The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-08-26
NEGRO WHO SHOT PORTER
Dramatic Scene Enacted in the Ward
at Rex Hospital.
NEGRO RIOTERS IN RALEIGH LAST Nigh
",hat is the Man" Said the Wounded Porter,
Near to Death. as He Pointed an Ac-
cusing Eioger at Young
Cole.

THAT is the man." and a quiVerins
hand pointed to Joe Cole, Jr.
These words came from Jim Mitchell,
the negro porter wounded in the muir
dercus assault on board the Seaboard
train near Henderson.
Nigh to deaths door he lay on his cot
in Rex Hospital. while facing him STOOD
Joe Cole, Jr., and John Jones' allas
Charley Ferguson, two of the negroes
caught on the train after the fatal affair
of Tuesday.
The two men we're tied and bound with
ropes. Deputies guarded them, While at
- table sat q lawyer who had just taken
tie testimony OF Jim MITCHELL. He
glanced at the wounded porter, and again
writing. added his final words which
sealed the fate o IA murderous assallant.
There was no hesitation when Nit
chcll spoke these words. He took one
glance at the men before him, and MS
hand indicated Joe Cole, Jr., as he made
his declaration. The accused Negroes
lips tvitched conyulsively, despair shone
in his eyes, and he cried, mister,
didn't do it. I never saw you. 1t wasn't
lie u I INbAAC4' ' 49,
YOU are the man that shot me.
Last night the Seaboard train, due
here at 1924 was late. On it came a
partv of officers of the Jaw, Seaboard
Air Line officials, and the five negroes
now under arrest as principals and ac-
cessories in the killing Of
Stevers and the shooting of the colored
porter. Jim Mitchell, on the Seaboard
train Tuesday afternoon near Henderson,,
resulting from the attack made on Cap
tain w. p. Clements, who had ordered
the boistercus negroes from the white
sec0nd-class car into the car for the ne
-roes.
The negro prisoners were Joe Cole, ST.,
who killed MI. Stevers, Joe Cole. Jr.,
John JONES', alias Charley Ferguson, Jim
Payne and Willie Mitchell. Joe Cole,
ST., was tied separately, while ice Cole,
Jr.. and Jones. Mitchell and Payne, were
tied together. In charge of them was
Sheriff E. \. Powell, and Officer Oscar
Faulkner, of Henderson, while IN the
party were also Mr.. J. H. Bridgers, Of
Henderson, local counsel of the Seaboard
Air Line; Mr.. /. c. Felts and Mr..
Daugherty, special agents of the Seaboard
Air Line, and Mr.. R. J. Switzerland,
mayor OF Henderson, by whom the ne
grOes had been committed to Jail in
Henderson after being brought in on the
train.
Reaching the city the party went at
once to Rex Hospital, the purpose being
to have Jim Mitchell, the wounded porter,
identify the negro who shot him. 1t was
feared that Mitchell might die and his
testimony was needed to fix the identity
of the man who shot hiEl. The prisoners
were kept at the gate of the hospital,
and as word flew about the city that they
were in Raleigh a crowd rapidly col
lected.
MI. Bridgers first went to the ward in
which Mitchell lay, and from him OBJ
tanned a description of the man who
shot him and his account of the shooting.
There were q number of witnesses pres
ent, among them being Mr.. Robert NJ.
Horton, a Justice Of the Peace of
Houses Creek township, who had been
i'll in the hospital.
In his account of the events of the
shooting Mitchell said that the man who
shot him had on dark clothes and he
would recognize him. He said that
when the negroes reached the colOred
coach they were threatening Captain
Clements and pistols were drawn. That
he rushed forward and was shot by a
man whom he would recognize. That he
saw old man Cole shoot Mr.. Stevers
after he had been shot. He described
the threatening manner of the negroes,
and said that they were ready to as
sault Captain Clements. He also said
that old man Cole had said that he had
two sons.
after this testimony had been taken,
Joe Cole, Jr., and John Jones were
brought into the ward and led to the side
of the cot. Mitchell gave one glance,
pointed at the younger Cole and said:
That is the nan The accused negro
denied it, saying, Mister, l didn't do it"
and protested again and again that he
was innocent.
The two men were led from the ward,
and with the other prisoners were taken
to the city guard house, while the party
in charge Of them took supper. Food
was also given the prisoners, and about
half past ten o'clock a special left with
the party for the return trip to Hender-
son.
\ crowd that grew greater and greater
followed the men about the city and
about 200 were gathered at Johnson
Street Station when the special left.
There was no demonstration of any kind
made against the prisoners while here,
mere curiosity to see the men drawing
the crowd together.
Mr.. B~ridgers stated while here that
the second pistol had been found by the
side of the track whore Cole, Jr., had
thrown it when he rushed to the plat
form. Two chambers were empty. and
some think that there We're three shots
in ali, enc from Cole, Sr., and two from
his son.
AS viii be noticed two prisoners had
been added to the party of negroes.
4l.- I.i-r IL. I,,