The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1903-03-26
A TERRIBLE CRIME.
A Negro Shoots a Tan and a Young
Lady

Reidsy!lle. Spe1ial.-One of the
darkest crimes In the annals Of Rock
ingham county was committed in the
Carmel section. about five miles from
Reidsville Thursday night John Broad
max. negro boy about lG years old.
killed Mr. Sidney Blair, a most estlm-
able citizen Of that section an
wounded Miss Sallie Walker. who was
a school teacher and housckecper for
Mr.. Blair. Miss Walker was shot in
three different places.
DETAILS OF THE CRIME.
About dark. while Mr. Blair and his
niece. Miss Walker. were at supper.
the negro, John Broadnax. entered the
house. and engaged in a conversation
with Mr.. Blair. without warning he
drew his pistol and fred upon them.
Mr.. Blair was killed almost instantly
two balls taking effect. One entered
at the collar bone and the other pierced
the bowels. He fell heavily to the floor.
MISS Walker was wounded at three
Inherent places, one bali taking effect
Just under the skin of the neck.
another went through the muscle of
the arm, while Still another grazed the
me arm, while sui another grazed the
realizing that the pistol chamber was
empty Miss Walker rushed on the
negro and pushed him through the
door, barring it, and placed quilt IN
derneath the PROSTATE form Of her
uncle, removed her shoes and left the
building to notify the neighbors. who
rushed to the scene.
when they arrived at the scene of
the crime the negro was found in the
Kitchen in the act of Dillaging the
room. He was ordered to surrender and
ne dld without resisting He was taken
unaWares, as he had thought both his
victims had died from their wounds,
When they arrived his pistol was found
10 have been reloaded, and but for the
prompt action of the gentleman who
rushed in on him and thereby excit-
ing him he could and probably would
rave made his escape.
The news Of the horrible crime
| quickly spread to the adjoining farm
and within short time the premises
were crowded with people. The negro
MADE full confession and stated that
he was told by another party to COM
NIT the deed and that it was his in
tention to search the premises for
money and valuables. He thought he
had succeeded in killing both of the
inmates Of the home, and was sur
prised when he had time to realize that
| he was In the hands of the people who
would not permit him to leave.
About the time Deputy Sheriff John
Z. Faucette arrived there was talk
among those who had gathered which
| indicated that there was danger of the
negro being murdered.
TWO or three suggested that the evil
dence was cOnclusive-that the nego's S
confession made doubt Impossible; that
there was chance of his. afcape, but
they were promptly told that this
would not do.
Il know your faces" said Deputy
Sheriff Faucette. "If you harm him or
permit him to be harmed | will have
you everyone arrested he added. This
! Quleted those who were in the crowd
Mr.. j. ID. Glass was summoned to help
take the prisoner to jail and he and
Deputy Faucette had placed him be-
| hind the prison bars before midnight
Mr.. Blair was perhaps ABOUT sixty
years old. He was a native Of Pittsvl-
| vania county, Va. and had only ut On
a resident of this county about ten
years. His niece, Miss Sallie Walker
was his hOusekeeper, and taught school
in the neighborhood. She was about q
years old, and was devoted to her ageC
uncle. Her remarkable nerve an! pres
ence of mind have been the sub Iect Ui
general commit on the streets anC
elsewhere.
The home of Mr.. Blair was robbed OF
about $50 recently, and officers have
been trying to locate the perpetua ol
of that crime. BroadnaX passed
through Reidsville and several people
assert that he had number O.
watches, new clothes and two or three
valises. He left the Carmel section
where he had been working as a farm
labOrer for some time about the time
the money was missed from MI. Blair's
home. 1t is almost certain that he go
the money at that time and returned
to get what iewelry and other valu
ables he could find on the place.
A message has been received from
Governor Aycock stating that he ha:
ordered a special term Of Rockingham
Superir Court to try BroadnaX.