The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-09
REUBEN ROSS TO
HANG THIS DAY
Governor Declines to Inter
fere Further.
AMN LILO CATE L. CEAl n
AND HIS FATE Is SEALED
EXECUTION WILL TAKE PLACE
AT LUMBERTON.
THE CRIME FOR WHICH HIS LIFE IS FORFEIT
One of the Most Remarkable Cases in the
Criminal Record of the State, and
One of the Most Holly
Contested.

Reuben Ross will be hanged at Lum-
berton today
Governor Russell, while greatly dis
turbed over the ease. declines to inter
fere further, either TO grant new re-
spite or to commute Ross sentence to
imprisonment, for life. Thus the last
hope of Ross vanishes.
Ross case has been. in some Of its
phases one of the most remarkable in
the States criminal annals. He has been
three times respited by the Governor
from December : to January 9th. from
January to January I, and from Janu-
AIRY to February 9th. today; the militia
has been once ordered out TO protect
him from a fancied attempt of lynchers
and the best people OF the county in
which the crime was committed have
been SO divided in opinion as to his guilt
that voluntary delegations have been
sent both to ask for and to protest
against the communication of his sentence
to life imprisonment.
The crime of which Ross was convict
ed was a criminal assault on Mrs Bet
tie Ingram. Il young white woman.
about II o'clock in the day of Septem-
Lumber Bridge township. Robson coun-
~. He was tried before Judge Battle
at the November term of the criminal
court. He was unable to employ coun-
sci and Judge Battle assigned John IL.
Cook, of MaxtOn, and j. G.. Mcneil and
Il. h. Morrison of Lumberton, TO de-
fend him. Solicitor Mclean Was assist
ced in the prosecution by ID. II. Nc
Lean. of Harfett The trial was not
completed until after midnight and on
the following morning the jury reached
a verdict of guilty on the first ballot.
After the conviction Ross attorneys
appealed to the Governor 10 commute his
sentence to Imprisonment for life and Il
great mass of evidence was presented
to the Executive III the form of affidavitS
together with numerouSly signed petit
tons. On the appeal of Ross attorneys
for more time work up evidence the
convicted man was reSpited from De
cenlber ; to January ). On January
9TH the Governor was asked for still
more times and agreed TO another respite
On the representations of parties still
unknown to the public that there wa
danger that Ross would be lynched.
Governor Russell on the night of De
cember 4th sent the Raleigh Light In
fantry to lumberton by a special train.
When the militia arrived they found the
town quiet and Ross in no danger from
Il mob. Since that time citizens of Lum-
bcrton have sent Mr.. $. Mcintyre. an
attorney of that town, to protest to the
Governor against communication. and
during this week the citizens of Red
Springs sent Mr. Hamilton Mcmillan
with petitions and affidavits TO ask that
the sentence be committed, Ross attor-
ncys seeing the Governor at the same
time.
There was the SharpeSt conflict of tes-
tim0ny in the affidavits presented by
the two sides to Governor Russell,
both as to the character of Mrs.
Ingram, the circumstances surrounding
the crime and the evidence of violnc
Both in Robson county and elsewhere
there has been and is much doubt as to
Ross guilt of the crime charged, though
it is admitted even by his attorneys that
he is Il negro of shady character. lie
is described as having an exceedingly
brutal and repulsive appearance.
Sheriff Mcleod, of Robeson is con-
fined to his ROOM having had both arms
broken in a runaway, and his deputy Will
have to execute Ross.