The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-30
Messenger Bureau.

Raleigh, ~. c., March =.
Four young white men charged with
torIuring and lynching negro man
near Carthage were before the ooro-
ner's jury yesterday and were dis
charged. IL Is said that the inyesti-
CATION was lax and that two OF the tu-
rors were uncles Of the SUSPECTS. The
widow Snd child Of the murdered man
at first said they identified them, but
later said they did not. The people
are yet deeply stirred by the outrage
Gus crime.
Excellent progress is now being
made in the matter OF having an au-
ditorium here. About sS.oc0 Is secured.
while the lowest amount TO be applied
10 the purpose is sIo.O00. II IS expect
ed that by the end OF the week this
will be secured.
There is considerable local inter, It
in the contest for the democratic norl-
ination for state treasurer. largely te-
cause two of the aspirants. Il. r Lazy
and J. d. Boushall, live here. 1t ts
asserted that Lacy will get 30 per
cent. OF the vote at the Wake pri-
maries next Saturday.
The commissioner OF agriculture
says he thinks about half the tax
tags for commercial fertilizers which
will be used this season have been
sold
The 125th volume of the supreme
court reports Is ready
The revenue officers say that the
general public has no idea OF the great
number of Illicit distilleries captured
during the past six or eight months.
Republican State Chairman Holton
arrived here today to appear In some
cases before the supreme court. Like
all the other republicans, he has moth
ing 10 say about politics.
Tomorrow in the superior court here
the case of the state against Tom
Jones, the negro exhorter. who mur-
dered six members of a family. Will
be tried. The defence will be. not that
Jones is innocent, as the evidence OF
his guilt is direct and overwhelming
| and he has not a witness by whom TO
prove his innocence, but that he is
mentally unsound, and has been so
| for thirty years; in other words, all
| his life. The defence viii introduce
| witnesses to prove this and Will ar
! que that he should not be hanged, but
| be placed in the criminal insane de-
partment at the penitentiary. There
will be no effort to controvert the ter
rible testimony OF the little girl that
| she saw him kill her mother and old
| est sister with an axe and then set
| fire to the beds. 1t will be claimed
| that during all his life up TO that time
| Jones had done no criminal act. but
| that a sudden mania, or wild desire
| to put out OF the way the family OF
his paramour and thus preserve his
| so-called status as a preacher" carne
on him.
The attorney for the Raleigh Water
| Company does not think the investt-
cation being made as to lack OF pres
| sure at the tobacco warehouse fire
| amounts to anything. 1t Is expected
that suit by insurance companies
| will result upon the evidence that had
there been pressure a dwelling could
| have been saved.
The excavation for the Vance statue
in the capitol square is being made.
The statue is to stand on an artificial
elevation at the east front which vii
correspond to that on which the statue
of Washington stands at the s5utt
front.
Negroes here say that orders have
been received here for 900 men ans
1000 women Of their race to go north
They are leaving every day. Money
for their tickets is in many cases com
ing from the north. where they ar,
wanted as servants. 1t Is certain tha
the orders are very heavy and tha
great inducements are being offerea