The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-02-05
HILL TERRY ENDS HIS OWN LIFE

was near at hand. was informed of
this and upon investigation discov-
cred the letter. 1t cons' SITS or twelve
pages Of note paper closely covered
oy lead pencil writing. az follows:
Synopsis of the
Life Of S. III. Terry.
Wilmington. ". C.
] was born March 18th, 1912. NY
father and mother both died when
L was an infant ana therefore ] do
not remember b face OF either.
was reared without education OF
any description. At the age of 20 a
L enlisted in the Third n. C.. reci-
menI Co. d., better known as the
First Sayages." My last CAPTAIN
was John COWan, Of Wilmington. /
was at the surrender OF Gen. Robert
Il. Lee at Appomattox. / walked
from there home i'm Wilmington. In
the year OF go 1 married Miss Frances
Baldwin, of Columbus county, and rs
a result of that happy union six chill
dren were born TO cheer our COSY
little home. 1t this writing only two
are living, William r., and Mamie
vino was the wife OF George
Tate Bland, the man whom L shot.
Mamie married Bland while 1 was
superintendent Of the New Hanover
County Home. The two lived with me
Tor over five years, 1 did not charge
them one cent for board. furnished
them with wood and other necessary
fuel without expense. 1 did all In
my power to aid him (BIand) i'm
making u living. i really did more
Tor him than / did for my own SON.
After retiring from the manage
ment OF the county home, I received
employment with the Armour Pack
ing Company, as N driver OF one
OF their delivery wagons. Bland was
at this time a clerk in department
store OF ;. & B. Solomon. BANDS
health began to fail and I'm order
that he would get out door exercise
N fresh air 1 ave him my job OF
work, which be gladly accepted at
the salary OF SIS per week. Shortly
after this n horse trader from Jersey
City made his appearance I'm this city.
He had nine head of horses and
mules and had q road cart with him,
so L bought he whole outfit, cart,
mules and horses, and rave them to
Bland to start him a business.
L never did hold any animosdty to-
wards Bland. And for that matter
towards any Of my fellow man. I
always taken q pride in aiding him
to make an honest living and advised
him to try to win the resuect and nd
miration OF the public in general. On
the morning OF the fatal shooting I
dio not have any malice tovyaress
hiaiia and only wanted TO speak 10
MN solely about domestic affairs. As
L approached Bland he drew his MIS-.
tOi and fired at NE and as a matter
OF fact 1 was compelled to defend NV
sea-. which / did. The result OF
which the public is too familiar.
1 nave always been a staunch SUD-
porter OF the law and always believed
IN Tie suppression Of crime In any
phase and / have always been II man
10 uphold the good order of the com-
nlunfty of which L was Il resident. 7
nave always been Il loving and ,,rti-
ful husband and father; have ALWAYS
provided amply for my family.
when L started in the race or life
10 battle with the world did not
nave In my possession SIS with which
TO start life on. but thanks be to q
Kind providence and carrying myself
IN an honest and upright way and
treating my fellow nEan with the
courtesy n consideration due them.
L nave teen successful enough 70 az
cuf1uiate a happy home and a small
Dank ccOunt for my distressed FAM
lily 20 live comfortably Oh for some
time to come. 1t is nOt my. desire to
introduce here any politics, but 1 Will
state here that 1 have always been {;
true democrat and always voted for
the principles OF the democratic Darry
and during the trying times of the
last campaign voted and stood by the
democratic nominee and true stand
ara bearer, Hon. Charles r.. Aycock.
As to my wife l would like to saw.
i aiWaTs looked uDOn hcr" as n pure.
NiTtuOus woman: Before r married
her L knew Fer 20 he q lady OF the
Iiliest type and since the day / led
hap ia rtn,
ioufid her TO be the pure, sweet, loving
and honest guiding star OF my future
destiny and welfare, until this first
and last unpleasant episode happened;
20 mar the peace and happiness of INV
future career. My wife has ALWAYS
Deen the same sweet help meet that
she was lie her %irlhood days, kind.
loving and a~fectiOnate. IL I arm 20 be
parted from her from now heacefOr.h
L trust that my Gariing'S every effort.
may be crowned with Enbounded sue
cess, and that her last and parting
hours may be those of peace. happi-
ness and comfort, and wherr g ayiuy
this cruel world may meet re- maker
and saviour to receive TIE reward
she has so justly and molly won.
May God bless and protect her, Is the
prayer OF her devoted condemned
husband. And now L Bid Won ali
adieu and wish each and every one
or my fellow men Il happy and pros
porous career in life. nil
OF my friends who have aided me II,
this trouble and thanking them fo-
their generous Support and trusting
10 them in a far Issore 6is:cn.
anu golden CLINE. where there Is mo-
weeping and trouble TO modest the
weak minded category OF this yyorIs
again bidding you all farewell. an,
yours etc,
6. FILL TERRY.
OF Wilmington. y. c.
Why Judge Wrote II.
Jim Judge says he wrote he letter