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

Eason. y. G, May 1.-THE second
days session of the ~cOroner's inquest
into the killing of J.. Percy Jones,
WHICH occurred here on Thursday
morning at l o'clock, was resumed to-
day at 10 o'clock. Interest in the case
has grown since yesterday and LONG
before the hour Of opening the mayors
office was crowded.
The first witness called at the enorn-
auS session was Geo. w Bats, u bar
keeper. He testified tina he went to
the scene of the murder and saw Jones
on his bed. He also testified that dur
ing the evening he saw w. w Farm
CT. Witness then said that he was at
4 certain house after the shooting.
While there Lawrence Morgan came
in and al that John Allen was shot.
Witness also testified that w. p.
Groom. another of the men under ar
rest, was present at the house and
heard the conversation about the
shooting. Groom went with the Off
Ger to get assistance to John Allen
"tne testified further that Groom
came TO Cora Duty's about II O'Clock
ana that he thought h was there until
after he heard of tie shooting from
Lawrence Morgan.
w i. Clark, a tohlccOnist, was next
called. He testified mat he came down
from his home about 1 o'clock He
sand ne met Officer Snakenberg and
was asked to go Gown below the rail-
road and get sore more officers. that
ne was eXpectins trouble. He testified
that he came blk up town and went
TO the room Were the shooting took
place. Jones us asking for assistance
and witness ~-nt for a doctor. Wit
ness testified chat he saw Sam Walls
and remark that some one ought to
take the ling mans declaration.
walls replie= that no one was up there
and 1t woU-1 do no good. Witness
also testified to seeing w. w. Barnes
ana a nee Morgan e the scene
of the shooting
called. i:e testified that he came down
from his room about II o'clock on the
night q the killing. Witness testified
that h Joined officer S~nakenberg on
his r. snds. During this walk a dozen
or more men were met; of this mum
Der ne witness recognized w. J. Rich
and Gill Ward, This crowd was con-
CREATED behind COrbett's bar, which
Is on the neXt uare from the scene
of the shooting. Witness. with the
officer, came then to the meeting
point of the beat when they heard Iha
shooting. They were facing dCwn the
street i'll the direction Of the FRYE
building, where the shooting occurred
Witness testified that after the shoot
ing the officer. S~nakenberg. went away
from the scene of the shooting fOr
about z square. when he turned around
and went to the Frye building. He
further testified that three or four men
came Gown from Jones room and
talkel L the officer in front Of the
Frye building. Shortly after the shoot
ing witness testified that he saw w. w.
barnes. j. B. PiVer. and Lawrence
Morgan Without beinS questioned.
Barnes and PiVer told witness where
they We're when the shGO:ru5 occurred.
Witness testified that Whitley has
been wearing a cap. He further testi-
he'd that he saw n man. who wore a
cap. rush from the building shortly
after the shooting.
Jas. Clark, Il ~dairyR1an, was then
called. He testified that he came in
from fox hunting about Il quarter past
l o'clock on the night of the shooting.
Witness testified that he Went for ?
doctor and when he came back he
went to Jones room and found officer
FELTON, in charge. He remained in the
room only a few minutes. Among the
crowd who had gathered he recognized
Lawrence Morgan.
Tom Powell was then put on The
stand He testified that he had a con-
VerSatiOn with Jones the evening prev
iOus 40 the shOotin, and Jones told
him that he had some trouble WITH
Geo ". Whitley. Said that he mad
been ordered out of town. Jones asked
witness TO Dan him a gun, stating that
he was afraid. Witness testified fur
Their that he went to Jones room after
the shooting and was told by HIM that
ne was dying.
j. II. Dupree was then put on the
stand. He testified that he was II
DLr~~-v- ODD
Yesterday morning overheard a on
Ve"SatiOn between two men whom he
lid not recognize. These two men
said that If Officers Snakenberg and
MumfOrd had don as they ought. none
OF them would AVE been caught. Dur
ing <hiS conversation he heard Wards,
NOrEan'S. PIVer's. Aliens and Whit
Iey's names called. He heard a state
ment made that Whitley and Ward
both. fired.
Officer W. P. S~nakenberg was then
recalled During his evidence on yes |
ler0dF he said when he went in the
d4recllon of the shooting he did not
II of those who came down
from the Frye building immediately
AFTER the shooting. Mr.. E.. D. Alley, |
VINO was with Snakenberg Immediate
~ after the shooting testified that the
oLIceF Went TO the entrance and talked
10 a party OF men as they came down, !
When put on the stand the officer de-
MED any conversation with any of
those under arrest. During the cross
examination 1t was brought out that
the offlcer knew a crowd was congre
gated in the rear of Corbett's saloon.
yet did not use the proper precautIon
10 prevent h trouble. A witness. r.
D Alley. vas with Officer
and did recognize some of the parties
in the crowd, when the officer who was
well acquainted with all the men. 1t
was further brought out that the Off
Ger did not use his distress whistle nor
did he call a policeman who was in