The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-10-28

a~pprehended and thanks were rendered
him ara he Lumberton men for COM
ing doN 10 their assistance.
Fearing, from threats made, that the
negroes would attempt to burn other
IL the town was LETT entirely
unprotected, IL was decided best to
have a guard out while the citizens
sought sleep. Engineer Murrtll. w. IL.
Billiard. II. +. l.. Inman. Albert Floyd
and Others were the guard. After be-
ing on duty some time they stopped
near the postoffice and built a small
fire and were standing around IL when
n gun was fired at them from ambush
Billiard and Inman were struck IN the
head and neck. Albert Floyd TN the leg
and the clothes OF several others were
pierced. None OF the wounds We're Sc
rious, the shot being small. Engineer
Murrill. who was not struck. saw some
men running from where the gun was
fired and shot at them with a Winches-
ter rifle. III. G.. Byrd also shot at them
with a gun. None OF the negroes were
struck so far as known. After the
shooting the citizens were aroused and
STAYED no the remainder OF the night.
At 6 o'clock Sunday morning Eng!-
neer Murrill went To Elrod and tele-
graphed to Florence, :. G, for blood
hounds. which were sent. arriving at
Ashpole about 10 o'clock. Pending the
arrival OF the dogs the citizens went
TO the point from which the gun was
fired and searched. Three tracks We're
found. two OF them with shoes on and
one farefoot. The dogs were taken TO
the tracks and Immediately took up
tire trail, running through the swamps
and woods unerringly. They came 10
a place where n fire had been built ana
then on to a field and through n house.
There they began baying and being
cG,tya that fha man n-apA found tho
house was entered and John Gaddv,
its occupant, arrested. Gaddy made n
confession duplicating Pickett Walters.
who had followed the searcners at a
distance. and he was arrested also.
The party then went 10 Walters house
n arrested Arthur and Commodore
Walters. All were taken TO Ashpoie.
where Ed. Walters was arrested by
Sheriff Hall. After the arrest Of FL.
Walters the prisoners were taken to
the depot and locked in a box car.
During Sunday night the men were
taken from the car one at n time and
examined separately. Arthur Walters
confessed hat Harley Baldwin told
him and his brother. Pickett. that he
broke into the side door OF the store
of Stubb Thursday night. stole n hat
and pair OF shoes and pouring kero-
sen oil on the loor set fire 10 IL.
In running away he lost the hat and
| SDoeS IN II nelu. IncN were IDu1n IN
this field by other parties Friday. Pick
EFT Walters told nothing. John Gaddy
said that he and Arthur and Commo-
dore Walters came back to Ashpole
after leaving early Saturday night and
| crept through the field to near where
the white men were standing by the
fire. Arthur Walters. who had his
gun. shot at Albert Floyd. whom ne
had sworn to kill. He aid not intend
to shoot Billiard or Inman. Commo-
dore Walters. who was barefOoted. full
~ corroborated Gaddy as 10 the shoot
ing
Several other arrests were made
Monday and ten men were brought to
Lumberton that night and lodged in
jail. They were Arthur. Commodore,
Pickett and Ed. Walters. John Gaddy,
Alex. Atkinson. Rob Smith, Sell Gra-
ham, Wilson Graham and Thornton
Reese. Dennis Graham was arrested
in Whiteville and will be brought here.
other arrests will be made. Harley
Baldwin. the r~ingleader and spy for
the others. made his escape and has
50 far eluded arrest.
Ashpole is now quiet and It is hoped
there will be no more trouble. The
white citizens Of the town deserve
credit for their GOODNESS and modera-
ton in a time OF intense excitement.
But for this action of theirs there
would doubtless have been b~loodshed.
Judd Stephens. another of the riot
ers. was arrested yesterday and
brought here and placed i'm jail.