The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-24
BUT FAILED TO PROVE 1T
ALLOWED TO GO HOMIE ON \
BOND OF $500.
THE EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM SLIGHT
The Magistrate, However, Thought There
Were Certain Facts in the Case that
Ought to be Passed Upon by
Court and Jury.

three days and the examination OF aii"'e
than twenty-five witnesses, JUSTICE "1
the Peace Harry Roberts yesterday al
tarnoou bound ". s. Browning over I"
court for killing his fathcr-in-law. II. Z.
Strickland about two months ago.
The bond was fixed at $500. which
was promptly gwen. and Browning was
released. He left immediately for his
home near Wakefield with his wife.
who has been with him during the
trial.
The prosecution was represented ny
Jones and Boykin and the defense ny
Simmons. Pou and Ward and by j. &.
l.. Harris.
1t will be remembered that this hear
ing began about Il month ago, ana aftei
two days it had to he discontinued on
account of the sickness of the defend-
ant. 1t was resumed in the court mousse
before Justice Roberts yesterday morn
ing at 10 o'clock.
me FIRST witness was w. III. Hood, of
this city He said that Browning went 10
Hmm here when he came to give himself
M, to the sheriff and told him of the
homicide. He said Browning's story
was that Ire was on his way to his
turkey blind and met Strickland in the
his gun; Browning fired without taking
aim: the load struck Strickland in the
head and he staggered backward and
fell. Browning told the witness ht
then went to his house and sent his
little girl for A. b. Parrish. q neigh!bOr,
with the messag &c that he thought he'd
killed Strickland. Mr.. Hood said that
Browning showed HIM a cut in his coat
on the shoulder and a cut ON the neck
These. Browning said. were made by
Strickland Mr.. Hood testified to the
good character of Browning and the
bad character flor violence) of Strick
land.
n. ID. Green testified as to the. peace
able character of Browning. Strick
land. he said. had the reputation of
fighting if imposed upon. He said a
year ago Browning told him Strick-
land Rad threatened his life on several
occasions.
John a. Kemp a merchant at Wake
field last fall, heard Strickland curse
and abuse Browning without proyoca,
ton. He said Strickland was regarded
as dangerous man, and Browning as
a peacable man. He didn't know of
any difficulty between the two menS ex-
cept that there had been a lawsuit over
some land
G.. NJ. Bum heard Strickland say
about a year ago that he was going t.
cut Brownings throat He said he'd
just been TO Br0wning's house and failed
TO get him that day. but that he'd ger
him yet The witness gave Strickland
bad character for violence and Brown.
ing Il good one.
The affidavit Of b. j. Arendell was
read stating that Strickland told HIM
if Browning did not quit bothering lhim
he intended to kill hnn.
James Il. Bum also had heard Strick.
hand say that one morning he and
Browning had walked against each 9th.
err in the road; that hereafter he was
going to watch for Browning and when
ne saw him coming he was going to
take out his knife and if Browning came
near he'd cut him. When Strickland
made a threat, the witness said it was
generally understood he meant it,
Browning, he said, was peaceable
man.
A. B. Parrish heard Strickland, on the
day before the killing, make threats
against Browning. He told the witness
he was going to cut Brawning's throat
before week had passed. Mr.. Parrish
said he had heard Strickland make
similar threats against Browning sever
al times before Once he had said the
Lord had called ON him TO cut Brown
ingis throat and he didn't care what
became of HIM after he haa done il
that it wouldn't shorten his days much
if they hung him. The witness test1'
fed to the peaceable character of the
defendant and the violent character OF
Strickland.
tvI, thn sn11f
little girl for the morning of the killing
He said when he got there Browning
told him he reckoned he had killed
Strickland; that it looked like ht
(Strickand) was trying to kill him from
the sign he had left on him, pointing
to the cuts OH his shoulder and neck
He asked the witness to go with hin
and see the body, whether he still had
his knife or had dropped il. They
found the open knife still firmly GrippeJ
in the dead mans right hand. here
was also handkerchief in tho hand
Browning told the witness TO go fol
Stricliland's son. Parrish heard the gun
fire and it was about ten minute, later
when BrOwning's little girl came with
the news.
The witness said Browning told him
while twenty-five yards away fro,I
Strickland, he saw him take out hi.
knife, poem it and put 1t in his pocket
Then as they were passing Strickland
ran into him and began to cut at him
The witness said Inc went TO the. house
and got 'Browning's vest with the cuts
in il, for some, of Those there TO see it
George HerndOn, a col0red man, tn,
third person to get to the body, was
next put on the stand. He was tender
ed to the State, but they did not care t.
examine him.
Mrs. Nancy Browning, wife of the de
PENDANT and daughter of the deceased
was the next witness. She said he
father had repeatedly threatened tn,
life of her husband.
Last November. q year ago, my
father came 10 the pack house where