The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-09-18
ASSASSINATION OF MIR. SIMMONS.
The New Bern Journals Account
of This Dastardly Murder.

Never before in this section n par
lticularly Jones county, where the trag-
tedy occurred, has there been such ex-
tcitement as when, on Sunday. it was
Learned that Mr.. Furnifold G.. Sim
imons, father of United States Senator
IF. NJ. Simmons had been murdered.
The discovery of the old gentleman's
body in a secluded place on his farm,
Sunday morning was the cause of
ldeep gloom settling owe the whole
community, for Mr.. Simmons was uni
Jversally respected.
Mr.. Simmons was averSe TO having
iany one unit on his farm and several
Years ago had posted notices around
1.-THE place to the effect that hunting
Twas forbidden. Last Friday morning
Ihe heard shooting along the river on
Ibis land near the Quaker bridge. He
Invent in search Of the trespasser and
Isaw some one shooting squirrels but
Twas unable to tell who it was or his
lcolor as he was in q, thick under
lgrowth or shrubbery. The man kept
himself concealed and though Mr..
lSimmons hailed him he got no answer.
Ion returning he mentioned the trouble
The had to locate the pOacher.
Again on Saturday morning shooting
Twas heard in about the same locality
and Mr.. Simmons got his gun and
lstarted in the direction of the shoot
ling determined to forcibly put an end
to the poaching. This was the last
thine he was seen alive.
Nothing was thought Of the fact that
Mr.. Simmons failed to appear at din
ner but at supper time his absence
Icaused alarm. 1t was supposed that
Ihe had gone to Pollocksville to inspect
a lot of his tenants cotton. When he
Hailed to appear later in the day and
lon finding that he had not been to
lPollocksville, friends became alarmed
land searching parties were organized.
They were at work until late at night
land were unsuccessful Early Sunday
morning the search was renewed and
THE party found his body about SC
yards from the river bank and LOG
yards from the Quaker bridge. The
lgun he carried was found 80 feet dis
liant ready to shoot. This would indi-
lcate hat he dragged himself the full
distance between the gun and the
body in his desperate attempt to get
Ito the road.
It is said that cries of distress We're
heard Saturday morning in the neigh
Iborhood Of Quaker bridge which imme-
ldiately succeeded the gun shot The
lcries were heard for more than an
hour. It was thought probable that
The had lived until early night. He
had unfastened his clothing IN his~en-
ldeavor to get relief.
His body was perforated with No.
ishot and they were found all over the
body from the neck to the abdomen,
lNo other injury was discovered except
a slight bruiSe or the head which might
have been caused by falling,
The affair caused great excitement
lin the little community of Mr.. Sim
mons home, known is oliver. and also
lin Pollocksville. Sheriff TAYLOR was
Immediately notified and he vas soon
on the scene and organized a posse.
Suspicion was at once directed to a
negro named Alfred Daniels. He had
lbeen known to hunt on the forbidden
property and also to bid definance to
Mr.. Simmons, saying he vas going to
hunt where he damned pleased. h
had been seen skulking around the
place and other circumstances pointed
TO his guilt.
The negro was surprised by the
sheriff who was armed and had his
lposse with him but he attempted to
draw his pistol and shoot The sheriff.
He was quickly disarmed n placed
under arrest. He offered no further
resistance however.
1t is said that Daniels had an ac-
Icomp1ice named King and that he had
run off after the tragedy. the police
lin this city were instructed .ast night
Ito be on the look out for him as it was
Expected he was enroute from Pollocks-
lville to New Bern on a boat.
The fellow Daniels is a most danger
Gus and desperate negro. Some years
ago he had a fight with another col
ored man in Pollocksville and cut him
lin a fearful manner. Daniels left the
country for several years AMI recently
came ack to Pollocksville. He has
Iloafed and hunted in the vicinity OF
the Simmons farm eve since his re-
turn.
The coroner's jury held an inquest
NEARLY all day Monday and many wit
nesses were examined. The verdict
was that "Furnifold G.. Simmons came
to his death by a gun III wound il
the hands Of one Alfred Daniels"
Mr.. Simmons was IS years of age and