The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-06-06

One Of the boldest highway robber-
les or at least an attempt at robbery,
which has ever occurred in or near
Wilmington, took place on the Mar
ket street road between the National
cemetery and the home Of Mr..
Frank Mills last night about 1
o'clock, when, it is charged, Jesse
and 10 Mason and another man
who was not caught surrounded Mr..
George r. Smith and his little son, who
were on their way home. Mr.. Smith
had a pistol and he and the men emp
tied their pistols, but no one was
struck. Two of the men, Jesse and
10 Mason, now occupy a cell at the
city hall. Mr.. Smith and his small
son both identified the two Masons.
Mr.. Smith lives on Middle Sound,
but works at Shepherds saloon at
Eleventh and Market streets, and ev-
cry Saturday night his small son
comes after him and he goes home. He
left the saloon last night about 1870.
Last Saturday night someone attempt
ed to hold Mr.. Smith up and last night
he carried a pistol along. When just
I west of Mr.. Mills residence his son
called, Look out, papa, there N
someon." Almost Immediately a
man stepped up behind the buggy.
Having bee ntroubled OH a pre-
viOus occasion, Mr.. Smith had his
pistol in readiness and when he
turned to look to the back of his
buggy a pistol glared in his face. Mr..
Smith fired at the man who also fired
-four times. One of the men standing
e the horse fired several times at
the boy, who was %crouching in the foot
of the buggy. The little fellow, when
the man by the horse began firing,
dropped as low rs he could get in the
foot of the buggy. Realizing that they
| could not accomplish their purpose,
the men ran. They had gone but a
little distance when some negroes who
Eved nearby, and were attracted by
the firing, appeared to learn the trou-
be. They had brought guns and vol
Enteered to assist in finding the rob-
heTs. In the meantime Mr.. Frank
Mills, who also heard the shooting, tel
epIOned to the police station and
Sergeant Hardy and Officers Gray,
Merritt, Minchu and Harris left for
the scene of trouble. They were ac-
ccmpanied by Mr.. Freeman Yopp, who
joined in the search
In the meantime tie searching party
on tile road had succeeded, in bringing
the men from their hiding place n as
they raj were fired at. MI. Smith and
seversd of the party bid at the bridge
just beyond the National cemetery and
presently Jesse Mason, who it vas
found later was almost drunk, called
out, "Please let me pass" Mr.. Smith
walked towards him and demanded
that h4 throw up his hands,, which he
Old. Upon being arrested a 32-caliDre
Smith and Wessen pistol was found
on him and in his trousers pocket was
a metal watch and in his vest pocket
a cheap brass watch. He also had a
quart OF liquor which he had purehas-
ed from the saloon where Mr.. Smith
stays, about 11:3O. He tied and
marched to the city.
When the policemen reached Sew
enteenth and Market they noticed a
man under a shed on the opposite side
Of the street strike a match. They
vent across to see VINO It was n tne
man jumped in the shadow of the
building, but was commanded to halt,
which he did. 1t proved to be 10
Mason. He was arrested by Officers
Merritt and Gray. Officer Merritt saw
a pistol IN the mans coat pocket and
took it out. It was also a Smith and
WessOn. He was arrested anu brought
on to the city hall.
1t is said thai four or five carts were
held up last night about the same
place as the above hOld-up. One man
reported having lost a watch. There
have been a series of robberies in this
vicinity during the past few months
Jesse Mason lives on Middle Sound
and is a farmer. Joe Mason lives in
Wilmington at Third and Queen
streets. and is a drayman. They are