The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-02-02

way 10 the Il, where ne was a
Waterman, which accounts for his
precisely at an hour when Terry
would not expect Bland, as he
(Bland) had absenced himself from
home for some time and seldom went
there for breakfast and that this
Terry knew. This will b. the wall
| upon which the defense expects to
shatter the generalization allegation.
Then, threats by Bland, his revolver
grasped in his and and an empty
shell in that pistol will be the self
defense argument.
THREATENING LETTERS.
Another strong point that counsel
for the defense will attempt to score
will, it is said, be the admission of
anonymous letters received by Terry
before the tragedy and which il is
hoped to prove were written by Bland.
The letters are most caustic in their
denunciation of Terry and threaten
his life. One in particular bears a
pen Illustration of a coffin with Terry
inside.
JUS AN EMPTY SHE'LL
That empty. cartridge shell in
BANDS revolver is also to play an
important part in the conviction or
acGuittal of the accused. The state
will cite the fact that the dirty con-
dition of the shell showed that it had
been fired some time previous to the
tragedy and that two pistol reports
can only be accounted for.
To combat this it is understood
that the defense will contend for two
simultaneous reports and also show
that when Bland fell the hand that
grasped the pistol rested in the dirt.
which could in itself cause any dirty
condition of the empty shell.
Along these two contentious
theories in both physics and mathe-
MATES are expected to be expounded.
AFTER TWO CONTTNUANCES.
Terry was arrested by Police Ser
geant C. W. Woolard and Policeman
G.. r. Holt. and placed in Jail. Then
the coroner's jury. summoned and
impanelled by DR.. C. D. Bell, the
coroner made its investigation and
reached the verdict that Bland was
slain by Terry. The indictment for
murder followed and, after two post
ponements for the defense, the trial
is about to become a realization.
JUROR AND COUNSEL.
A singular coincidence is the fact
that the secretary Of the coroner's
| jury. j. F. Sellars, Esq, is one Of the
counsel for the state. The other
members of the jury were w. T.
Sears, foreman, Joseph Chadwick, S.
J. Herring, Walter Gaylor and John
F. Carroll. Jr.
OTHER CONDOLENCES.
There are still other condolences.
One Of the special venire, Deputy w.
n. Cox, is a son-in-law Of Terry's.
while several others, among them
Police Sergeant Woodland. are wit
nesses in the case. o.
WHICH SIDE WILL USE HIM?
There seems to b some doubt as
to which side will place Isaiah West,
| versing at the First Bapust church
that fateful morning. upon the stand.
He will play an important role in the
generalization part of the case.
! WILL THIS LINK BE FORGED?
Was Terry in the vicinity of Bland
| house even earlier on the morning
! of the tragedy than when there last7
That will likely be another question
that the state will try and nave an
swered by a witness or witnesses. 1t
is said it will be answered in the
affirmative and that Terry was seen
lurking in that vicinity between 6 and
Z o'clock. If that be so then the next
question will be was he returning
home from work.. or what?
TERRY'S THREATS.
The state relies strongly upon the
establishment of the fact that Terry
made threats against Bland's life to
show generalization. Among the wit
nesses who will be introduced to show
this will be Hon. John D. Bellamy-
! HIS SON IN COURT.
William Terry, the son Of the ac-
cused, was also in court yesterday
afternoon. Other members Of the
Terry family are expected to attend
the trial when the taking OF testi-
mony commences.
The Wilmington Piano Club win give