The semi-weekly messenger., 1902-11-11
Three Negroes Put On
Trial for Their
Lives.
2 MURDER GASES
Walter Mckay and Ed. French Ar
raigned for Murder Yesterday, and
gIary-AlI Three Cases Go Over to
the January Term-Otber Cases.

Pursuant to recess on Friday even
ing, the superior court of New Hanover
county met yesterday at 10 u. m, his
honor Judge Henry r. Brysn, of New
Bern presiding.
Argument on the motion to arrest
judgment in the case OF Jim Townsend,
colored, who was convicted on Friday
excursion train on the Atlantic Coast
Line on the 25th of last August. Nessrs.
Herbert McClammy and B. G. Empie,
counsel for the defendant, on Friday
evening made a motion In arrest of
Judgment on the ground that the bill Of
indictment did not contain the word
felonious. in the allegation made as to
the offense. Townsend3 lawyers were
heard on Friday evening. and yester-
day morning Solicitor Duffy and Junius
Davis. Esq, attorney for the Atlantic
Coast Line were heard on the other
side. Judge Bryan heId that Town
sends lawyers sustained their point.
Another corrected bill Of indictment
was therefore sent t. The grand jury
January term.
Ed French, colored, charged with the
murder of Dave Armstrong colored.
October 9th, when he shot and killed
Armstrong, was brought into court and
arraigned for his life. He pleaded not
guilty and the case was continued to
the next term owing to the fact that
this term had to close yesterday.
Walter McKoy, colored, who shot and
killed Arthur Swinson. >o1ort d, on the
| 14th of August last IT his city was
! brought into court and arraneed on an
| indictment of murder. He pleaded not
guilty, and the case was continued till
| the January term.
Orange Jesse colorei. charged with
| burglary. committed on the night of the
18th of july when he entered a house
| in Chadbourn's alley, occupied by Gus
| Williams and Jesse HiIl crlored. was
| arraigned and put on trial for his life.
He pleaded not guilty und the case was
continued to the next term.
The court disposed Of other cases as
| follows:
Mortin Fuller. colored assault with a
deadly weapon. verdict guilty, sentenced
| to four months on the public roads.
! 7. r. Moran, assault with deadly
! wea Don verdict not guilty.
! John Dawson. cO'ored. larcenv. YER
dict guilty, sentenced to six months on
| the public roads.
| Rufus Pierce. convicted of assault
| with deadly weapon, sentence chang
ed from a fine Of s5 AMI costs to 80 days
! on the public roads.
| The grand jury returned q true bill
aeainst William Jones. colored. charged
| with criminal assault upon a colored
| girl at Wrightsville last summer II
will be remembered shat Jones was
] h4o
ler and DISCHARGED for lack OF evidence
The grand jury having completed its
/ work for the term, made the followiuo
report and was discharged.
| 1--WE have disposed of all the cases
which have come before us and giver
as much time as possible to now bust
| ness. havin~ sent up IS true bills. and
| six not true. We have had before us
a paper from many property owners
! asking that the owners OF certain p-op.
! erty rented for alleged immoral pur.
poses be prosecuted. but in The limited
| time at our disposaI haze not been able
to conclude our Investigation, and have
therefore returned the COMPLAINT with
| a llet Of witnesses
"A committee from the grand Jury
has inspected the Jail ana the court
| house. The committee oalls attention
to the condition of the faucets in the
! jail: to the walls which are dlsco'ored
to the ceiling of the basement: to al
| of which attention has here+ ofore beer
called The committee also calls at
| tention TO the fact that there is a tir
shop in the Jail. whether by permission
| of the county authorities or not they
| cannot say. In other rese poets as tc
| food etc. the condition is good.
'As to the court house, the basement
is Uttered with old furniture election
| boxes and unclaimed PROPERTY and
therefore dirty and unkept. We recon-
mend that the material be placed ir
some one room in orderly condition
| We find two holes cut TIL ou;:h founda
tion walls under each entrance and re
| commend that they be closed. We fine
the northeast room damn on floor
| CO used from water corrino un throrrl
the cement floor. The Offices we fine
| on first floor in good condition and vel
| kept. except the walls IN office Il
! SUPERINTENDENT If education which are
dfscolored by water trorI c.csets over
head. Plunbine on this floor in 1000
condition. We find closet in yard in :
| condition needing attention to doors anC
| frame which are rotten Ashes frorr
the furnace are scattered over the yard
| They should ha deposit ad in cne NO o.
or used to make walk to the closet
We find that cow s pastuTed in tn
court house lot, which leaves the vart
in filthy condition. This should r.
ahated and the yard. which, is in full
view of the public. cleanad uD.
I'VE recommend thai blankets b.
furnished to prisoners m iail.
"Respe ctfulIy
Grand Jury for November Term,
WALTER G. MacR'E Foreman"
The court then adjourned for tn,
} term. and Judge Bryan lefr for hom,
yesterday at 2:25 D. m.
|