The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-26
He COME BACK
CoIored Preacher Walker
is Heard From Through
His Lawyer in Durham.

Rev. W. E. Walker, the colored
pastor of st. Jaul's African Method
list Episcopal church, Raleigh, charged
with the betrayal of a fifteen-year-old
colored girl has been heard from
Immediately that Walker heard
that he was charged with the seduc-
ton of the daughter of Maurice Watts,
a respectable colored man who has a
barbershop here he departed. This
was on Friday, and in the afternoon
the papers for his arrest were placed
in the sheriffs hands, a warrant be-
ing sWt IN ut by the girls father be-
fore Justice of the Peace Barbee.
1t was reported here yesterday
that Walker was in Durham. On this
information Deputy Sheriff Walters
went there yesterday afternoon but
the report from Durham last night
was that Walker had not been found
by the officer.
Walker went from here to Durham
by private conveyance and there ne
retained the services of Mr.. Victor
S. Bryant, of the firm of Boone q
Bryant. MIR. Bryant telephoned to
Justice Barbee yesterday about the
trial and said he would arrange for a
date with Col. j. G. l.. Harris, who
The telephone was used last night
to get some information from Dur
ham about Walker, and Mr.. Bryant
said that he expected the hearing
would take place here on Tuesday. He
said Walker had been in Durham but
decliaed to say where he is now, say
ing however, that he would be on
hand at the trial on Tuesday.
Mr.. Charles u. Harris. who returned
while at Norlina he saw a man whom
he thinks was the preacher who is III
trouble. He is not certain that the
man he saw is Walker. Ii it was, then
Walker was evidently heading for
Virginia.
The knowledge of the trouble ere
ated a sensation among the colored
people here. Walker is at the head
OF one of the largest colored churches
of the South and is a colored Mason
and Odd Fellow. Watts. the man
whose daughter Walker is charged
with betraying, is a member of Walk
er's church and is an Odd Fellow so
that matter is one in colored high So
cial life
The revelation of the matter came
from the girls condition. which iE
such that the trouble must have be-
gun in March. Walker, who is man
had free access to the house, the
girls mother being employed at the
Marlborough House and her father
being at his place of business.
AS soon as the matter was placed
by Watts in the hands of Col j. G. l..
Harris on Friday a messenger was
sent to Walkers house. but the re-
port was that he was. not at home.
Inquiry at Mr. Geo. Harden's stables
showed that Walker had left town
about eleven o'clock, having gone in
his buggy.
The matter reached the ears of Pre-
siding Elder Holt early in the day,
and it is reported that he advised
Walker to clear out till the matter
might be looked into, as he feared
that Watts might shoot Walker. The
colored preacher evidently went from
here to Durham, and at that place
secured counsel.
The matter will probably be heard
here on Tuesday by Justice Barbee,
and it will be seen then exactly What
course will be pursued by the prose
cution. as it is probable that num-
Der of suits will be begun in the case,
perhaps both on the criminal and civil
side of the docket. The colored popu-
lation is highly wrought up over the
affair and it will be thoroughly InVes-
tigated.