs.. Sam Marshall. colored,
carrying concealed weapon. Defendant
submitted and was sentenced to six
months in the work house.
The grand jury found a true bill
against Ben Smith and Dan Parker,
colored, charged with the murder of
Charles Jones. a sailor off the Ameri-
on the 10th of last February. Smith
was brought into court and was ar
raigned and put in a plea of not guilty.
The case was then continued till the
next term. Parker was never taken,
having fled for parts unknown.
Confession of q Fire Bug.