The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-14

he. accompanied by w. a. j. Soles
Chester Watkins and Henry Ellison,
had taken Edmondson to the ruins of
the SOles' home and there had found
as previously described by
Edmondson, save the pile of rails, under !
which he had hid while label vas
wreaking death and destruction, and the
sail. from which the corn been was ob-
tanned, but there were evidences. mainly
a burned skeleton, that showed that
the latter had existed. The keg of
whiskey. as mentioned by E~dmondson
In his testimony Saturday. was found
ard around the bung was drapped a
tori. portion of Edmonson's handker-
chief. Several cans that had at one
time contained potted ham had been
found, he said, at the site Of where
Edmondson and label lac camped and
which site was easily recognizable by
tie partly burned tree stump described
by EdmOndson.
The witness then told Of the discovery
of the gun which H. B. Register had
given Edmondson to shoot TOon and
which Edmondson had hidden. He
said EdmOndson has told him where to
find it, but that he had not found it
there, though it was found later in that
vicinity. The gun was probably in
court.
ADVISED TO CONFESS.
On cross-eXammination the witness
said hat Edmondson, the day after his
preliminary trial, was visited in the
jail by his brother, who mad just return
ed from South Carolina. The brother
said;
Gross, if you are innocent stand to
it and go on the gallows. If you are
guilty 1 am satisfied there are others
in the murder, so tell it and let some
one else share your trouble
Cross, he said, commenced to cry and
then made a full confession in the pres
ence of himself, Mr.. SchuIken, who was
sent for, Tailor Benton and others.
WAS DRESSED AS A WOMAN.
The witness admitted that Edmond
son had mmasqueraded as a woman
when carried back to the scene of the
murder, but stated that it was lone as
a matter of protection to the prisoner.
MURDERED MANS GUN.
The gun alleged to have been given
to E~dmOndson by H. B. Register and
which was recovered and produced in
court, was identified as having been
owned by Jesse Soles, n of the muir
dered men. The Identification was
made by J. J. A. McCumby, who. by a
file mark, identified the gun as one he
had old Jesse SOles seven years ago.
WAS A BLIND TIGER.
By cross-exammination of the witness
by counsel for the defence showed that
a blind tiger" had been conducted at
SnIpS' hn1Sa Tho u-;--o-- .,,;t.1I L,,-
ing purchased whiskey there frequently
ard that the whiskey was obtained
either out of a jug of keg, which were
kept in an clubhouse,
A WOMAN IN THE CASE.
Then ounsel tried to show that there
had been a woman in the case.
The witness was asked if he knew if
a woman had lived with Jesse Soles at
his house before Jime StaIey arrived on
the scene?
The states counsel objected to the
question and the defendants counsel
was asked the porpose of such a
query.
Ex-United States District Attorney
Bernard of counsel for the defendants.
stated that it was desired to show that
a woman had i've with Jesse Soles,
but when Staley went to the house TO
live a difficulty arose and the woman
left. By reason of that fact. he said.
it was proposed to show a motive III
other parties to commit the murder.
The objection was sustained and the
exception noted.
WITNESSES RECALLED.
Cross Edmondson was recalled n
testified that he had hidden the gun
given him by H. B. Register in a log
near a certain road and that he had
told Melton Bowen where 1t was ana
asked him to hid it in a more secret
place.
Melton Bowen was recalled and cor
roborated HI Edmondson had said
about the gun n stated that he, and
his brother. had found it, but lao not
disturbed it
w. A. J. SoleS was also recalled and
corroborated EdmOndson about the
statement he had made 70 H. B. Reg
lister relative TO Jim Staley having
0 n and which statement II. B.
Register repeated to Edmondson when