The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-05-19

yards from him; instead a messenger
was sent for two men who were on
duty our squares away.
Perry Taylor, a saloon man, was
then called. He testified that he rooms
in the Frye building and was awaken
ed by a shot from a gun and the
breaking open Of a doc Immediately
after he heard three shots. followed by
cries of distress coming from two per-
sons. He testified that a crowd was
moving round in the hall and nea h
room where the shooting occurred. He
testified further that Jones sent for
him after 6 o'clock and told him that
he was dying and asked the witness to
help him. Jones told witness that he
did not know n OF the mob who
broke open his door and shot him.
The inquest was here adjourned I'M
til / o'clock this afternoon.
John Pierce was the first witness be-
fore the jury at the afternoon session.
He testified to seeing Jones on Mon
dav night in an excited state. Jones
said Groom had come TO his room and
cursed him, ordering him TO leave
town at once. Witness called an Off
Ger for Jones.
Walter Owens and Billy Scott were
examined, but brought out nothing
new.
Ben Moore was then examined and
said Whitley told him of the post to
whip Jones. and also told him that the
crowd would not be troubled by the
police. Mayor Doane Herring was
then examined. He told of hearing of
the nspira from Whitley and of
WhItley's appointment as a committee
to wait on Jones. The mayor advised
him to get out Of the matter. Whit
ley aid no he would whip him before
morning. This conversation took place
on Tuesday. The Witness said he
came up town in answer to q
on the morning OF the shooting and
went at once to Jones room; said he
looked for evidence in the room. found
a trace of blood leading from the room
to the sanitorium. where Allen vas
carried, and also found a bloody stick
in a closet near Jones room. He testi-
fed to seeing Whitley shortly after the
shooting and that he acted suspicious
ly. also noticed a blood spot on Rich's
shirt after he was put under arrest.
The mayor then told of issuing war;
rants for all the suspects.
Geo. Mumford was then put on the
stand. He testified to seeing Gill Ward
and Thos. Bass with a man he did not
know. going from up town below the
railroa about or a little after l o'clock.
Ward wore no hat when he came up
town. He went to Jones room. He
made 4 search for evidence and found
Il o hat in the room. He also found
q outlet Oh the HOOT- lnlS outlet was
compared with the one taken from
Jones body. Both were alike. 4 buE-
let was then produced which vas taken
from a box in Rich'S room and al
were of the same calibre, steel bound
bullets. Witness testified TO finding a
~3S-calibss Astol in Rlch's room.
s. r. Chapman, a marble worker,
was then called. He testified TO nav
ing heard Whitley max threats
against ZONES the evening before the
shooting.
The case was then given to the Jury.
which rendered the following verdict:
From the evidence we find that j..
Percy zones came 10 his death from a
pistol wound fired from the haEd Of
one of the following cOnspirators: Geo.
Whitley. Gill Ward, w. II. Rich. Jno.
Allen. j.. s.. Piver, w. ". Barnes. w.
p Groom. or from the hand of all of
these cOnspirators."
The grand jury of the superior court
of Wilson county, which is in session
here has just brought in a verdict of
murder against all who are under ar
rest.