The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-09-13
IN A HAIL OF SHOT
That is How Knapp Hor-
ner Was Captured.
The Man is First Imprisoned IN the
Jail at HilIsb0r0 and is Then
Brought to Durham
For Safety.
Especial to News and Observer

Homer, who last Friday Killed deputy
Sheriff ice Nichols in Orange county,
was captured yesterday and brought
here this afternoon for safe keeping
He was captured within a
few hundred yards of his home in the
northern part of Orange coun-
", i'm Il section known as Pine Knot
This is some twelve miles north of
Hillsboro. Shots were fired before he
was taken and the prisoner is wound
Ell, but not seriously.
AS stated, he was brought here for
safe keeping. 1t was feared that he
would be lynched tonight. Quite a
number of Nichols neighborS had
gathered in Hillsboro and violence
was feared.
The prisoner was seen in Jail i'm
mediately after reaching here. He
says some six or seven shots were fired
at him yesterday when he was ar
rested. The officers who brought him
here say only two shots were fired.
He is wounded on the right side
from head to foot, but his wounds are
not serious.
When asked about the killing, 81
ought not to have killed him." said
Horner. but he shot at me. Guess
they will hang me- but l am now fifty
eight years old, and they cannot get
me out of more than ten years at
most. L am sorry 1 cannot gather my
corn crop.
Horner is quite weak on account of
his wounds. He is till vicious. how
ever. and when asked about killing a
man several years ago, he said: Yes,
/ killed him while defending myself.
l have never yet taken the last lick. >
He will be tried in Hillsboro at the
term of court beginning October II.
1t became known Saturday that Hor-
hn6 nt lnft hn ty
forty or fifty-five men went out to look
fer him, all being armed with guns
Early in the morning he was seen by
some parties to enter his home. They
attempted to close in on him, when he
escaped and went to the woods, get
ting away from the posse. The posse
was then enlarged and at the time OF
the capture it is stated that there
were forty or fifty-fiVe men scattered
about the piece of wood in which he
vas thought to be hiding.
Balls WhistIed About Him.
While they were searching for him
Horner was seen making his way
through his corn field, toward his
home The crowd closed in on him
and called on him to halt. He Kept
on his way towards his home. and
when they saw he would get into the
house the firing began. He did not
have a gun and made no resistance,
other than to seek safety in flight.
There are different reports as to how
many shots were fired. Some say that
ten or twelve were fired before he
surrendered others that thirty or
more were fired.
The guns used were loaded with BIRD
shot and that accounts for his not
being killed. He was wounded all
ever the body, SO it is learned here
and this morning was spltting Olood
on that account it is thought by par
ties who came down from HllIsporo
today that he is probably fatally
wounded.
The capture of the murderer was
made soon after the noon hour ana
the prisoner was carried to Hillsboro,
arriving there last night about
o'clock He was placed in jail, put
on account of the prison being lhse-
cure a guard was placed about the
Jail last night. The officers dld not
fear a lynchng, but the prisoner mas d
number of friends among the tougher
class who life in the northern part Oh
the county, and it was feared that he
would be rescued if left there without
n guard.
The killing of Deputy Sheriff Mich
OILS was a cold blooded murder anu
aroused the people of Orange county.
\ united effort was made to bring apou'
Horner's capture. kilograms had been
sent to all surrounding towns to head
him off, and when this was done the
work of securing the country ABOUT
his home began. 1t is said that he
slipped into his home on Saturday
to get something to eat and to see
members of his family. This became
known and accounted for the fact that
his home was watched Sunday morn
ing.
The Deed and the Dead Man.
The dead officer was a good citizen
and fearless officer. He had been
warned by Horner that he would be
killed if he ever attempted his arrest
again. When the warrant was placed
in his hands for the arrest of Horner
for whipping his sons wife the officer
did not hesitate but proceeded to the
home of Horner. He found his man
at home and when he went into the
yard to arrest him Horner raised MS
gun and fired two loads of large shot
into his left side, the wound afi1lcteo
being such that he bled to death pc
fore a physician could be secured. He
lived at Caldwell Institute. had wife
and some four of five children. His
remains were inferred on Saturday.
The officer married a sister OF Samuel
Miller. who is now the nominee OF the
Republican party for sheriff of Orange
county. 1t is said that Miller and one
party who captured Homer.
The murderer was known as a ter
rible man with a bad character. He
was a blockader and made blockade
stills for the moonshiners in this sec
ton. so it was learned here He has
been in trouble a number of times in
both the State and Federal courts He
has wife and several children
Pullman Conductor Killed.
Passengers who came in on the Nor
folk d Western train this morning tell
OF the accidental shooting of a Pull
man conductor on the main line of the
Norfolk and Western Road at Lynch
burg this morning. At last accounts if
is said that the conductor was so badly
wounded that he cannot recover. The
accident occurred i'm this way: AT
Lynchburg the train crews on the main
line change. While the property of an
express messenger was being taken off
the train one OF the crew accidentally
dropped gun belonging to the ex-
press company, one that is carried by
the messengers, and it was discharged
The load of buck shot entered the left
side of the Pullman conductor who
10.