The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-03-25

Immediately after the homicide Wher
made that statement ! did not know
who saw the trouble. Mr.. Simms has
ALWAYS borne a high character and his
reputation for truth has never before
been called into question. But as soon
as he made a statement which was ia
vorable to me, he became the target for
ivilihcation and abuse, probably without
parallel in this city. Men in sympathy
with the prosecution stated publicly that
he was a liar and a periurer; that he had
been bought to make the statement. And
apparently a systematic effort was made
to destroy Mr. SimmS' character. in or
der that the jury might not believe the
evidence he would give in my behalf
A man stated publicly on the sire cts
of Raleigh that if Mr. Simms said in
his presence that there was blow
struck, he would strike Mr. Simms in the
mouth Men in sympathy with the prose
cution threatened to withdraw friend
ship. business and political support from
Mr.. Smms, and some persons threatened
to leave the Tabernacle church or Sun
day school if he, Simms, was allowed TO
teach in said Sunday school All this
because he had made a statement of
what he saw and this statement was ia
vorable to me.
believe that this effort to create
public sentiment against me will be only
Temporarily successful and believe
that when the people Of the county de-
| liberate. as they will do within a short
time, they will be able and willing to ac-
cord me a fair trial according to the law
IN ici1 1Ny
about a month ago and all these publi-
cations and these statements have been
made since that time; and ! do not be
lieve the people have had time to free
; their minds from the excitement and
prejudice engendered and to give me that
dispassionate hearing which any man on
trial for his life ought to have. l am
confident. however, that by the next
term of the court I can obtain a fair
trial in Wake county.
| Fourth; The prejudice which has been
laroused against me and the denunciation
and abuse heaped upon Mr.. Simms far
making the statement favorable to me
has. | am informed and believed, deter
! red many other witnesses from giving
evidence in my behalf. l am informed by
| my attorneys and believe that, especially
since the denunciation Of Mr.. Simms by
friends of the prosecution, they have had
much difficulty in obtaining information
: from persons who We're said to have seen
the homicide.
NV attorneys were informed that Bill
Stevens knew something, and when they
lconversed with said Stevens he said that
| if he talked he would have to leave Raj
eigh.
They were informed that Charles
Turner was a witness to the homicide
When they endeavored to have a CONVEX
sation with said Turner, they We're not
able to do so. They then had a subpoena
issued for him and placed in the hands
of the Sheriff, but the Sheriff was not
able to serve it upon the said Turner be-
| cause he ran from the Sheriff and left
the city, or so concealed himself that he
could not be found. I am informed that
Turner is a material and important wit
ness in my behalf. but it appears that
some one has procured him to leave the
city or to conceal himself and not be
present at the time when l may be tried
for my life.
! Hon. Settle Dockery, a member of the
General Assembly from Richmond coun-
/
after it occurred within a few moments,
| asked colored man, whose name he did
not know. what the trouble WIS about
This colored man said he did not know
what the trouble was about, but Mr..
Skinner struck Mr.. Haywood and Mr.
Haywood shot Mr. Skinner. Mr.. Dock
cry remembers this distinctly describes
the appearance of the colored man who
made the statement but does not know
the name of the colored man; and while
! my counsel have made diligent efforts
to ascertain who this colored man is,
, they have not been able to do So Many
colored men have stated to them that
| they were afraid to talk: that this was
white folks business and they were
afraid to say anything. Some said that
they had been advised that they had
better not know anything about this
transaction. l am advised that there is
some question about the admissibility of
MIR. Dockerys testimony unless l can
produce the negro who made the state
ment to him. l have made every effort
to find who this colored man is, but !
have not up to this time succeeded, but
believe | will succeed with little more
time
The Rev. j. B. Hurley, a Methodist
minister of high character. now the pre-
siding elder of the Fayetteville district,
coming from the depot was near the
corner of Fayetteville and Martin streets
when the shots were fired. lie heard
some one ask a colored man what the
trouble was about, and a colored man
made in his hearing a similar statement
to the one made to Mr.. Dockery. l have
not been able to ascertain the name of
this colored man. l fear he has been de-
tered from speaking because he antici
pated such an attack as had been made
upon Mr.. Simms and that, not being well
known like Mr. Simms is, he was not in
position to withstand it,
Mr. Thomas Blake heard a white man
say that Mr.. Skinner and l had fought.
but my counsel have not been able to-
find out who it was that had the con-
IVersation with Mr.. Blake, and Mr.. Blake
does not know the mans name.
The Rev. d. P. Goode, of Burke coun-
,ty. living near rutherford College, was
in Raleigh at the time of the homicide,