The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-09-19
WHITE BROTHERS
STORY OF TRAGEDY
Sheriff. Was Advancing on
Them, They Say.
A PLEA OF SELF ENCE
Il is Stated That Sheriff. Declared He Had
Ruined Other Girls ard Asked Why
He Should Marry This
One.
Especial to News and Observer

Especial to News and Observer
Salisbury, N. c., Sept 1S-The circum-
stances connected with the killing on yes
terday of Russell Sheriff. at his home, at
Mt. Ulla. twelve miles from this place,
continue to be the topic of conversation,
though no new facts with reference to
the case have developed Coroner Dor
sett went to the scene of the shooting
last night and the jury decided today
that Sheriff. came to his death by pistol
shots fired by Messrs Thomas j. aud
Chalmers l.. White, of Concord, these men
being unces of Miss Annie White, who
had been ruined by Sheriff. The White
brothers are still in Rowan county Jail
pending preliminary hearing. which will
be arranged for upon the arrival of Solicit
tor Hammer. who has been summoned
here by Judge Brown. who is now holding
court at this place. The slayers have en-
ployed Senator Lee S. Overman, Congress-
man Theo. F. Kluttz, of Salisbury and
Judge W. j. Montgomery, of Concord, as
counsel and the latter have given out a
statement indicating that a plea of self
defense will be made.
Sheriff., who was twenty-five years
old. son of the late A. E. Sheriff., was
one of the most prominent young men in
the county and had considerable property
1t is reported that he admitted having
ruined other girls and that he did not
marry any of them, and saw no reason
why he should be made to marry Miss
White whom he had recently deceived.
The mother of the young man was the
only eye witness to the tragedy except
the White Brothers. The latter are we'll
to do business men and are highly re-
spected at Concord, and this is the first
trouble either has ever had. They felt
it their duty to protect the honor of their
orphan niece who had been deceived.
The following is detailed story of the
tragedy:
The first intimation received in Sails,
bury of the shooting was when several
residents of the Mt. Ulla neighborhood
came to Salisbury and announced that Mr.
Sheriff. had been killed and that two men
driving team belonging to Ludwick and
Black had shot him. Shortly afterward
the team was seen coming into Salisbury
and the occupants of the buggy, Messrs
Chalmers and Thomas White We're arrest
ed by Deputies Rice, Krider and Sloop at
Ludwick and Blacks livery stable. They
offered no resistance and both turned
over pistols to the officers. They were
taken to Sheriff Julians office and at once
communicated with friends by wire
A great crowd of curious persons, anxi
Gus to learn the particulars of the affair.
thronged around them. They were taken
to the sheriff's office, however, and Hons
Lee S. Overman and Theo. F. Kluttz
whom they employed to represent them,
were shortly in consultation.
said:
Yesterday our clients received a letter
from their sister-in-law, Mrs. James
Archey, who was first married to James
White. The letter read:
Annie is ruined. My God! what shall
do. Please come at once These gen
tlemen being the uncles and male protec
tors of the Annie referred to (whose
father and mother are both dead) i'm
mediately hired a team from Brown
Brothers and drove to the home of their
sister law, where they spent the night.
They found both Mrs. Archey and Miss
White in great distress. This morning
about six o'clock they went to the home
of Mr. Sheriff., who had seduced their
niece under promise of marriage and az
forwards refused to marry her and con-
asked him to marry her and he said that
he would die first. He stated that he had
seduced other girls and there had been no
trouble. They still insisted that he marry
her. He started towards Chalmer IN
a threatening attitude. Both the White
boys retreated to the end of the porch
and told him to sit down and reason
about the matter; that all they asked
was that he marry Miss White. Sheriff.
continued to advance in threatening
attitude and both Chalmers and Tom
White fred
The only witness outside the principals
IN the affair was Mrs. A. E. Sheriff., the
aged mother of the deceased young man.
who, when the shots were fired, threw
herself upon the body of her son.
No statement has been secured from her
with reference to the matter
They were not Indifferent to their sit
uatlon, not unconcerned-but expressing
sense of justification over their deed
Both shot Mr.. Sherrill-they admit this
The younger of the two shot once. the
elder twice. When the tragedy was en-
acted the two men jumped in their bug
gy and drove to Salisbury. Several neigh
bors of the Sherrills quickly mounted
horses, some of them overtaking the
Whites, who stated that they We're not
attempting to escape, but were coming to
Salisbury to surrender themselves