The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-09-09

skirts Of ciarkton. On account OF his
business Mr.. Packer only spent~every
Icther night home. but while away he
lhad a young first cousin Of his wife,
lSam Russ. aged about twelve years. to
Istay at the house. Friday night he was
labsent and early Saturday morning
two negroes txupposed TO be Sellars Inc
lBrownI went to the house and asked
flor matches, which was a pretext then,
Ut Is thought. TO ~perpetrate the deeds
III such was so they were thwarted. for
little Sam refused TO open the door,
Isinply poking n match out to them
Through a window. From 8 70 1870
O'Clock Saturday morning the little
fellow was absent from the house on an
Ierrand in Clarkton. During that time
1.-The deed occurred.
AS BLACK AS HADES.
Just how it was done and the indie
~Iscribable agony OF il all is plainly told
tby signs.
The young woman was evidently just
lin the act Of taking out a pan of pies
from the oven when the negro brute
Ientered stealthily n seized her. She
lcried aloud for mercy. but the iend
knew il not. He dragged her from the
house and in the struggle her skirt was
torn from her. Towards a dense thicket
ihe PuSleo lGI Q1k4 Itdi Shc OAOh-
AWAY from him and started in the direc-
ltion OF the railroad track. The brute
lovertook her and another desperate
struggle ensued during which n was
stripped of part OF her sack. Beating
land choking her he dragged her TO the
Ithicket. where he knocked her down
land accomplished his iendish urpos
Then he stabbed his victim twice in the
meek with a knife and as she turned
lover in her agony and probably death
struggle he broke her skull with a rail.
LYING FACE DOWNWARD.
She was found lying face downward,
ther head resting on her left arm and
lin a stump hole and her right arm
Icrooked as if warding off a blow.
A KNIFE AND A RAIL.
An old iron case knife. though not
bloody. was found near the corpse. The
lrafl, about a yard long and gore stain
led. was also found near by.
THE DISCOVERY.
1t was after the deed was committed
THAT young Sam Russ returned and
missed his cousin. He went outside the
house to look for her and not far away,
probably 80 yards and south Of the
house, he saw Dave Brown washing
Isome clothing. He inquired of him if
Inc had seen Mrs. Packer and received
la negative reply. He then went to Mr..
Packers father's house. also nearby.
land as she vas not there the searc:i
commenced. In the meantime Mr.. a.
ISantee came up and said shortly before
The had heard outcries in that vicinity.
1.-The quest resulted in the finding of the
body of the young woman in all its
jghastliness and soul thrilling horror.
TEN YEARS AGO.
A queer coincidence is the fact that
la negro attempted to assault Mrs. Pack
Ter when she was but a mere child and
living with her parents, who then re-
lsided at Abbottsburg.
She was sent on an errand to a neigh
lbor's house and while returning along
la lonely road a negro man tried to en-
ltice her into a growth Of bushes by the
Iroad side. Failing in this he was about
to use force when a white mar came in
isight on the road and the negro made
off. He escaped.
THE DEAD WOMAN.
The dead woman was well liked and
Thought of by ali and her death is
deeply deplored. She was a daughter
lof Mr.. Frank Russ, of Eaizath-
town. She was about "a years of age.
TELL TALE SHIRTS.
Two shirts-common ones it is true
iare figuring in the investigation. The
lmost important of these was found al
the negroes shanty, Or u 1t had
been washed by Brown and is claimed
by him as his own, but it is thought 1t
Twas the one worn by Seliars wnile he
WAS committing the crime and then
Igiven to Brown to wash. In spite ct
violent ~scrubbing it bears a number
of marks that may be rust but which
bear every sign of blood This shirt
Twas found BY MI. o. L. Clark and is
lstill in his possession
The other shirt is the n worn by
tSellars when arrested. He avs he hai
lit on for a week. when it's clean condi-
Ition shows plainly to the contrary.
SPEEDY TRIAL.
The next term of Bladen county Su-
lperior court does not convene until
October, but the negroes, if tried, viii
probably be brought into court before
that time.
Solicitor c. c. Lyon, of this district
Twas in Clarkton Saturday and it is said
The has requested the Governor to cal
la special term.
HOW THEY APPEAR.
The negro Sellars is Of a ginger cake
hue, about "a years of age and weighs
labout $50 pounds.
Brown is about the same size, buI
Ter.
LOYAL ACTION APPRECIATED.
When the news of the outrage spread
out the staunch citizens Of grand ole
columbus and Robson counties came
lnobly to the aid of the citizens of this
community and faithfully aided in the
search. The people of Clarkton and
VICINITY greatly appreciate this loya
%lSUpport and assistance.