The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-08-21

Leach, Littlelon; G. H. Turner. Hen
dcrson; Isaac Siernhei liner, Richmond,
Va; w. H. Seasons, Raleigh; Brant
Colds NTH, newsbpy, aud others
whose names we did not get. Some
Of these witnessed the tragedy while
others reached the car only in time to
aid in quelling the riotous disturb
ance and hel p TO capture the par
Elephants. Mr.. Sternheimer was the
man who took Coles pistol from him
1t is 80 calibre liver Johnson's.
and had but one chamber empty.
There are other witnesses vino will
testify at the proper time.
The three negroes captured, Joe
Cole, Sr., Joe Cole, DR., and William
Jones (al>o called William Furgerson)
were brought on to Henderson
where they were lodged in Jail. The
elder Cole was the only man who was
found to have pistol on his person.
1t was reported that two of the five
men escaped from the train when it
slowed up near Middleburg. The
supposition was that it was one of
these who shot the porter, Mitchell.
A posse headed by Sheriff Powell went
to Middleburg to hunt for them. The
bloodhound here was sick and unfit
for use. The wires had been indus
triously working meantime to secure
dogs from elsewhere and to notify all
points by telegraph and telephone to
be on the lookout
Soon after reaching Middl.burg it
was learned that dogs would be sent
from Weldon. 1t was decided that
if man-trailers could be secured it
would be best to wait for them, as
| a securing Of the country would inter-
fers with the work of the dogs. There
was delay in getting the train out
and it was s O'Clock before Chief of
Police Dickens arrived with his blood
hound, noble animal who has
record of upwards Of one hundred
catches to his credit, he being used
on the State farms and elsewhere
| where his services were frequently
needed.
Some persons working in tobacco
field nearby reported having seen
some one get off the train when it
stopped. {This is ascertained TO be
fact but it was not one of the negroes
implicated in the diticulty.) A negro
wagon driver said he saw two strange
men sitting under tree in the
woods about half a mile from the
railroad short while after the train
passed. CThis was a lie and the man
| who had seen SO much-too much in
fact to be plausible-was told at the
time that he had lied.) The dog was
taken to the spot indicated as start
ing point. He hunted industriously
| and worked hard. but to no purpose.
| He could not strike trail from the
fact that there was no trail to find.
The posse were satisfied of this be-
| fore they had besn in the woods an
| hour Tuesday night. Now there is
every reason to confirm such belief
Mr.. Dickens and his dog faithfully
performed their part but they did not
catch anybody simply because there
| was nobody in those woods to catch.
! Nor had there bsen.
However, not being disposed to
give up the hunt until every reason
able effort had been made, the search
was continued as far as Manson, the
woods on both sides of the railroad
for two or three miles, being secured
| and enquiry made al every house in
| the ghborhood. Between one and
two o'clock the posse met as per
| agreemant at Manson and the hunt
ended. Mr.. Dickens and his COM
| paniou, Mr.. Clanton, waited there for
= 4 ]
to Weldon, Sheriff Powell and those
| who had stayed with him to the finish
coming back to Henderson.
Next day it was learned that the
man who had engaged the men in
Lynchburg started from there with
IL. He reached Louisburg with 10.
The three in Jail here made all &C
counted for. Two arrests have been
made there and these men, Joe
Payne and William Mitchell by name,
will be brought TO Henderson today
and lodged in Jail.
In view of the fact that the porter,
Jim Mitchell, is likely 10 die it is de-
sirable to secure his evidence and if
possible have him identify the man
who shot him. All live OF the men
will be taken to Raleigh this after
noon for that purpose. Mitchell says
| he i. sure he can identify the man
who shot him and he will be given a
| chance to do so.
The belief is that Joe Cole, Jr, is
the man who shot the porter. When
| arrested he had no pistol on his per-
sou. Yesterday pistol was found
near the railroad track beyond Mid
dleburg. Two chambers were empty
The identity Of this pistol would 90
far toward liking the guilt Of the man
| who shot Mitchell.
just how many shots were fired
seems to be an unsettled aquestion.
| Conductor Clements remembers ony
| two; the porter says he is sure three
were fired. Tho testimony of others
is conflicting. some saying three,
| others two. So far but two bullets
have been accounted for, the one
that killed Stevers and the one from
which Mitchell will probably lose his
life. 1t is possible that third shot
fired may have passed out an open
window or buried itself in the back
of a car seat which has az vet been
unobserved because no search has
been made for it. A pocket knife
was picked up beside the railroad by
Mr.. June Rowland, of Middleburg,
soon after the train passed and near
where it stopped Tuesday afternoon
This may or may not be connected
with the affair on the train.
The whole affair was a most das-
tardiy and shocking occurrence and
! excitement was at high pitch both