The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-02
FOUND POISON
IN THE COFFEE
A Servant is Accused Of the
Crime.
HER TRIAL TODAY AT NOON
A BOX OF MATCHES BOILED
WITH THE COFFEE.
IT WAS DISCOVERED JUST IN TIME
Some High "caryings-On" Along the Wake
Johnston Line. Young Negroes Assault
Negro Man. The Negro Man
Cuts Another Negro,
Cuts Another Negro.

Today at IL o'clock Agnes Utley, q
negro girl. will be tried before Justice
of the Peace III. II. Roberts for an at
tempt to poison Mr.. Richard G. Bachelor
and family, DO South Blount street.
Agnes Utley is a young, half-witted
girl, who was employed in the Bachelor
home as a servant. On Sunday morning
Mr.. Bachelor told her to make IRE
and she did so reluctantly, complaining
that it was not part of her duty there to
start fires. She was told that If she did
not like her job she could give 1t up
whenever she desired. She continued
however to attend to her household du-
ties until they were completed. Then
she was dismissed for the day.
At supper the coffee was made by Mrs.
Bachelor. As she was about to serve
il at the table she discovered bits Of
wood floating on top, in the coffee pot
Investigation showed that a whole box
of matches had been emptied into the
pot.
AS the girl had been the last one to
have the coffee pot that morning and no
one else had since, so far as is known,
had access to it, il is supposed that she
put the matches in it, and for the pur-
pose of poisoning the family. She was
therefore arrested and her trial set for
yesterday afternoon at 5 O'Clock. AT
that time she asked continuance until
noon today that she might have the as
sistance Of a lawyer.
Matches contain two poisons, phospho-
rus and chloride of potash.
There have been some lively "carry-
ings-on" down southeast Of here on the
Johnston-Wa line.
Dowd Baueom, who lives just over the
line in Johnston county, being a pillar
in the church, was attending worship at
q church in Wake county. On his way
from the church he was assaulted, he
says, by five young negro men, to-Wlt,
Andy Turner Ebert and Romano Jones
and Ben and Jim Saunders.
For this offense Baucom swore out
warrants against the boys and they were
summoned to appear here for trial by
Jury next Wednesday before Justice Of
the Peace II. H. Roberts.
But Baucom, it seems, who not salts
fed with this. So on Sunday he went
to the house of Monroe Jones, father
OF two of the boys he charged with as
saulting him, Here he got into fight
and cut another one of the boys on the
face and neck seven or eight times.
The Joneses then set out for Smith
field to swear out a warrant for Bau-
com. While they were gone Baucom
went back to their place and set fire to
an clubhouse, it is said, and burned up
about 500 worth of seed-cotton.
The cutting was committed in Wake
and the burning in Johnston. A war
rant was issued here for the former and
one was also issued in Johnston. Depu-
~ Sheriff Smith and Constable Pool had
arrested Baucom and started to Raj
eigh with him, when the Johnston Off
Ger appeared and persuaded them to let
him take the man to Smithfeld jail.
Baucom has, however, been sent for
and he will be brought here Wednesday
for the trial of the five negroes whom
he charges with assault.
If it is found beyond question that the
cutting was committed in this county he
will also be held here for trail for that