The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-03-11
ATTEMPTED MURDER
WHITE MAN SHOT THREE TIMES BYA
N;GR0.
H.Gregory, one of the Fore
nen for the Sewerage Contractors,
SHOT at Five Times by n Man
Whom he Discharged-The Negro
Escaped.

Yesterday afternoon at 3:45 o'clock.
Ar. John H. Gregory, one Of the fore
men Of Messrs. William Mclean & Co,
contractors for the construction of the
sewerage system. was shot three times
by one of the negro Iaberers who has
been working some time for the conn
panY. The negro is known as Jim Sid
bury alias Tom Hodges. but his name
is not known to the contractors tn
men being designated By numbers.
Yesterday afternoon about 4 O'Clock
the negro was with the otner hands
about 40 in number. engag at work
IN ~excavating and laying pipe On Fifth
street between Walnut and Red Cross
streets He had on his coat and was
lOafing about and was told by Mr..
Gregory to pull off his coat and go to
work He Immediately refused to do
so and Mr.. Gregory discharged him
and ordered the time keeper to give the
negro his time" The negro called
him a very vile name whereupon Mr..
Gregory seized d billet OF wood and
started after him. The negro ran and
as he went picked up some stones and
hurled them at Mr.. Gregory. He then
went away.
In n meantime. Mr.. Gregory went
on to work and at 5:45 o'clock. when
he was in an excavation showing the
men how to lay n pipe, the negro re-
turned and began emptying his revolt
Yer at him. He fired five shots at Mr.
n he was helpless in q deep
while every negro stood by
and made no attempt to prevent the
negro or seize him alter he did the
shooting.
Mr. V. II. F1eck. another foreman,
ran up and tried to catch the negro and
chased him up to Red Cross street try
ing to get a shot at him. but two wo-
men were in the way when the fleeing
negro was in shooting distance. The
negro ran down Red Cross street to
Second and Fleck still followed but the
negro ran up Second street and he lost
him abOut w. F.. Worth & Cos ice fac
tory. Mr.. F1eck is a delicate man and
gave completely out and almost tainted
from mis- eXertiOns. He sank down and
while some others were looking after
him the negro made good his escape.
TWO po-iCemen and gate keeper E. Piner
at Front street station gave chase but
fhe negro was SO far in the lead ne
got away.
Meanwhile Mr.. Gregory got in a
buggy and came down to the com
panY'S office on Princess street where
he awaited till a doctor was called.
Dr. Thomas S. Burbank soon reached
him and UGH a big crowd of white men
SaIneTeu around tndI ne EOOnlS Hdu u
be closed. The crowd of men was in
aignant and had they got hold of the
negro he would have been lynched in
short order.
DR.. Gregory found that MIR. Gregory
was wounded in three places. the most
serious one being to the left side of the
spinal column nearly over the kidney.
He looked for the bullet but not caring
to run such a risk. he dressed the
wound to await a better opportunity.
He also found that two bullets had en-
tered the left arm, one In the musculeS
of the fore arm and one in the muscles
of the upper part of the arm. The last
bullet had graZed an artery, and was
bleeding p~rofusely. None of the bullets
were extracted. Mr.. Gregory's wounds
were temporarily dressed and he was
sent to the James ak Memorial
hospital. At last accounts last night he
was resting easily, but tits quite likely
that the wound in Mr. Gregorys pack
IS quite serious, the bullet evidently
having penetrated the hollow and lodged
in the front part OF the lower abdomen.
As Mr.. complained of pain in
that region. 1t is feared that the Kid
ney or bladder has been uunctured.
AIR. Gregory also has a slight scalp
wound. a bullet having passed through
the top of his hat as he raised up when
the firing began.
Mr.. g came mere LOuE "eeho dSo
from Columbia. s. c., and is one OF
Aessrs. Mclean & COS most valuable
men. He is about 50 years OF age and
has a wife and child who were coming
here Monday to Join him. He is a man
OF fine physique and it is hoped he Will
recover from his wounds.
The negro who shot him is said to
nave come from the neighborhood OF
WedgefeId. s. c. He is ginger-cake
aoIored and rather tall. He is about %
wears nf age. Chief of Police Furlong
had men out yesterday afternoon and
last night looking for him but with out
success.