The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-10-28


Marshall Dinwiddie. the first witness
called today in the trial OF ex-Mayor
j. Samuel McCde, testified that he
and his wife reached the Mccue home
about 1880 O'Clock on the night of
the tragedy. He is an uncle OF the
defendent by marriage.
He had seen Mr.. and Mrs. McCue
together. at church earlier I'm the even
ing and talked with them for a mo-
ment at the gate at McCue's home
after church at about o'clock.
When he reached the house after
the tragedy Mrs. McCue was dead
and he said the accused stated that he
was suffering from a blow on the
head
The defendant told him. he testi-
fed, that he vas standing at a chif-
fonfer in his room; that his wife was
on the side OF a dresser: that some
one came into the room; that he first
tried to get his gun but got IL only
partly out when the man took II away
from him.
Continuing witness said Mr.. McCue
said he had been knocked sense
less" and his wife shot.
The defendant seemed rational.
witness said. He asked the accused
before the body had been fully dress
ed II he desired to view the remains
the accused replying that he prefer
red to remember her as he saw her
In life. but after the remains were
placed in coffin the defendant on
the afternoon of the following day saw
the remains. that being the first time
to the knowledge OF the witness. He
heard no statement about robbery.
On cross examination witness said
he saw no signs of strained relations
between Mr.. and Mrs. McCue while
talking with them at the gate, and
that the accused seemed distressed
after the tragedy.
Charles Skinner, a negro testified
that while in his room I'm the servants
house in the rear OF the residence
adjoining that of McCue's, on the
night of the tragedy he heard crying
and screaming. and said he found the
sounds came from the McCue house.
The voice sounded like that OF a
woman, he said Later he heard n
shot. He was quite sure he saw
light up stairs in the McCue house.
He was not cross examined.
DR.. j. F.. Farley reached the Nc
Cue residence after the shooting He
said he found the defendant lying on
the floor OF his room face downward
and crying. The witness made an
examination Of the defendant the
next day, he said, from head to foot
at the instance Of the coroner. The
wound on the cheek he characterized
as an abrasion. without swelling or
digcoloration, and said the blow that
caused 1t was not sufficient TO pro-
duce insensibility. He saw no other
marks on the defendant. In his opin-
ion Mrs. McCue dropped dead in her
tracks after being shot. The wound
n her ear which he said was cut
nearly I'm two, could have been pro-
. duced by the base ball bat which was
exhibited.
[ The witness did not see the oefen-
| dants nose bleeding He did not see
| a niece Of cloth on the floor Of the
bath room but said he did not make
a close inspection OF the floor.
Continuing his testimony Dr. Ear
| ley testified that there were indica-
tions that some OF the blood stains on
the undershfrt worn by the accused
| on the night OF the tragedy had come
! In contact with water and that the
wrist bands had been wet The de-
fendant was rational. he said In his
: opinion a blow on the head sufficient
( to produce fnsensibility would have
left a mark and when his attention
was directed TO contrary opinion ex-
pressed at the coroner's inquest he
said he had given thought I'd the SUBJ
tect since and now was Of the opin-
ion stated. The accused, he said.
was man OF about les pounds In
weight while the deceased wife