The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-02-05

ern steel "a where during the dav
he and the other prisoners are allow
ed to lounge and exercise. The other
prisoners at the time only numbered
two-well known Jim Judge, who was
last week convicted Of horse stealing
and sentenced to six years in the pen
itentiary, and O. young white mar
named William Wilson. who is a Grip
pie and is awaiting trial charged with
burglary committed by entering the
boarding house of Mrs. J. ]. Kelly, cor
ner Third and Market street.
Burglar Wilson Discovered 1t.
1t was Wilson who discovered the
tragedy. According TO his story he and
Judge were in the cage conyerSing.
Terry having gon into his own cel,
which is the first one to the left as
you enter the cage, some time before.
Wilson commenced to exercise by walk
ing UP n down the floor of the cage
and finally went into Terry's cell to get
a chew OF tobacco. He at once dis
covered that something was wrong, as
by the dim light coming in rays through
the grated walls OF the cell he saw
Terry lying on his back on his cot. with
staring eyes n blood covered ACE.
Gave the Alarm.
Too excited TO look closer and discov-
er the real and CHASTITY truth Wilson
quickly left the cell and informed Judge
of what he had seen. Each at once
gave the alarm and cried out the news.
that something was wrong with Terry.
At the time young Robert Caps. a
son Of Tailor r. NJ Caps. was on the
floor beneath the cage giving a dose Of
quinine to a negro prisoner confined in
a cage similar to the one above.
Went After His Father.
~o- -~
ing its meaning left hurriedly and i'm
mediateiy in search of his father. a,
the corner of Third and Princess. hat
q block away. he met him and told him
the startling news.
Soon With the Dying.
AT a rapid pace Tailor Caps return
ed to the prison., which he had left bIi
a few minutes previous 20 go and max
a purchase at l. Shrier's clothing store,
corner Front and Princess streets. A:
within the space of two or three min
utes he unlocked the cage door. entered
Terry's cell and stood at the cot-side OF
the dying. This he did not reali=e
then. but that was not a time to search
for a realization but vas an occoS.on
of action.
What a Blazing Match Revealed.
BY the Pickering blaze of a match.
which he struck as he entered the eel.
Jailor Caps saw not only what VIII
son had seen but more. He saw Il long
Gaping wound in Terry's neck, OF the
right side. and resting under the right
side Of The Jaw was the blade OF a stee-
case knife. The bone hilt of the weap-
on Terry's right hand grasped firmly
il about to slash deeper the bloody
wound Such was no doubt his intan-
ton when physical weakness over come
him.
Tailor Capps grabbed the knife and.
after a brief struggle. as Terry'S grasp
was the iron one of death, wrenched
it free. Terry, he jallor says, he does
not believe was unconscious, as when he
grasped the knife he spoke something.
though ~inaudibls. to him
After Medical Aid
JaiIer Capps did not tarry in the
prison a second longer than neces-
sary. He quickly went to n cour;
house and informed Sheriff F. H.
Stedman of the horrible deed Tele-
phone calls for physicians then went
forth and within a few minutes DR..
Chas. T. Harper. city superintendent
of health, was at the Jail and viewed
what was almost a corpse He saw
at once that the preservation of life
not possible.
Drs. Z. J. Wood and L. H. Love
also soon arrived and examined the
dying man.
Shortly afterwards Terry breathed
his last, thus life ending N about
fifteen minutes after the wound was
made.
The Wound.
The cut in the neck had a most
CHASTITY aspect, as it was large and
Gaping. The cut was four inches
long and two or three inches deep.
1t extended through the external
iugular vein and the s-verinG of this
artery made death certain From
the looks of the wound it would seem
that he made several hacking move
ments, cutting the flesh each time.
The signs showed i deperate effort,
and great nerve, as during all the
time he did not make sound loud
enough to attract the attention of
Wilson and Judge, only a few feet
away
Counsel on the Scene.
Soon after the deed was committed
Sheriff Stedman. Solicitor Duffy and
Terry's counsel were also on the
County Commissioner D. McEachern
and DR.. -. D. Bell, the coroner.
Big Crowd Collected.
The very wind seemed to carry the
shocking news broadcast, as soon the
street in front of the Jail was alive
with people, who inquired eagerly of
all who came forth from the Jail the
particulars
AS time advanced many, OF course,
left, but more arrived and remained
in the vicinity talking in groups un-
til the body was turned oyer 10 the
family upon order OF the and
sent to the family residence. on
Fourth street. between Hanover and
Brunswick.
Letter From the Dead.
Just after the body had been re-
moved from the cell a sensational
discovery was made. Jim Judge
called William Terry TO the door of
the cell he occupied and told him
that several weeks ago he had writ
ten a letter at the dead mans dicta-
ton and that the letter had been hid
den under the cot ia Terry's cell.