The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-10-20
BARNES-JEFFERsON MURDER
Trial Begun-Motions for Time over
ruled The Drawing ofn Jury Begun ..
A Negro Arrnigned on the Charge OF
Burglary and Attempt at Criminal
Assault.

Correspondence of The Messenger.)
Wilson, N. c., October Is.
Court convened promptly at 9 o'clock
this morning. John Jefferson, the muir
derer of Calvin Barnes. was brought
into court to answer for this crime,
committed near Wilson on August 29th.
The prisoner looked careworn after his
long confinement. His countcnance ex-
pressed no motion whatever. Had his
crime been a more nominal one his
bearing could not have been more cool
or deliberate. When arraigned he said:
II know nothing about II.
His counsel made a motion to have
this statement placed in the plea OF
not guilty, as was the plea when pre-
viously arraigned. This motion was
o~ver-ruled and an exception taken.
Jefferson's counsel then made an earn
est plea to have the case postponed
until the next term OF curt. Mr.. Wood
ard stated to TIE our that not enough
time had been allowed him to prope~ly
prepare his case.
After a heated discussion by both
counsel the motion for -postponement
was o~ver-ruled and an Immediate trial
| ordered.
[AIIOliltI dtl6IlDI W kdlH liIIie war
made by a motion to have the trial
| moved to another county. 1t was ar
! gued that public sentiment would not
allow a fair trial. This motion was
over-ruled.
The task of securing a jury was then
taken VI A special venire OF 200 men
had been summoned and all were on
hand. From present indications the
task of getting a jury will be a difficult
one. Not a person has yet qualified.
Rev. James Thomas, pastor of the
Presbyterian church here. left this
morning for Raleigh, where at 9ao'clock
he will be married TO Miss Mary DAN
iels, daughter of Rev. Eugene Daniels,
pastor Of the First Presbyterian church
of Raleigh.
Mr.. and Mrs. George ID. Green also
left for Raleigh to be present at the
ceremony.
Messrs. Ernest NadaI and w. s.
Micks, who Will act as ushers, accom-
panied Mr.. Thomas.
Mr.. Ernest Mangum, principal OF the
Wilson graded school, has gone to Raj
eigh to arrange an exhibit made by
the Wilson graded schools Several
pupils of the schools ave entered the
contest for a tellurian globe offered for
the best map OF one of the continents.
Some free-hand work will also be dis
played.
DR.. Nathan Anderson Is soon to leave
Wilson. He has accepted a position
with the drug firm Of Payne, Seoy &,
Anderson, of Lynchburg, Va, as travel
ing salesman. DR.. Anderson is one OF
Wilson's most popular physicians and
his leaving Is heard of with regret
by all.
Another negro has taken the fatal
step In Wilson county. George Robert
Thorn was arraigned this morning in
court. charged with burglary and at
tempted rape. 1t SEEMS hat Thorn
works as house servant in the home of
Mr. Jesse T. Hayes. OF Lucama. on
last Wednesday night he made an at
tempt to enter the room of Miss Eta
Bass, who was spending the night at
her uncle's house; but fortunately the
noise made in raising the window
aroused the family. On the motion OF
Thorn's counsel the case was p~ostpon.
ed until h next term of court in or.
der to allow more time in which to &c.
cure witnesses.