The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1903-09-17
FOULLY MURDERED.
Father of Senator Simmons Meets
With Tragic Death Near His Home
in Jones County-Negro r1an Ar
rested Charged With the Crime.
r. NJ Philips in Raleigh Post.

Pollocksville, N. c., Sept. 14.-Hon.
F. G. Simmons, father of United
States Senator +. NJ. Simmons and
owner and proprietor OF a large
landed estate five miles from this
place, was murdered in a dense
wooded game preserve on his place
Saturday morning. The crime is
one of the most dartardly and bru-
tai in the history of Jones county.
The scene of the murder is about a
half mile from the Simmons home
stead, in thick wood extending
down to the South bank OF Trent
river. The body was found Sunday
morning about eight O'Clock. A
load of No. 4 shot had entered his
left breast
A negro named Alfred Daniels, alias
Moses Hardin, has been arrested and
is in jail at Trenton awaiting the
finding of the coroner's jury, which is
in session this afternoon at the Sim
mons home. The officers are after
another negro, Dump King, who is
suspected of completely in the muir
der
Mr.. Simmons heard shooting early
Saturday morning in the direction
of Trent river where squirrels abound.
His land was posted and he was jeal-
Gus in protecting his game, especial
ly at this season of the year. Heleft
his house to warn off the hunter, tax
ing with him his gun. He had been
absent some time when a single shot
was heard. Not long thereafter some
of the tenants on the plantation
heard some one calling, but could
not make out what was wanted.
Mr.. Simmons intended coming to
Pollocksville that morning to sell
some cotton, and as he did not re-
turn to the house before noon it was
thought he had come to this place.
A man was sent here, and not find
ing him a searching party was Or
| ganized in the afternoon. Night
came on and the party disbanded,
thinking perhaps Mr.. Simmons had
gone to New Bern. No tidings came
and early Sunday morning the search
ing party started out again with the
result that the body was found as
described.
| The coroner convened Jury yes
terday and began taking evidence.
The negro Daniels was arrested at
half-past two O'Clock in the after
noon and was carried to Jail. He re-
sisted arrest and was forced to sur
render at the point of a gun in the
hands of Sheriff Taylor
There is strong evidence against
Daniels and lynchingis feared. There
is large crowd about the Simmons
home and Senator Simmons is per
sonally pleading with the people to
use every means in their power to
pre- vent a lynching. When | left the
Simmons place late this afternoon
many prominent citizens we're there
and while the feeling was running
high Sheriff Taylor and Chairman
Bell of the board of county commits
sioners expressed the belief that nc
violence would be attempted. The
coroner's jury was still in session.
VERDICT OF CORoNER's JURY.
New Bern, N. c., Sept. 14.-Tht
cnrOner's Jury. in the case of F
u. Simmons, who was murdered Sat
urday in Jones county, reached {
verdict at $50 o'clock. The verdict
was that Mr.. Simmons came to his
death from wounds inflicted by par
ties unknown to the jury, but circnm
stauces are so linked pointing to thu
probable guilt Of Alf Daniels, lie j:
hereby ordered into the custody 0
the sheriff to be placed in jail without
bail.