The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-06-30
GOLDSBORO NEWS ITEMS.
Especial to The Messenger.)

GOldSbOTO, June 26.-Our neighboring
town of Dudley, nine miles south of
this city on the Atlantic Coast Line,
mas come forward with a sensational
shooting ARRAY which will entitle that
usually quiet and peaceful village to
some distinction. Two men were shot
and one of them rather seriously. Mr..
{. A. Spruill, the agent Of the railroad
received a pistol bail in his side which
has lodged in his abdomen and may
cause serious complications. n other
MAJ who was shot is Mr.. J.. Kornegay.
an innocent spectator who had nothing
to do with the fuss. He received an
ugly flesh wound in his right arm and
local physicians attended to his case,
but Mr.. Spruill was sent to the rail-
road hospital at Rocky Mount for
treatment Mr.. j. NJ. B. Fields, a son
of Mr.. w. 3. Fields. of tina town, did
the shooting. All the principals in the
affair are Dudley people
Soon after the shooting took place
the n~OrthbOund passenger train came
along and Mr.. Spruill was put on the
train to be carried TO the hospital.
When the tram reached this city the
reporter got aboard and found Mr..
Spruill reclining on a seat in the smoker
of the first class coach He looked pale
n talked somewhat feeble which was
the result of loss of blood, which was
slowly oozing from the wound in his
side. In response to a question as to
what caused the difficulty he said:
About a week ago Fields told a
falsehood on me, l do not care to state
what the falSehOod was or what it was
! about. At II o'clock this morning
while the local freight was standing
at the depot Fields walked into my Of
flee. When l approached him intending
to thrash him or make him retract his
| statement he did not give me time or
opportunity to strike him, but pulled
his pistol from his pocket and began
firing. The first shot struck me in the
side. ! grabbed hold of his left arm
and be fired again. the second shot
striking Mr.. J.. Kornegay on the arm.
/ turned loose and ran toward the
| door. He fired again but the ball went
wild. l then ran into the freight room
and Fields fired at me again. but
| Captain Jones, of the freight train. had
reached Fields by that time and knock
ed his arm up. The ball went through
the top of the depot. AS soon as Fields
left | went in and telegraphed the COM
pany to send a man in my place. l
learned while 1 was getting on the
tram that Policeman Hatch had arrest
ed Fields
The death of Mr.. John Parks. a for
mer merchant Of this city. occurred
yesterday afternoon at the home of his
father. Mr.. Amaziah Parks in this
county. He was 50 years old and was
a man of good habits. honorable in his
dealings and true to his friends. Since
he retired from the mercantile business
he had travelled over the counties OF
eastern Carolina selling family medi-
cines y had made himself well
known. His untimely death was
brought about under peculiar circum-
ances. Some time last winter he was
out driving all day in q cold rain and
contracted neuralgia which settled on
his BRAIN. For some months he was
confined to his home and unable &c
leave the house. To all appearances
his general health was good. but ne
could not walk and could lot support
his head. About one month ago his
mind became unbalanced and he was
sent to the hospital at Morganton. IT
his harmless condition he was allowed
the freedom Of the premises and rar
away n came back home. He was
picked up o the streets of his city
late at night about ten days ago just
after his return from Morganton. He
was sent out to the home of his faith
er. where he continued 20 grow worse
until yesterday afternoon when he died,
The funeral viii be held tomorrow at
ternoon at 4 o'clock from the home and
the inteTment made in the family bury
ing ground.