The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-09-23
A SPIRITUAL A n

While ~overhauiing an Did desk a few
days ago. which contained a mass of
letters. manuscripts and ancient news
papers, preparatory to consigning them
10 the flames. / stumbled upon a mem
orandum / had made more than forty
years ago concerning a very curious
incident which occurred at that time.
and which i have never been able to
explain Before. however, going into
the details OF that matter. a brief
sketch OF the principal ~personages who
figured on that occasion or were sup
posed TO have lone so. nay not be
without interest.
Charles Jewkes Wright was the eld-
est son OF the Hon. Joshua G. Wright,
who was one OF the, judges OF our SUI
perior courts, and in boyhood was re-
markable for great exuberance OF ami
NAL spirits, a fondness for every mode
OF rolic and fun and a propensity for
practical jokes, which, however, were
evoid of malice and characterized by
unfailing good humor. He graduated
at the University in 1917 and immedi-
ately applied himself TO the study OF
the aw. He was remarkable for quick
ness of apprehension and great vivaci-
ty; was a fluent and agreeable speaker
and regarded as an intelligent and
trustworthy practitioner. He was
president of the Wilmington branch OF
the Bank Of the State and was es-
teemed by business men as a very use
full and sagacious officer.
1t was, however, in the drawingroom
that he shown with peculiat lustre.
His fine address, the amenity of his
manners, the sparkle of his wit, and
his familiarity with the usages of re-
fined society all conspired to give him
prominence. He was of a genial tenn
permanent and connivial in his habits.
By conniviality l do not mean the
coarse d~ebauchery of the restau-
rant or tavern, but that social
turn that seeks enjoyment and
derives pleasure not only from
the exercise of a generous hos
pitality and the excitement of the
dance, but also from intercourse with
cultivated women and men of wit, and
taste and scholarship, or distinguished
for some peculiar and striking talent.
He was the centre of the circle in
which he lived, his very smile was
~gladness and his life was full of flow
ers, and music and sunshine.
He married a sister of the distin-
guished Joseph A. Hill, Miss Ann Hill.
who bore him two sons, one of whom
died in early youth. The other, William
Henry, graduated with the highest
honors at West Point and entered the
United States corps of engineers, and
was regarded as one of the most prom
Using and capable officers in the ser
vice. But while on a visit to his rela-
tives in Wilmington, his native place.
in December, 1916, he was stricken
down by disease and after a brief i'll
ness departed this life, aged 81 years,
the same age at which his gifted
father passed from earth.
In the summer of 1921 the yellow fe-
yer became epidemic in Wilmington
and all who could do so removed their
families to the seacoast. MI Wright went
with his to Smithfield. where he pass
ed the greater part of the summer, but
- WI SSooo " llihl ~
Duplin court, and on his way there he
stopped for a few minutes in the town,
went into his office, which had been clos
ed for a month or two to get a law book
which he needed and proceeded on his
journey in his own private
While on the road he was taken with
the FEVER, but to reach South
Washington, where he died in the
house of Mr.. William Usher, and was
buried in that neighborhood. He was
but 81 years old when he died, and
but for his untimely death, would have
risen to the foremost rank in his pro-
fesSion and would have become Justly
prominent in the councils of the tate.
Efforts were made by his family and
friends sometime after his death to
find the spot where he had been buried,
so as to have his remains brought
home, but without success, owing to
natural changes in localities and the
death and removal of those who could
have given information, his grave could
not be located, land no man knoweth
of his sepulchre to this day"
More thar forty years ago a spirit
ulistic medium named Raymond or
Redmond appeared in Wilmington and
gave seances in a large room on South
Second street, and curiosity prompted
me one evining to visit him. There
were six or eight gentlemen sitting
around quite a large table, and the
manner Of procedure was in this wise.
Each one wrote upon a small slip of
paper the name Of any departed one
with whom he wished to have inter-
course, and was at liberty to write as
many names as he desired. Among the
gentlemen present was James A.
Wright, the brilliant son of the late
DR.. Thomas H. Wright, who yielded
up his life at Mechanicsville during our
civil war at the early age of 26 years.
l Eoah nra aftc- u-~i+;r~ tha ~-n
the slip of paper would roll IL up
tightly in the form of a pellet and
about the size of a buckshot or small
marble. You are to understand that
the medium could not possibly have
known what names were written on
those slips. and it was equally impos-
sible for him to see, for they were
written at a different table from the