The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-03
JUNIUS DAVIS,
A McNEILL,
THOS, w. STRANGE,
800 D16~TT

oA@O'
After the above had been read and
filed as a part of the record, Mr.. j. W.
M%urchison, one of our wholesale hard-
ware dealers, was called to the wit
ness stand by Assistant United states
District Attorney Spears.
Mr.. Murchison, being examined by
Mr.. Spears, testified to his age, resi-
dence, and business. He testified that
selling fire arms is a part of his bus1-
ness.
Mr.. Spears asked:
Were you engaged in selling fire arms
in the month Of October n
the month of November to the 10TH
day, 1898?
Answer: Yes.
The question and answer were OBJ
iected to by Mr.. Bellamy'S counSe
upon the ground that it is incompetent
in that nothing which happened two
days after the election could have any
effect whatever upon the result of the
election which had been already de-
termined.
Notary Howell ruled that the objec-
ton is sustained and Notary Wallace
o~verruled it.
Mr.. Murchison then testified that his
sales of fire arms in October and No
vember. 1898, were greater thar the
year before, but he did not recollect as
to 1896. He could not approximate the
number of arms actually sold. he ap-
proximated the number at about 2OO
pistols, 40 or so shot guns and 125'rlf1es,
of which Is were Colts and so Winches-
: ters.
Mr.. Murchison further testified that
he voted for Bellamy against Dockery.
Mr.. Spears examined the witness FUR
Their as follows:
Were you a emit of an organlza-
ton known as the White Government
Union during September and October
and up to and including the Sth day OF
November, 1898?
The counsel for the contestee, Mr..
Bellamy, objected to the question upon
the ground that it was irrelevant n
incompetent.
Notary Howell sustained the objec-
ton and Notary Wallace overruled it.
Were you a emb of any political
organization or club during the period
mentioned?
Answer I was not.
Mr.. Bellamy's attorneys raised h
same objection as to last question and
the same ruling was made as in the
preceding question.
Mr.. Murchison testified as to n Of
his colored employees that he did not
discharge him for political reasons.
Mr.. Murchison, were you present on
the occasion in October, 1898, when
Colonel A. NJ. Waddell made a speech
in the opera hous in this city in which
he used language substantially that the
white men or democratic party would
win the election to occur on the Sth day
xoS November thereafter, 1898, by peace
able means if possible, but that they
would win it if it required Cape Fear
river to be filled with the or
bodies of dead negroes?
Answer I vas not present.
Were you present On the 10th of No
vember at the riot hat occurred in this
city, when the Manly printing presses
and house were destroyed?
Mr.. Davis entered objection and had
it put upon the record, to the effect
that objection was made upon the
ground that the question was irrele-
want upon the ground that anything
occurred after the Sth of Novem- |
Der had no bearing on the election.
Mr.. Wallace overruled the objection
and Mr.. Howell sustained it.
Mr.. Howell said it was the duty of
the court to say to the witnesses that
would end to criminate them, but he
say Mr.. Murchison would hardly
do such a thing. .
Mr.. Spears said the testimony taken
in this proceeding could not be used
in a criminal prosecution, but the law /
yerS for the cOnteStee SAID they were
not so sure of that.
Mr.. Murchison answered the Ques- !
ton saying: I was not present.
Who led the mob or riot on this oc-
caSior?
Nh. Davis had entered the same OBJ
lection that the riot was subsequent
to and had nothing to do with the cleo
ton. and on the further ground that
h question assumed that there was a /.
mob and riot there that day, of which /.
there has been no evidence before this
court in these dispositions.
Notary Howell sustained the objec-