The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-05-19
Five Are Allowed Bail.

tFrom News and Observer, May 1lth.)
Wilson, n. c., May 16.-Again a day
vivid in the intenseness of the terrible SIT
uation in Wilson has passed.
It's centres were the county jail in
| which eleven men charged as con-
J spirators in an atrocious murder, in the
court house where an appeal for bail was
made and in the mayors office where
policeman were discharged and suspended.
The net result of the days work is that
five prisoners were granted bail, these be-
ing Sam J. Walls, w. P. Groom, Lawrence
Morgan, John Pittman and j. T. Bass,
while w. H. Rich, J. B. Tiver, Gill ID.
Ward, John Allen, w. w. Barnes and
| George Whitley are still held. In city
affairs Policeman w. p. Snakenburg has
| been discharged for gross neglect of duty,
Policeman Frank FELTON, suspended for
ten days, and night railroad Waterman
Pete Nichols disrobed of police power.
! 1t was at ten O'Clock when the curtain
on the days proceedings was rung up. At
this time, Mr.. S.. A. WOodard, one of the
attorneys for the defence in the murder
of T. Percy Jones addressed Judge Geo.
H.. Brown, informing him that it was
desired to make application for bail in the
case of the men indicted. He stated that
in the case Of S. j. Walls. whose wife Is
related to Judge Browns family. the bail
would be asked on habeas corpus proceed
ings before Associate Justice Conner.
Judge Brown agreed to hear the appli-
cation and ordered that the men in Jail
be brought into court, as their presence
was necessary. Officers left for them and
there was a long pause. In this time the
large court room filled up rapidly, until
every seat was occupied, and men were
in the a%isles, and leaning at the railing
about the judicial reservation.
Then entered the men in charge OF of
fcers. Only John Allen was not present.
as he is the wounded man and was not
in a condition to leave his cot and come
into the court. The men looked haggard
and worn, and their unshaven faces added
to their looks of suspense. White haired.
grey haired and younger men were in the
crowd which sought some relief from the
terrible Indictment of murder.
BAIL FOR FOUR.
Then Mr.. S. A. Woodard presented the
application for bail, but not for ten or
eleven men. He asked that this be allow
ed w. P. Groom, Lawrence Morgan, John
Pittman and J. T.. Bass stating that
Tile IeSulU VI tHc oOIOueI > luQueSG WAS
not such as to connect these men or S. J.
Walls, with the murder. He asked that
the court hear the evidence taken before
the coroner, as this was the same heard
by the grand jury. This was agreed to
; and Mr.. Woodland read part of this, CIV
ing way to Solicitor G. c.. Daniels, who
read the latter part.
The reading of the evidence taken before
the coroner's jury being completed Solici-
tor Daniels stated that he desired to in
troduce a witness not heard by that
jury. call Mr.. T.. ]. ,Hadley, Jr," he
said to Sheriff Sharp.
But Mr.. Hadley was not in the crowded
court room and a subpoena was issued
for him. Shortly after he arrived in
court, was sworn and took the stand.
He testified that on the night of the
murder he saw W. w. Barnes and J. B..
Plver IN front of brakes bar-room on
Goldsboro street about 1870. Later on he
saw Sam Walls on Goldsboro street and
! also saw Geo. Whitley several times. About
eleven O'Clock he saw Sam Walls and
Lawrence Morgan also. He saw Sam
Walls go towards the Fryar building with
some man he did not know, but did not
see him go in it. He saw Lawrence Nor
gan go towards the building, but not
! into it.
Judge Brown asked to have the verdict
of the coroner's jury read. This charged
the murder of Jones to w. P. Groom, John
I Allen, George Whitley, G. D. Ward. j. 3.
Piver, w. w. Barnes, w. H. Rich and
their accomplices. Judge Brown said that
Groom was indicted in both the verdict
of the coroner's jury and the grand jury.
l Mr.. s. A. Woodland argued that Groom
had not been identified with any trouble
except a previous quarrel with Jones about
cOn1n pSpp orl that Tho
read did not connect him with the kill
ing of Jones. He asked that he and the
men he had named be granted bail.
Judge Brown said that it was in the
province of the court only to bali as the
men were under an Indictment for murder
by the grand jury. If there had only been
the verdict of the coroner's jury the case
would have been in a different aspect.
the question being one not of trial, but
of application for bail.
CORONER's JURY ENUMERATED.
1t was his conviction, he stated, that
upon slight evidence the grand jury had
presented some of the men and that the
lcoroner's jury had exonerated them, these
being Walls, Morgan, Bass and Pitt
man. In view of the action of the coro-
ner's jury and the evidence read he said
that he would allow bail, and that if it
was not for the bill of Indictment of TIE
grand jury he would discharge the men
for whom bail was asked, repeating that
the coroner's jury had exonerated them.
In this generation Mr.. S. ]. Wall was
included.
Mr.. Woodland urged that a small bond
be required as the men were poor. Judge
Brown said that he thought $4,000 apiece
was what should be given. He also said
that he would suggest to the Governor
that a special term of court be held to
hear the case, and not wait for the Sen
tpmbpr Tern, IF cou,t TLat tho or;,;,.,