The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-03

riot in the city Of Wilmington on the
10th day OF November, 1898?
Mr.. Davis objected and had the OBJ
lection placed upon the minutes.
Mr.. Wallace overrruled and Mr..
Howell sustained the objection.
The question was then put, and Mr..
Davis asked the notaries to instruct
the witness that he need not testify TO
anything hat would tend to humiliate
of incriminate him.
The notaries instructed the witness
that he could decline 10 answer, Civ
ing his reason.
Mr.. Murchison answered: There was
a riot or mob, or whatever 0 call it,
on hat day in Wilmington.
Who led hat mob or riot?
Answer: I don't know.
To whom were the sales of arms
made by your house, white men or COL
ored men, republicans or democrats,
during the period beginning September
1st, n up to and including the Sth
day Of November, 1898?
Answer: Well, 1 don't know what
was done in the house.
Was it not the policy Of your house
to sell, during the month Of October
and up to the Sth Of November, 1898,
exclusively to whites, the arms men
toned?
Answer: We sold to whites and mer-
a n
Was it, or was ii not, a fact within
your own knowledge, that the whites
of Wilmington We're unprecedentedly,
thoroughly armed during the time men
toned?
Answer: l do not know whether they
were thoroughly armed or not.
Was there or not, an unusual number
of arms, consisting of Colts and Win
chester rifles, also pistols and shot
guns, in the hands of the white PEG.
pie, favorable to the contestee's cleo
ton, during the period mentioned?
Answer: There were more fire arms
than usual.
Was there a change in the city o "
eminent Of Wilmington in regard to
the officials in office, effected on the
18th of November?
Mr.. Davis had entered the objection
that nothing hat occurred after the
election bore upon the election and
upon the further grounds that no
change in the municipal government
in the city of Wilmington have any
effect or influence upon the result of
a congressional election which too
place two days previous.
Notary Howell sustained the objec-
ton of Mr.. Davis.
Notary Wallace overruled the objec-
ton.
Mr.. Spears asked the witness:
By that change that occurred on the
18th of November, 1898, who became
mayor Of the city Of Wilmington?
Answer: Colonel Alfred M. Waddell.
Were there any persons killed in the
riot during the day of November 10th,
1898?
Answer: 1 didn't see any.
Did you observe the use of fire arms
in the city of Wilmington on Novem-
Der 10, 1898?
MI. Davis had the same objection
placed upon the record, heretofore
made, hat nothing that occurred after
the election could have any bearing on
the election.
Notary Howell sustained and Notary
Wallace overruled it.
Mr.. MurchiSOn then answered: I did.
Was there or not unusual and eX-
ceSsive use of fire arms at the time
mentioned?
Answer: There was.
Whom did you observe using fire
arms on the day mentioned, whites or
negroes, republicans or democrats?
Mr.. Peschau put in and the same OBJ
lection and the ruling was the same
as last made.
Mr.. Murchison answered: Whites.
The witness was turned over to the
conteStee's attorneys, who was cross
examined by Mr.. Peschau, who asked:
In answer to Mr.. Spears a few min
uteS ago you said there was an unusual
and excessive use Of fire arms in Will
mington on the 10th of November. Ex-
plain what you meant by excessive
use.
Answer: / saw more fire arms dur-
ing hat day than I did for a week be-
fore.
By Mr.. Peschau: Mr.. Murchison, you
have been connected with the hardware
trade for a number Of years, have you
not? Is your present business confined
solely to the retail trade?
Answer: 1t is not.
Is your trade confined solely to the
county Of New Hanover?
Answer: It is not.
What is the area cOmpaSSed by your
trade?
Answer: North Carolina and South
Carolina.
Wa the area of your trade the same
as above mentioned in the month of
September, October and up to and in
Guiding November 8, 1898?
Answer: 1t was the same.
Mr.. Murchison you are o prepared
to say are you, that the number of
guns you mentioned as having been
sold in the months" of September, Octo-
oC4 o1Ao AVN op = " IN 1llCluu1lS
November 8, 1898, were sold exclusive
Ky in the county of New Hanover?
Answer: They were sold all around.
Mr.. Murchison, are your statements
made in your direct examination about
the sale of guns in September, October
and November up to the Sth, estimates
or expressions Of opinion, or~were they
the actual sales made?
Answer: They were estimates.
Did the number Of guns testified to
by you as having been sold in the
months above mentioned exceed those
the same months in previous years,
since our connection with the hard
ware business?
Answer: No.
On redirect examination MI. Spears
asked Mr.. Murchison:
Is or is not the area of your trade
in North Carolina and partly in
Carolina?
Answer: Yes.
Were not the sale of firearms in
October and November up
to and including the Sth, more largely
if not entirely confined to the demand
in the Sixth district, or in the border
counties of South Carolina contiguous
to North Carolina.
Answer: NV sales were larger in |