The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-06-30

THE Washington Lady who Was n
suited Last Week Admits That III
was Mistaken In Her Identification
ofmr.J. r. Woodward. of Warsaw
Especial to The Messenger.)

We. Mistaken in Her Identification
of Mr. J. r.. woodward. Of Warsav
Especial to The Messenger.)
Washington, y. c., June 26.-The
streets of our town today have the ap-
Everyone seems to feel good, their
countenances bearing evidences of
good will and peace. We congratulate
all concerned upon the amicable adjuci-
cation of the case, that at the tim so
thoroughly aroused our citizens. All
seem to be satisfied at the outcome. The
cloud Of public interest which threaten
ed to burst upon us Saturday has SUD-
sided satisfactorily, we trust, and We
believe the friends Of both sides are
prouder than ever that they are Wash
ingtonians.
On Saturday Mr.. J. F. Woodward,
accompanied by e~x-Judge Allen and II.
F. Stevens, Esq, as counsei, a
party of friends, arrived here for the
purpose of investigation. Hon. G. +.
Warren. Congressman J. II. Small and
Stephen Bragaw, Esq, were retained to
represent the lady and the gentlemen
implicated in the horsewhipping Of Mr..
Woodward. From the time Mr.. Wood
ward and his friends arrived in town
excitement was intense The attorneys
on both sides went into a conference
and carefully discussed the case from
all sides in private until long after
might, but it was not known that a con-
clusion had been reached until nearly
-oi1nirh+ SATURDAY. Tn nurcnannp Of
an agreement the lady was sent for
during the afternoon and was con
fronted by Mr.. Woodward. They had
no conversation, but Mr.. Woodward
spoke to counsel in her hearing, after
which he (Mr. WOODWARD was request
ed to retire. The lady then made and
signed a statement, as also did the gen.
tlemen implicated in the horsewhip-
ping.
Correspondence of The Messenger.)
Washington, N. c., June "a.
Mr.. j. f. Woodward, who was brutal
1y hOrsewhipped here Thursday morn
ing by A. s.. Kelly, J. B. Latham, w. j.
Crumpler and several others, returned
to the city at noon today for the pur-
pose of establishing his innocence. He
was accompanied by Judge w. r. AL
leU, OF IOluSDOIO, anu MI. II. II. QUE
vens, of Warsaw, attorneys, and four
friends from his home. There was a
large crowd assembled at the depot,
and Mr.. Woodward was enthusiastically
welcomed by his many friends here,
who nave belieYed him innocent from
the very first.
The assailants and the lady, Miss
Jane L. Burgess, had retained able
counsel. The lawyers of both sides got
together Immediately after dinner, but
a meeting was not arranged between
Miss Burgess and Mr.. Woodward until
z o'clock, when they met at a lawyers
office. The result Of this Identification
meeting, was as expected-the lady
found that she had made a terrible
mistake and acknowledged it. She
wrote the following statement, word
ing it carefully, under counsers ad-
vice, for it must be borne in mind that
she was placed in the delicate position
of having already identified Mr.. Wood
ward as the man:
"I was insulted Upon the streets of
Washington by a man who was a
stranger to me. He approached me
from behind and spoke to me. l turned
around and saw him. I was, of course,
indignant and excited. At the depot
next morning, when Mr.. Woodward
was attacked, 1 had identified him as
the person who had accosted me the
day before, and / felt sure at the time
IndL l. was cOTT6cl. luCIe was d. large
crowd present, and the lat and
circumstances made me nervous and
excited. This afternoon 1 was brought
face ITO face with Mr.. woodward, and
had an opportunity to examine his
countenance and person carefully, while
I was calm and collected. While he
closely resembles the man who insulted
me, yet 1 do not feel I could swear to
his identity.
miss JANE L. BURGESS"
Three of the assailants Cthere were
eight arrested and tried before Mayor
Chauncey and fined S. each for disor-
derby conduct) Messrs. Kelly, Latham
and Crumpler, had the manhood to
come forward after the final denoue-
ment and implore pardon of Mr.. Wood
ward, offering to make any r~eparation
within their power for the ~irreparable
wrong done him. Mr.. Woodward shook
hands with them and forgave them.
They also wrote and signed a statement
for publication, which is as follows:
"We are relatives and friends of Miss
Jane l.. Burgess, who is an orphan,
and has no brother resident in this
town.. We deemed it our duty to pro-
tect her from insult. We Joined in the
attack on Mr.. Woodward at the depot
only after he had been identified, and
we acted from the best motives and
entire good faith. Now, however, that
the young lady, after a more careful
view OF MI. Woodward, has failed to
confirm her former Identification, we
desire to express publicly our deep re-
greet at the occurrence.
wv. J. CRUMPLER,
"A. S. KELLEY,
-. B.. LATHAM"
After the result of the meeting was
made known, which was not until mid
night, a large numbe of the represent
tative men of the town called on Mr..
WOOdward concentrating him on his
vindication, n expressing their heart
felt regret that such a deplorable af-
fair should have occurred at all, and
particularly that dts victim should have
been an innocent man.
The a~ssailants of Mr.. woodward re-
QueSted me to state that they did not
use pistols in the affair, as has been
unfinished