The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-07-21

Ed. Burton shoots Ben White Five
Tfmes-BOth Are Negroes and Fell
Ont About n Woman

News of a homicide at Spring Hope,
Brunswick county, about seven miles
from the city was brought to the city
yesterday morning. About z o'clock yes
terday morning Ed. Burton shot five
bullets from a pistol into the body OF
Ben White and killed him instantly.
Both men ar mulattoes and were from
% to 25 years of age.
1t seems the two men attended a
colored church called ST. Mary's, near
Spring Hope, on Sunday night and had
a falling out about a young woman.
It is said that White had a pistol there
and drew the weapon at two different
times ON Burton, threatening to Kill
him. He was, however, prevented by
bystanders from shooting Burton, but
he threatened to get him at some other
time.
After leaving the church Burton went
home with Henry Hall, colOred, who
lives in the neighborhood, and spent
the night with him. In the meantime
he armed himself with a pistol in view
Of the threats made by White. Yester-
day morning about 7 O'Clock he left
Halls house to go to his home en- Mr..
G.. NJ. McKeitnan's place, and when
he got about 200 yards doWn the road
from Halls house, Ben White was
standing on the side of the DAD White
was in his shirt sleeves, had his din
ner bucket on his arm n was going to
work. He had a pistol in his hip pock-
ct and hen Burton came by he renew
ed the difficulty and approached him
with his hand on his pistol
Burton got behind another man for
protection, but the man got away from
him.. Meanwhile he had retreated about
ALjrfu VIZ rIo JIra rrino White NOT fn
come on him, but White told him that
he was going to kill him, n continu-
ed to advance. Burton, realizing that
he would either have to kill White or
be killed, drew his pistol and fired. The
bullet struck White in the breast, n
while White was trying to get mis- pis-
toll out Burton emptied all five barrels
of his pistol into him. Every ball took
effect and Smith died almost instantly.
Several negro men and women wit
messed the killing and they s~ubstanti-
ate the above facts as given by Burton
himself to several white men in tn
n~eighborhood.
Burton went on to Mr.. McKeithan's
residence and offered to surrender to
him. Mr.. McKeithan was formerly a
justice of the peace but not being an
officer of the law, now advised Burton
to go to Sheriff E. r. Walker and sur
render to him. The sheriff lives about
UNree miles ITOIn 0pIuuS NOPE, anu Dull
ton went to him and While
Mr.. j. j. Tharp was coming to the city
yesterday morning, Burton met him and
told him that he was in trouble; that
he had killed Ben White and was going
to the sheriff to surrender himself. Bur-
ton was also met by MI. ]. B. Evans, of
Brunswick county, who was coming to
the city, and also made the same tate
ment to him that he did to Mr.. Tharp.
Mr.. Tharp informed a Messenger rep
~resentative that Burton bears a good
reputation among both the white and
colored people in his neighborhood.
We learn that a c%OrOner's inquest
was held yesterday and that Burton
was discharged, as the jury, after
examining the witnesses, found as their
verdict that White came to his death
at the hands Of Burton n that the
killing was done in self defence.
White was formerly a married man
and had a wife and two children, but
they all died within the past year or
two. Burton has a wife and children.