The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-04
The Sentence Was Fifteen
Years Imprisonment,
THE WOUNDED NEGRO TAKEN 70 NORFOLK
The Man Who Fired the Shot Gives
Himself Up. Despite Troops Station
ed Around the Edent0n Jail Would
be Lynchers Had Begun to Dig Un-
der the Walls When They Were
Stopped and Driven Back.
Especial to News and Observer


Suffolk, Va, April 3.-Having lived
through a tempestuous night, during
portions of which his life seemed to
hang by thread, Thomas Early, the as
sailant of Miss Perry, l6-years-old, was
guarded through hurried trial and or
dered from Edenton, n. c., to a place of
more security, only to be shot down on
the train when hardly beyond range of
the towns church steeples.
The trial itself, according to official
time, only occupied seven minutes and
twenty seconds. judge Jones, who late
ly said the words which meant Jim Will
coxs death, sentenced Early to fifteen
years, the maximum penalty in North
Carolina, unless the object be accom-
pIishcd.
Miss Perry was one of the five wit
nesses before the grand jury. Realizing
that citizens might seek Early's death in
Edenton, Judge Jones ordered him taken
to Bertford Jail.
Walking between civil officers and in
the hollow square of a military company,
Early reached the station safe, and en-
tering the forward smoking coach, took
a seat. Immediately behind him SGT
Deputy Robinson, while Sheriff Baker
was standing in the aisle. When the
train had been moving a short time,
Smith, a small, niddle-aged man, Tho
was two seats behind the prisoner, drew
a pistol anG 8. s5 lnree times in quick
succession at I arly's head. The only
ball which toC effect entered between
the ear and sr.cal column and came out
of the left Tlple.
Smiths f:,8.lade was cut short by
Sheriff Bak. :, who grabbed him from
behind. sLa;oted the gun and hurled him
to the cs- y.
"Sheri / surrender said Smith.
''The wi didn't stick to me. but
have lcnc my Cuty''
y! c coz Gctor was ordered to stop his
trt ;,nC back to Edenton, where Smith
was ]rncJ over to the officers. The
rcIr;ed ran bleed freely, but the
b.o-d vas stayed temporarily with
IaE..,IC chief
lrlCly instead of being stopped at FIert-
fciI. was taken to Norfolk. Va, where
Re was put under a doctors care at the
Jail. He will recover.
Early told Sheriff Baker to collect and
keep SIC he had coming in wages. He
said nc word while being shot at
There was ducking Of passengers
heads while the shooting was goine, on
The two bullets which went wild spent
themselves harmlessly against the seats
and hard sides of the coach. No passcn-
ger was hurt. The shooting happened
just before 2 O'Clock.
One of the officers said tonight none of
the passengers offered to help Smith
while they were seeking to stop The
shooting. When searched it was found
Smith had a belt of cartridges ard a
bottle o fwhiskey besides his revolver.
Whatever may be said of Smith, most
people here are commencing his nerve
in trying to single handed to avenge
Miss Perry's honor. Because of his
numerous friends here i. is not believed
Smith will be punished severely. Before
the train reached Norfolk the switching
off of freight car made much noise by
Takng the whole side of the passenger
train and the officers thought at first
the wreckers had made an attempt
Many people think Early is better off
in Norfolk wounded than in a nearby
North Carolina prison. Officers say it
was a hazardous situation all last night
to save Early for trial, and they don't
want 70 have the same ordeal again
Public sentiment favors Earlys death.
There were present all but one mem
Der of the military company and their
guns were loaded. double line of
pickets were about the building and
avenues of approach were guarded.
Though some OF the soldiers were mere |
boys, it was said in Edenton they would
shoot more quickly than the men. Not
withstanding the vigilance of an officer
and soldiers the crowd managed to reach
the building and had dug hole near the |
foundation before they were driven back. !
Later all the lanterns procurable in
town were hung about the jail.
Asked how it was managed to keep the
crowd at bay all night. one officer said |
bluff counted for a great deal.
The officers and soldiers are much |