The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-27
A MURDER DOy
IN NPANTHER BRANCH
Calvin Wilder Slain by
CASTOR Burt.
SLAYER AT LARGE
Both Negroes, the Motive Mysterious.
Dead Man Was Shot on His Porch
After He Had Said "l'm Not
Loading My Gun For
Va, -

.NeWS was received last night of
what appears at this writing to have
been a deliberate and cold-blooded
murder. although the motive and the
circumstances are largely doubtful
The dead man is a respectable negro
named Calvin Wilder, about so years
Of age and with a family and the
slayer is a young and unmarried ne
gro who formerly lived with his VIC
tim. named CASTOR Burt.
All that is definitely known of the
killing is what was heard by some
girls in the house of the dead man.
who was shot down as he stood on
his porch. These witnesses say that
about half past three in the afternoon
they heard Calvin Wilder, on the
porch, say TO some one in the yard:
I've got my gun. but l aint loading
II for you; you go away from here and
quit bothering me-
Immediately after they heard three
pistol shots in rapid succession, and
when they rushed TO the door found
Calvin lying on the floor of his porch
and Burt running from the yard.
Calvin Wilder lived for several
hours, until about half past eight
o'clock, in fact, but beyond the state
ment that he was shot by Burt his
condition was such as to prevent him
from making any detailed statement
as to what took place befre the shoot
ing. The reference to the gun arose
from the fact that the murdered man
mad taken the weapon outside on the
porch to clean and load ii. 1t was
at that juncture that Burt appeared
on the scene, but If the two men had
amy conversation other than the re-
marks of Burt quoted above, II was
not heard nv the people in the house.
DIR. McCuliers was summoned, but the
condition of the wounded man was
such that it was impossible to save his
life The dead negro was q reSpecta-
bic and responsible darkey, who had
the respect and confidence of mis- white
neighbors. Parties from Panther
Branch say also that Burts reputa-
tion was good up to the time of the
shooting, although he was not so we'll
known as was Wilder.
Slayer Is Still Mt Large.
Burt disappeared Immediately after
tie shooting and has not since been
seen Mr.. Wilson and possee
started n search at once and covered
considerable territory, but the night
was so dark and rainy that they were
impeded in their efforts. The search
will be continued today
\ Threat--What Motive?
The motive for the killing is large
ly n mystery. 1t is known that Burt
had formerly lived at the house oi
Calvin Wilder as boarder. going
there in January last and remaining
until the latter part of August. when
for some reason he was made TO leave
There are whispers that there was
some trouble between the two mer
regarding Burt's attention to some o'
Wilder's women relatives, but THIS Il
vet no more than rumor. The only
known cause for the deed is the fact
that Burt was denied the privilege ol
remaining as boarder. but that he
had the purpose 20 kill appears 10 be
evident from the testimony of col
ored man named Allen Smith. wht
bears a good reputation for varaclty
and who stated yesterday that Bur
had told him on Sunday that he was
going to Kill Calvin Wilder and anoth
er man in the community.
Beyond the facts stated above there
has yet been developed in the case
nothing which will throw light either
on the circumstances Immediately pre-
ceding the shooting or on the motive
for the crime.
Scere of the Crime.
The scene OF the crime is in Panther
Branch Township. near the place o
Mr. w. S. Turner. Wilder was a brick
mason and Burt an ordinary farm
laborer. No one saw the weapon, bu
the wounds We're made by a thirty
eight calibre pistol. Each of tn,
three shots took effect and eithe
xyolid have caused death