The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-04-21
LAMLEssNEss IN AsIIEvILLE
One Man KiIIed-Another Stabbed
and a Third Severely Beaten-AIl
Unproyoked Assaults by Two Men
From the Country.

From the Country.
AsheyilIe, y. c., April 11.-AshevilIe
witnessed a touch of lawiessness late
Saturday night and early Sunday
morning hat resulted in the killing OF
q negro named Butler Maxwell, on
Mountain street, the serious and per-
haps fatal wounding of W. NJ. Atkins,
a white man, ON Southside avenue, b
attack and serious injury of another
negro OH Valley street and the shoot
ing of two women and a negro boy on
Greasy Corner"
Three IF the crimes, including the
u~nprovoked killing Of Maxwell, are ne
lieved to have been committed by two
white men. non-residents of Ashevillc,
who followed by Il dog, went looking
for trouble and who after finding it
succeeded in evading the police and
making their escape.
The killing of Maxwell was the last
OF the desperate acts of the men ard
occurred shortly before one O'Clock
Sunday morning. Upon being notified
of this last occurrence and feeling sure
tina the same men were responsible
for MaXwel1's death who stabbed At
kins and assaulted the negro on Val
ley street, the police force went TO
work on meagre clues while Sheriff
Reed and his deputies ven hunting
for the murderers.
After working on the cases for sew
eraI hours clues were obtained that led
the officers to suspicion Mac Brooks
and Walter Barber, two white men Of
the Avery's Creek section Of the cOuI1-
ty. who were in town Saturday.
Brooks was arrested yesterday af-
ternOOn and Barber today. The inquest
over MaxwelPs body is being conduct
ed this evening. There are Il large
number of witnesses and the inquest
will not likely be concluded before to-
morrow. One interesting circum-
stance connected with placing the
crime was the recognition of Brooks
by the dog that was with the two men
who did the killing.
The cOrOner's jury held both men.
AS to the stabbing of Atkins his wife
and Il cOlOred servant of the household
tell the following story:
Mr.. Atkins and a younger broth
who had just recently come home to
ASheyille from Knoxville, were walk
ing up SOuthside avenue nea the gro
Gerry store of Joseph Foster, when they
were accOsted by one Of the two men
who requested a match to light a cigar
cites. Atkins, the women say, replied
that he had no match, but offered the
MAIN his own lighted cigarette. Pro
curing Il light, the man carelessly
threw Nj. Atkins cigarette away. At
kiIS' brother surprised at what he CON
sidered an act of di~scourtesy, asked the
mel if they knew his brother, won
dcring it is supposed, if they were well
enough acquainted to take such liber-
ties in Il joking manner. For answer
the heavier of the two mel then drew
back a big knife. the women say. and
plunged ]: first into Atkins side, with
an oath. declaring that he cared not 4
picayune words to that effect for
either. He followed up this attack
with the second knife thrust, this pierre
ing the mans left lung.
Meanwhile the second of the two
men who SO far had not been agrees
:slVe, picked up a heavy stone and hurl-
ed it at Mr.. Atkins head. The two
men then fled and escaped.
liz hIIIIlS y A1dAWeli, the negro.
on Mountain street, appears to have
been committed under the following
circumstances:
The two men met Maxwell on Noun.
tain street in front of the house occu-
pied by Mary L. Smith, shortly after
midnight. They were accompanied by
q dog, which, it is said, snapped at the
colOred man as if it would bite him.
stop that you hound. or I'll kill
you Maxwell is reported as saying,
to which one of the white men replied:
You'll do nothing of the kind" A few
more words passed. when, one of the
unknown men drew his gun and fired
at Maxwell point blank.
Without saying a word, but spa
medically clutching at his breast with
his hands. the wounded man took IL
step backwards and fell.
His assailants then took to flight and
made good their escape.
a NEGRO BEATEN BRUTALITY.
a third crime charged to these men
is the brutal beating of a coIOred en-
plOye of the Southern Express Com
pany on Valley street shortly after
midnight. He was so severely injured
that he was unable to give a clear ac-
count of the affair to the police Off
GERS who investigated the affair, and
did not ever report his own name.
1t seems that the men for some u n
known reason, jumped on the man as
he was walking along the street and
beat him on the head with a bottle IN
til he was practically insensible.
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