The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-01

Percy of Dominica" the so-called
King Of the Creoles, was arraigned
yesterday morning before Mayor Wad-
dell and held in default of a bond Of
$1,000 for his appearance at the June
term of criminal court to answer the
charge of ~manslaughter. The woman,
Nettie Scott, colored, who under the
influence of Percy's fanaticai teach
ings, tasted "a days, died Friday night
and he is held as an accessory to her
death. The %coroner's jury met later in
the a to investigate the cause of the
Woman's death and a number of wit
nesses were examined n it resulted
in the development of some very inter-
esting evidence. Subsequently the jury
rendered the following verdict:
THE deceased came to her death by
starvation caused by intimidation and
strong influences brought to bear by
Percy, called King of the Creoles.'
aided by Emanuel Toomer and S. T..
SILVER. The jury therefore commands
that the said Toomer and Shiver also
be k into custody and held to
await the action of the grand jury.
(Signed.) IS. G. HALL,
"W. A. MCGOWAN,
"W. B. SAVAGE,
IS. j. SPRINGER,
ISAIAH WEST,
IS. ]. JONES'"
After the inquest Emanuel Toomer
n S. t. SILVER, both colored, who
have been assisting Percy in practic-
ing his diabolical doctrine, were ar
rested, their bonds being fixed at
$1,000 each.
The case has attracted much atten-
ton, especially among the colored peo-
pie. At the mayors court yesterday
morning, the court room was crowded
n many witnesses were examined.
The testimony showed that Jercy Do
mingo has been teaching a doctrine
which has caused many to fast for
numbers of days in order to be cleansed
from their wickedness, and showed
that the woman who died Friday night
came to her death by starvation,
having tasted fifty-four days, taking
no n~ourishment except water.
In talking to a Messenger reporter
after the trial, Percy stated that his
contract for life between himself and
the High Spirit will expire in thirty
days and he will then die. He says he
will then nave reached the age of 80
years. He said further that he would
rise again, but his ley life will begin
in the West Indies.
Notable features of evidence brought
out in the %coroner's investigation were
S2Ad - 49,
Wilmington abou two years ago one
witness teStifying that he belonged to
the band about eighteen months ago,
but left it becauce Percy tried to make
him separate from his wife. If a black
man has a mulatto wife, n they
join the band, they have to separate
and the black man get him a wife of
| his own color and the mulatto woman
marry one of her color, and vice versa,
or, best of all, according to Percy's
doctrine, not marry at all.
Hattie Shellington testified that sh-
went to the house where the deceased
was fasting several weeks ago and
found her sick in bed. She, the de-
ceased, told her that she was not sick,
but down; hat Percy came in at that
time and said that the Lord had
| commanded him to make her fast for
thirty days, one day for "a year Of
his life; that Percy said he had three
ome there to prevent her from eat
ing as much as a crumb; that she was
full of the devil and it was her last
chance to cast the evil spirit out.
Percy charged the fasting woman
further, as was brougt out by another
witness, that if she believed in hin.
| (Percy) she would live, and If she lost
faith in him, she would die.