The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-03
Will Adams for Murder of
Woman and Child.
AN APPEAL is TAKEN
George MCNeiII, Who CriminalIy AS
sauIted a Negro Woman, Found
to be Insane and Sent to the
Penitentiary for Fifteen
Years.

The negro Will Adams was yesterday
afternoon convicted by the jury in the
Wake Superior Court of murder in the
first degree, and sentenced to be hanged
on Tuesday, May 24.-The counsel assign
cd by court to defend Adams gave notice
of appeal to the Supreme Court, so that
the hanging cannot take place on the
day set, as the case cannot reach the Su
preme Court until the fall term. some
time in October. if it takes its regular
place with the Sixth District appeals.
The crime with which Adams stands
convicted is the killing of colored wo
man named Mary Bridgers and her little
daughter in st. Matthews township. or
January 22nd. Another child. a boy about
three years old, was nearly killed, but
recovered. No motive could be found tol
the crime other than robbery, for there
were a few dollars in the house of the
murdered woman, who lived only short
distance from the murderer. The killing
was done one afternoon while the wo-
mans husband was away from home, hav-
ing come to Raleigh. The evidence was
entirely circumstantial, consisting of testi-
mony for the most part of persons who
had recognized Adams footprints where
they were traced following those of the
woman running from the house to the
cotton patch. and also those who had
seen the man acting in a suspicious man.
ner
The trial was begun on Thursday morn
ing, and the argument was concluded yes
terday soon before the adjournment for
dinner. The opening argument for the de-
Tense had been made by Mr.. Charles U.
Il, oil hU
Armistead Jones for the State. Yesterday
morning Mr.. Elmer E. Shaffer argued for
the defense. then Mr.. J. Newton Hold
ing for the State. Mr.. w. B. Snow for
the defense closed Then after "a charge
by Judge Brown the case went to the
Jury about half past one O'Clock.
1t was just five minutes to three o'clock
when the jury knocked on the door OF the
jury room, and filed in with their verdict
of Guilty of murder in the first de-
gree"
Then Mr.. Snow. of counsel assigned by
the court to defend Adams. moved Tor a
new trial. The motion was overruled
and an exception noted. On Thursday Mr..
Snow had made motion to dismiss the
case, on the ground that the evidence ad-
duced was not sufficient proof of guilt
iN''NA 49,
decision on that motion, and yesterday
morning declined to grant it. On that
an exception was taken. and 1T was on
that ground that the motion for a new
trial was made.
In pronouncing the judgment of the
court. Judge Brown said 20 the prisoner
you have been convicted here OF CRIME
of the murder of a woman and her child.
IN INV
you to add to your troubles. but 1t be-
comes my duty to pass judgment upon
you according to the law.
at is considered and adiudged by the
court that the defendant Will Adams,
now here. be taken hence by the sheriff
Of Wake county to the common Jail of
said county and be there safely confined
by him till Tuesday. the oath of May,
1904, and on that day he be taken by
the sheriff of Wake county to the place
of execution provided in accordance with
law. and there between. the hours OF
ten in the forenoon and four in the az
ternoon be, by said sheriff. hung by the
neck until he is dead, and may God have
mercy on your soul.
Adams, who is a big. coal-black negro
and had sat stolidly through the trial.,
chewing gum, looking neither to the right
or left, received the sentence, still stohdly
and still chewing. but with look of
deadly gloom ana fright upon his counter
ance.
Counsel gave notice OF appeal, and
thirty days were allowed the defense TO
file their case on appeal and twenty days
for the State to file it's answer.
GEORGE M'NEILL INSANE.
After Adams had been sentenced the
case of George McNeilf, the negro who
had criminally assaulted respectable col
ored woman in Raleigh, was called.
Through his counsel assigned by The court
to defend him, Messrs. Thos. Staples Full
Ter and T. Murray Allen, he entered a
plea of guilty of assault with criminal in
tent. The solicitor announced that the
State accepted this plea, and read letter
received yesterday by Mr.. Fuller from DR.
]. T. Miller, Superintendent of the East
ern Hospital for the Insane at GOldsboro,
to the effect that Mcneil had been adj
mitted to that asylum in 1897, and that he
was certainly insane, but had lucid inter
walls. In his crazy spells he was capable
of committing any crime. He got away
| from there after eight months, and after
wards committed larceny in Wayne coun
ty and was sent to the roads. Later he
was convicted Of an offense in this county
and sent to the workhouse, and from there
was sent to the criminal insane depart
ment of the penitentiary, from which place
he escaped.
Solicitor Jones stated that it was not un
til the last day or two that he heard the
prisoner was insane and not until yester
day morning had he learned positively tina
the man had escaped from the criminal in
sane department at the penitentiary. 9th
erwise he would have prevented the sum
lnoning of the special venire.
Judge Brown sentenced the man to fiji
| teen years in States Prison. the maxi
mum sentence for the crime to which h
| submitted AS he is insane. he will in al
probability be confined for life.