The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-10-18

The two negroes, Neill SellarS ana
Dave Brown. the same ones who were
almost face to face with death in Will
mingtOn a little over a month ago ano
who have lived in fear OF that near
end since the third Of last month, are
soon to pass into eternity. They have
been declared by twelve honest men of
Bladen to be guilty of murder In the
first degree and the law of North Car
DINA has said that they be hanged
upon Wednesday, the 18th day OF NO
vember, 1904, in Bladen county, be-
tween the hours of 10 O'Clock in the
morning and o'clock in the afternoon.
Thus will the law avenge the horrible
crime of September 3rd. when Mrs.
Geo. Packer was dragged by brutal
hands from her home near Cfarkton,
and, amid the loneliness of a wilder
ness. outraged and murdered. 1t was
the most shocking crime ever commit
ted in Bladen county and one OF the
most horrible the state has ever fal!e7
heir to. But to her murderers the law
will be more merciful and will in a
Christian manner give them ample time
To prepare TO meet the Judge of the
Highest Court.
THE JURY'S VERDICT.
After three days of arduous nature,
the trial. which has become notable.
ended shortly past o'clock Yesterday
afternoon. Sharply at five the jury
announced that d verdict had bee
reached and a few minutes Afterwards
declared that the negroes had been
deemed guilty of murder in the first
degree AS the verdict fell upon the
ears of the prisoners they seemed Il
heed it not, appearing as If in daEed
condition. Brown was more composed
than ever.
A poll Of the jury was made and
showed the verdict to be true. Then
counsel for the defense were asked If
they had anything to say.
Col. Kerr replied in the negative, eX-
cept that he and his associates haG
tried to do their duty and had fought
for their clients to the best of their
ability.
SENTENCE PASSED.
The judgment of the court was next
imposed, but before pronouncing 1t HIS
Honor had an officer stationed among
the spectators to suppress any demon
stration that should arise and arrest
the offenders.
JUST A LITTLE PATHOS.
While Judge Ward passed the sen
tence of the court upon the convicted
men they stood as calmly as before
and when the pathetic and touching
climax cam@''and may God have
mercy upon your souls"-from the lips
of Sellars there came a touching wall.
"a 81 i-r
but it was full of pathos; probabl.- of
the same nature that the punishment of
any brute would occasion in some in
Z stances, but it was heart touching.
AN IMPARTIAL TRIAL
In passing sentence Judge Ward
spoke of the horrible nature OF
the crime and said that go
far as he could see the priso-
ners had an impartial trial, and that
the jury had done its duty fairly and
faithfully. He also spoke Of the great
effort put forth by the defendants
counsel in their behalf and without re-
ward or the hope Of reward
JUDGES TRIBUTE TO BLADEN.
After the negroes had been led away
to Jail, where they will be kept in
close confinement until the day of exc
cution. Judge Ward took occasion To
highly commend the people of Blader
upon the manner in which they acted
in bringing the perpetrators OF tie
Iiendish act to justice and in uohoding
the law.
BLADEN'S TRIBUTE TO THE
JUDGE
This was a well deserved oomu.i-
! ment to the people of the county and
no doubt, these same people can re-
turn it by saying that Judge Ward
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