The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-09-01
He Tells of the Murder
Gus Assault.
THR CORONBR'S VERDICT
Holds John ,. JeKerssn tor the Mur.
dcr-The Gum iced Pound and saeasas
neA-Ths DefsnAans's ssasemeus-Uns
suseessrul Trial OF the Bioodhoa.As.
yeGerson Taken rrom Wilson BY Uns
Known Parsies, Supposedly for safs
KeePing.

Keeping.
Especial to The Messenger.)
Wilson, n. c.. August 29.--Mr. Cali
vim Barnes, who was shot from ambuah
while returning from his farm nea
Wilson last night, died this morning
about 3 O'Clock.
He was conscious UP TO his death
and gave TO the family and near rela-
tives gathered around his death bed
an account of the shooting.
When h deed vas done he was
driving along with ons of his grand
children in his lap. The other child
was in the back OF the buggy leaning
over his grandfather's shoulder. /,
The grandchildren gave the alarm.
which was answered by am old colored
man.
Mr.. Barnes could give no descrip-
ton of HIS assassin
From the position Of the wound In
his back the murderer must have been
crouched down under the underbush
near the road side.
The remains of the deceased will be
laid to rest tomorrow afternoon at 3
o'clock. The following citizens of VIII
son will act as pallbearers: w. d.
Hackney, Alex Green, G. d. Green, ].
c. Hadley, w. H. Farmer, P. B. Deans,
b. B. Roads, S. c. Wells, J. G. Rooney
and Jonas Oettinger. The funeral ser
vices will be conducted by Rev. B. III.
Melton, pastor of the Christian church.
Mr.. Barnes leaves a wife and three
children-two daughters and one son,
to mourn his loss.
The state hounds brought here last
night on a special train from Weldon
failed to trace him up. There having
been no rain here for some time It was
impossible for the dogs to keep the
trail.
An examination OF the ground around
the scene OF the assassination has
brought to light the gun with which
the deed is supposed to have been done.
1t was found in a ditch about 100 yards
from the scene OF the shooting. The
gun lis a double-barrel shot gun There
was but one load in the gun, the other
barrel shows evidence of having BEEN
recently discharged
In an interview with your c~orrespon-
dent John ]. Jefferson, the man arrest
ed last night, gives his version OF thu
difficulty with Mr.. Barnes on Monday
morning. He says that ne asked Mr..
1 Harness fn LOT nrn ~ ht1 n~11-oI -
help him get a barn OF cured tobacco
down for packing. Jefferson said hat
he stated to Mr.. Barnes that the colored
man wanted was hired only to tend
some calves and that he was employed
only a portion of his time. Mr.. Barnes
answered that he, Jefferson, had moth.
ing to do with the negro or what work
he had to do. This was the extent cd
the quarrel, according to the suspected
man.
The past record of Jefferson Ia MOI
SO good. On several occasions he has
had difficulties with his neighbors, and
at present he Is suffering at the hands
OF public sentiment
The coroner's jury held It's invest.
cation this evening and after hearing
| the evidence rendered the followfn1
verdict:
|, TT Is the opinion and belief Of thi
, jury that Calvin Barnes carne to hi
: death by a gun shot wound, the Gun
in the hands Of John Jefferson"
The jury was composed of the fol
lowing citizens of Wilson: Messrs. w
! d. Hackney, J. G. Rooney, Ben Hay
! : wood, p. b. Deans, w. F. FELTON, AM
". L. Banks.
/ The prisoner was turned over b
Sheriff Sharp and bail was refused.
When 1t became so plain from th
evidence produced at the inquest thu
Jefferson was the guilty man a lynch
ing was planned by soma. Tonight b.
tween 2 and s o'clock he was taken 4
charge by some unknown parties an
1t Is thought has been carried to RAJ
eigh for safe keeping No news as Z
his whereabouts cam be learned.
q