The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-03
MURDER IN FIRST DEGREE.
rhe Verdict I'm the Jones Murder Case.
Great tel In the State Fair-The
Test Case as to Private Corporations.
Messenger Bureau,
Raleigh, n. c., March 30.

Raleigh, n. c., March 80.
The committee on the Vance statue
il informed by the Gorham Manufac-
turing Company, which will make the
cast, that the statue will be ready
June 10th.
Great interest is shown in the state
fair here. The meeting OF the execu-
tive committee yesterday was we'll at
tended. The increase Of the race
purses to 81, 500 meets with favor. An
effort was made 20 make the figures
s., 600. The grand stand is to be care
fully examined and unless 1t is found
to be perfectly safe will be torn down
and a new one built. on the west side
of the track. The present one is not
well situated
]. c. L. Harris, a well known re-
publican, says he cannot discover any
eastern North Carolina, n kinks ii
all a creation of the fancy.
Among today's arrivals were Paul
Jones, of Tarboro; I. NJ. Gattis, of
Hillsboro; c. w. Mclean, of Lumber
ton: T. w. Clawson, of Wilmington;
James H. Cook. of Maxton-
Considerable interest is felt as to
what will be the decision of Judge ST.
monitor in the tax assessment matter.
regarding the private corporations
which refuse to exhibit their books.
| After the statement made by a state
official to your correspondent months
| ago this action was not unexpected.
The official said a third of the proper
ty in the state escaped taxation.
| While the action is by one syndicate
of mills ii is understood to apply to
all hat class of property and to be
thus a complete test case.
The jury was at 5:45 o'clock yes
terday afternoon given the Jones
murder case. A majority of people
hardly expected the jury to cave the
box, as the public was of one mind
in thinking quick death the proper
punishment. Not until about 9 o'clock
this morning was it known that the
jury had agreed on a verdict of gull
ty of murder in the first degree. The
hitch was or the question of insanity
and it is further said a juror or two
| opposed capital punishment. The
. counsel for Jones "A early this
morning that he would carry the case
to the supreme court, and that it
would be almost a crime to hang a
man of unsound mind. He said he
a proved Jones unsoundneSS and
that two years g he had an epileptic
fit and lay like a lead man for TWEEN
ty-four hours. The popular feeling to-
wards Jones is very bitter. Nearly al
the negroes express a desire to lynch
him.
(By Special Dispatch.)
When the jury came into the court
room at 10 o'clock the foreman said
they had agreed upon a verdict OF
guilty of murder in the first degree.
The prisoners counsel polled the jury
When the ninth man was reached he
created a sensation by saying he had
changed his mind since he had entered
the court room and was for a verdict
Of murder in the second degree. Such
an occurrence is said to be unprece-
/ 6Qntp6 in this state If created 2
great sensation. The juror who had
i changed his mind was as white as q
ghost. He appeared as if he was
about TO have a fit. The jury was sent
out and returned in an hour and was
again polled. All then answered gull
ty of murder in the first degree.
The judge sentenced Jones to be
| hanged May 18th in the jail yard. A
motion for a new trial was over-ruled
Notice of appeal was given. 1t is i'm.
probable that the appeal will be per.
fected. Jones attorney now says he
will examine the evidence carefully
and see whether it is worth while tC
appeal. The judge sal the prisoners
guilt was admitted and there was nc
proof of insanity.
John Lee, a negro, aged IA years
Who murdere his married sister, julia
Holly, by poison, was sentenced to ter
years in the p~enitentiary, the solicitor
I having agreed to a verdict of murder
in the second degree. No trial wa:
held, the jury giving a verdict imme'
diately.