The news & observer., 1905-12-27
Desperate Negro Cor
nered and Killed.
Escaping From, Officers by Deed of Dar-
ina He Comes Back Home 10 Spend
Christmas and Meets
Death.
Especial to News and Observer.)

Kenansville, n. c., Dec. 26.-Bob
Mcmillan, a negro desperate was
shot to death yesterday at his home
in Island Greek Township, this dup
linz county, while resisting Deputy
Sheriff John S. Herring, and Officers
J. A. BIanton and S. Proctor, who
had been sent by the sheriff to ar
rest him.
The desperate conflict which ended
in the negro's falling dead before the
guns of the officers was the climax
of a story, which began last spring.
AT that time a warrant was sworn out
for the arrest of Mcmillan on the
charge of an attempted criminal as
sault upon Mrs. d. e. Blanton, a
highly respected lady, living in the
Island Creek section, and the arrest
Of the negro was effected shortly
thereafter.
The authorities. however, seemed
ignorant of the desperate character of
the man with whom they were deal
ing; nor could they conceive that
under the circumstances, his wife
would make a determined effort to
save him. No sooner. though, was
Mcmillan brought before a magfs-
trate for the hearing of the case than
this woman, who had contrived to
lace herself close beside him, slip
ped into his hand a revolver. A
whispered word and she had stepped
aside. Then uD swung the negro's
armed hand, and as he moved back
ward step by step, the gleam in his
savage eyes spoke more plainly than
the words he uttered of the fate that
awaited the man who should dare to
touch him Or seek to bar his way to
freedom.
The quickness of the action the
desperate determination of the man
for a few moments held every one in
the motionless. Before they could
recover from their stupor of surprise,
the negro had bounded from the
court and disappeared in the shadows
of the surrounding trees.
A search was of course instituted,
but it was bootless. Nothing more
was heard of Mcmillan until last
week. Then he suddenly re-appear-
ed in the neighbOrhood of his home.
saying that he had returned to spend
Christmas with his family. He was
armed with gun and pistol, and
formidable looking figure lurking
about-the woods, excited uneasiness
among the people of the community,
who feared some deed of violence, es-
pecially as he made open threats that
he would resist to the death any at
tempt to deprive him Of his liberty.
His presence was reported to the
authorities, and steps were at once
taken to capture MIN. to this end the
sheriff ordered Herring, Blanter and
Proctor to set out in search of him.
On Christmas day these men went to
the neighborhood of McMillan's home
and for several hours searched the
forests with no results. About half
in, hn of
ed information that the negro was
in his home. They advanced toward
the dwelling when the loud barking
of McMillan's dog gave the man warn
ing of their approach A dash was
made for the door. Herring threw
himself against it and burst into the
room. He had scarcely glimpse of
its occupants, Mcmillan, his wife and
their two children, when the negro
leaped forward swinging aloft a chair.
He brought it down upon
Herring's head. but the lat
ter, stricken a glancing blow,
instantly closed with the negro, at
the same time jerking out his pistol
and firing in McMillan's face. The
negro, shot in the mouth, relaxed his
grip, fell and rolled under the bed.
Before hand could be raised to stay
her, his wife, pistol in one hand and
gun III IHe OtueI opletHS 70 IiiO DOt
side and bending thrust the weapons
into his hands Desperately wounded
as he was, Mcmillan clutched them
and rolled from beneath the bed. The
next moment he was on his feet,
shooting like a demon. His bullets
however, flew wide and no one was
struck.
Not so those of the posse who faced
him. Herring's two companions had
entered during the struggle, and now
the crash of their guns filled the room.
When the smoke lifted the trio stood
erect untouched At their feet lay
the black desperate bleeding and mo-
tionless.
A coroners jury was at once impan-
neled, and the matter thoroughly IN
vestigated. When all the evidence was
in a verdict was rendered of Justl-
fable homicide.