The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-07
AFFIDAVlTS PRESENTED
ALSO REPORT OF A CITIZENS
COMMITTEE OF RED SPRINGS
GOVERNOR DID NOT SIGNIFY INTENTION
Unless He Interferes Ross Will be Hanged or
Friday Of This Week. Mr.. Mcmillan .sE
Says He Thinks Mrs. Ingram
Was Insane.


the case of Reuben Ross, now in jail at
Lumberten under sentence of be hanged
ON Friday of this week for alleged as
sault on Mrs. Bette Ingram, a white
woman, last fall.
Mr.. Hamilton Mcmillan, representing a
committee of the citizens of Red Springs
and Lumber Bridge township, called on
the Governor and presented a report of
the committee which had been appointed
to investigate the facts i'll the case and
also more than a dozen affidavits from
citizens of that community, all bearing on
one phase or another of the case.
The committees report after citing the
causes which led to the appointment of
the committee, and asserting that the
investigation was without bias one way
or the other, declares it to be the belief
of the committee after diligent inquiry
at the scene of the alleged crime that
Ross was not guilty of the crime of which
he stands convicted. The committee was
composed of A. d. Pearsarl, Mayor of
Red Springs; Hamilton Mcmillan, law
yer: Il. w. L1vermOre, merchant; j. Il.
Mcmillan, physician; j. A. Mckay, mer
chant; George Hall, luInberman; X. +.
De Vane, lumberman; Z. s. Smith, law
yer; w. +. Williams, lumberman. This
committee was appointed by the citizens
of Red Springs after they had sent the
telegram to Governor Russell asking that
the execution be postponed to give an
opportunity to look into the case.
Mr.. Mcmillan who appeared before the
Governor yesterday and presented the
affdavits and the report of the citizens
committee said that the committee had
been unable to find three reputable white
people in the community where the crime
was alleged to have been committed who
believed Ross guilty. He also declared
that he did not in anyway represent Ross,
but came merely as the representative of
the citizens of Red Springs, the majority
of whom, he declared, do not believe
Ross committed the assault.
In his remarks to the Governor Mr.
Mcmillan said that he believed that Mrs
Ingram was of unsound mind. To re.
porter of the News and Observer after.
ward he declared that he believed her III
sane. II can not reconcile her conduct
with the character she proved by her ole
neighbors in Harnett on any other theo-
ny" he said. Il know that as good men
as are TO be found any where declared
that Mrs. Ingraln's character was good
when she lived in Harnett. On the other
hand the best men and women living
in the neighborhood where the crime
rs alleged to have been committed state
facts in the affdayits | today presented
which are wholly irrecconcilable with
good character, and contradict things
to- which Mrs. Ingram testified on the
stand The afhdavits referred to stated
among other things that Mrs. Ingram S
conduct had been such that before the
alleged commission of the assault some
of the neighbors had shut their doors on
her and that her general repute in the
community was not good. Some of the
affidayits went much further than gener-
alities and gave circumstances and de-
tails
''The township in which the affair oc-
CURED is one of the best in North Caro-
lima" declared Mr.. Mcmillan. 'There is
no more chivalrous people anywhere and
if they had believed Ross guilty the
probabilities are all that there would
never have been any trial in the case at
ALL"
The attorneys of Ross, John III. Cook,
of Maxton, d. G.. Mcneil and Bruce
Morrison, of Lumberton, accompanied
Mr.. Mcmillan to the Governors office
where about three hours was consumed
IN reviewing the case. The attorneys
asked THAT on the showing made the
sentence of Ross be committed to imprs-
onment for life. Governor Russell did
not Indicate one way or the other what
course he will pursue, but it is probable
that this was the last hearing in the
matter, practically all the facts being
in, and that, therefore, final action will
be taken and Ross either allowed to hang
or his sentence commuted without a
further repreve.
1t is altogether possible that the SEN
tence will be committed.
Nearly all the evidence on which com
mutation is asked has been developed
since the trial, it is said. There seems
to be no doubt that the aftidavits are
from some of the best people of the Red
Springs community and from the COM
munity whore the Ingrams lived when
the crime was alleged to have been COM
united. Aftidavits as to their charac-
ter We're presented also. The petitions
presented asking that Ross sentence be
commuted are said to contain the names
of every Write man who worked at the
saw mill where the 1ngrams lived: it
is also claimed that the petitioners rep
resent three fourths of all the property in
that community. Beside the petitions
and affidayits presented by Mr.. McAlil-
Ian, Ross attorneys presented new aft
davits and petitions.
The fact seems to be that the people
of Lumberton nearly all believe Ross
guilty while large majority of the peo-
pie of Red Springs believe he is not guilty
of the crime as charged. Inc local pa
pers have taken up the fight sharply and
u GOOD doa1 of feeling has hppn an.o11ce5
on both sides.
1t is very puzzling case.
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