The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-25
VERY SENSATIONAL CASE
The Story Of Anderson's Crime, Trial
And Escape
FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE SIXTEEN YEARS
Judge Avery and Senator Pritchard Writing to
Governor Russell Urging the Pardon,
and il is Believed Il Will
be Granted


cation for pardon that is not only of
great interest throughout this State, but
is also National in character because
of the man for whom pardon is asked,
his relatives, and friends, writes Mr.. J.
c. L. Harris in Saturdays New York
Times. The name of the applicant is
Waightstill Avery Anderson. He and
United States Senator Jeter c. Pritch
ard are brothers-in-law. The present
wife of Senator Pritchard and the wife
of Anderson are sisters, and are the
daughters of ex-Superior Court Judge
Jacob w. Bowman, of Mitchell county.
Another actor in the affair is Edward
Ray. The facts of this celebrated case
are these:
STORY OF THE CRIME.
There was a dispute between Ray and
a man named Bailey over the title to
very valuable mica mine in Mitchell
county. Bailey and his friends had pos
session. This was early in the Spring
of 1884 While Bailey and his laborers
were at work in the mine Ray attempted
to run them out of the mine by building
a fire at one of the shafts, expecting
that smoke thus drawn into the mine
would force Bailey to leave. The smoke
was however, carried off by one of the
fues that went UP through the mine
Finding that the smoking process would
not give him possession, Ray went to
Bakersville to see Anderson and get him
to come to his assistance. Ray and An
derson were brothers in-law. Anderson
at this time was about twenty-five years
- md fuuO
daughters He was deputy collector
Of internal revenue, and possessed many
enemies because he was active in run
ming down the ''moonshiners, who were
then extremely numerous in the noun
tains.
When Ray and Anderson got to the
mine a fight ensued between Ray and
a man by the name of Miller, who was one
of the henchmen of Bailey, Ray was knock
ed down by one of the shafts into the mine,
and the fight was continued there. Ray
killed Miller and another of Bailey's
men Edward Horton, who was also one
of Bailey's men, attacked Anderson on
the top of the mine, and after desper-
ate encounter Horton was killed.
Ray and Anderson then fed, and re-
manned away until the excitement sub
sided when, believing that they could
they returned and gave themselves up,
and were put in Jail.
TRIED AND SENTENCED.
A bill of indictment for murder was
found in Mitchell county, where Ray and
Anderson had many friends, and on APP
plication of the prosecuting attorney, the
cause was removed for trial to Caldwell
county. This county at that time, was
very largely Democratic, and there was
great hostility to Ray aud Anderson, be-
cause they were Republicans, and Ander-
son was then and had been for some time
revenue officer. If the trial had been
removed to any county contiguous to
Mitchell other than Caldwell, both de-
PENDANTS would probably have been ac-
quilted The Topic, weekly paper, pub
lished at Lenoir, county seat of Caldwell
county, denounced Ray and Anderson as
murderers, and urged that they be taken
out and lynched.
Ray was tried first. He was found
guilty Of manslaughter and was sentenc-
ed TO twenty years in the penitentiary.
Anderson was then tried, and was found
guilty of murder, and sentenced to be
hanged An appeal was taken to the
Supreme Court and the judgment of the
lower court was affirmed.
After the trials Ray and Anderson
were taken to Asheville and put in Jail
there. Knowing that they could not Sc
cure communication from the Governor,
the friends of the two men in Mitchell,
Madison, and other contiguous counties,
to the number of 500 organized them
selves into a band and carefully laid
their plans to rescue them from jail. 1t
is not doubted that these friends had the
assistance of powerful men in the town
of Ashevile. Ray and Anderson were APP
prised of what their friends were doing
on the outside.
The night was finally appointed for the
attempt, and it seemed that the elements
were in favor of its success. A binding
rainstorm broke over the town and the
darkness was very dense.
FREED BY FORCE.
Silently and by several different routes
the 500 sturdy mountaineers, armed with
pistols, knives and Winchester rifles,
gathered around the jail, which was IN
the heart of the town. A Gordon was
drawn around the square to prevent as
sistance being rendered to the jailer. The
jailer was called to the door to receive
supposed prisoner, who was standing
there with his arms tied. Unsuspecting-
ly the jaier opened the door. In a sec
ond he was seized and told that if he
made any outcry he would be killed. He
was gagged and tied and locked in
cell The keys were obtained, and in
five minutes Ray and Anderson were
breathing the free air of heaven and the
cavalcade was moving out of town with
out having encountered any resistance.
A large reward was offered for the re-
capture of the two men, but without re-
suit
MARRIAGE OF PRITCHARD.
The present wife of Senator Pritchard
was at the time of the killing in the
mica mine the wife of Ray. After the
latter was rescued and fed the State his
wife heard from him, and she went to
him and remai1oil some time. She final