The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-06-26
WILSON MURDER TRIAL.
State Witnesses Testify Mostly as to
the C~haraete of the Defendants
Interest Not so Great as Formerly.
Especial TO The Messenser.)

Especial TO The Messenser.)
Wilson. y. c.. June 2A~--Today's sas-
sion Of the court has been taken ~
for tho O part with the eXaminatioE
of character witnesses by the defense.
The session Of the court today has not
aroused the interest heretofore exhibit
ed IN the trial
Sat Johnson, being SEEN, said: Il
am from Fremont. and am one OF the
County, commissioners Of Wayne coun-
~. ! know Gill Ward ana his general
character is good. On cross~eXamina-
tioa by Ir. Spruill it was brought out
that N-tpeSs was on Wards bond al
one time. He said he knew Ward kdG
been charged with mur ny If a negr1
"hO live: with i'm. 1t was also brought
cut n al witness knew that there wa;
4 general fulnor that Ward was Il fugI-
tive from justice n a reward was Of
fered for him. Witness said when
Ward was en- trial for his life before
That ne Iui Up the mo1ay for lis de-
Tense. H" sad further hal Wards
character was nOt good when he was
drinkIrg."
At the request Of Mr.. :. i. Woodland
defendants counsel were allowed 10 L.
tir,. for I -cw minutes for conSulta-
ton.
E. ]. Barnes. a lawyer, was put on
by the defense. He said he was a part
ner OF the solicitor and was retained by
Piver.
Q. Was there a proposition made to
you by the SOLICITOR"
The state objected and the jury was
taken from the room. Mr.. F. a. Wood
ard stated to the court that a PROPOSE
ton was made by the solicitor to MI.
Barnes that if Piver and w. w. Barnes
would turn states evidence against the
others that the case against him would
be mol pressed. Mr.. F. A. Woodland SAID
it was their object to show that w. W.
Barnes went to Mr.. UzzelI at the sug-
gestion of his attorney, Mr.. E. J.
Barnes. Witness said that he had never
talked with w. w. Barnes, but with
Jeff Barnes, brother to defendant
Barnes. Witness said that his GEE
v~e"satlon took place several days after
tEC killing and that nothing ,:a!le cut
81 the time and so he thought the mat
ter was closed and did ECt learn otnar-
wise until w. w. Barnes was rat on
the stand en- Monday.
The court ruled that the evidence va
competent in so far as it came from
jeff Barnes to his brother, w. W.
Barnes, and hat 1t was evident that
defendant Barnes made his confession
III q "Oii 1 pS14IA t!IoS In "oNAA
not be prosecuted.
Mr.. Spruill stated to the court that a
conference with the states counsel had
been requested by Mr.. S. A. Woodland.
Permission was granted by the court
for a consultation. After this consulta-
ton a been IN progress for n time
there was a full conference held be-
tween all of the defendants counsel.
After the consultation was over the
jury was brought back into the room
and witness Barnes stated to the jury
hat the solicitor made the proposition
that if these men. PIver and Barnes
wanted to make a confession that they
would be taken care of. Witness said
he communicated to Mr.. Jeff Barnes the
proposition of the solicitor.
j. l. Morgan, being sworn, aid Il
have been working in the oil mill,
know w. H. Rich, have known him for
a year. I have seen in his possession
a black jack. I vent with Rich the day
previous to the killing to a barbecue,
given by Mr.. John D. Davis. Rich car
ried some cartridges in his pocket tc
the picnic and the gun was shot while
there. These We're 3S-calibre cartridges.
l know Mr.. Rich's character and it is
good. 1 went to Rich's room a few
days after the shooting and found his
pistol there and 1t was loaded"
John D. Davis, of Elm City. being
sworn. said: Il am manager of Cot
ton Oil Company here. l know W. H.
Rich, ave seen IN his possession a
black jack. Saw 1t in his possession
about March. l was at a picnic on
Tuesday before the homicide. He mad Il
pistol, which was shot on his occasion.
I went to Rich's room a few days after
the killing. The pistol found in his
room was loaded in all chambers. the
cartridges were c%orroded. l have
known w H. Rich for a year and know
Rlch's general character to be good"
z. H. Osborne, being sworn. said: Il
work at the Wilson cotton mills. w. H.
Rich works there. IA seen a black
jack IN his possession. Have seen his
black jack since January. / know Mr..
Rich general characted to be good
On account Of a material witness Of
the defense being absent temporarily
the taking of evidence by the state was
taken up in order to AVOID a loss Of
time.
J.. NJ. Leach. proprietor of the Racket
Store, was called by the state. He said:
II was in my bed room in the Racket
Store building On the night Of the homi-
eide, and was awakened by the firing
of a gun. | heard a noise about the
time I awcke. There was a firing Of a
gun followed by pistol shots. l heard
considerable walking after the shoot
ing. l went to my window near the
Friar building. saw two men standing
near the entrance of the Friar building,
one of these 1 recognized as Policeman
Snakenberg. He turned and came down
Goldsboro street very hurriedly. The
officer on being old that there was
some one hurt UP stairs turned around
and went up the steps IN the Friar
building. I then went into my hall.
which overlooks the hall in the Friar
building. I stood in my hall for some
time. l saw a la come down the hall
in the Frlar building and stop and say,
Hello boys, what is the racket. This
man then turned and came down the
steps. 1 then went into my and
saw this man come down INTO the
street and walk down Goldsboro street.
I did not recognize this a He was
a medium size man. A man whom /
took to be his same man. came back
up street and stopped to talk with Mr..
Clark. Mr.. Clark said this dying mans
testimony ought to be taken. when the