The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-07-31
White Man Jailed for Alleged KILL
ing of a Negro.
Negro Prisoner Escape From Moving
Train-Sunshiners Return From an
Extended Outing - Congressman
Small Appears Before Corporation
Commission i'm Matter of Over Taxa
and Water COmpany's Property.
Messenger Bureau.

SecIlon or. the city Wa!
last night arrested by a constable anc
placed in Wake county Jail charged
with the murder of Walter Chavis, q
negro ~ Or p years old who had gen
orally been considered a GULLY in the
~nelghbOrhOOd. Chavis died wirlin a
lew minutes after having been shot
with a pistol and the negroes c0ngre
gated within q radius Of 4 few h1ndre
yards, attending services and a special
meeting at two points rear BY for q
while seemingly demonstrated the will
10 lynch the supposed white criminal.
The constable making arrest brought
his prisoner through the crowd with q
drawn pistol, having realized the tense
ness OF feeling among the negroes who
a been disturbed and excited BY the
shooting. Officers Immediately went
IN pursuit Of four other parties known
10 have been in FOWler'S company ear
Ier in the day, and later succeeded in
OVertaking them and bringing them
back TO Raleigh. AS a result Sid Will
l1ams, Everitt Spence, w. \. Hufins,
together with a little boy, Sam Will
IamS, were his morning placed in the
county Jail, the young boy later being
released, on account of his age The
bOdE of the dead negro W. removed
TO a local undertaker'S where the in
quest was bel dtOday.
When Fowler was arrested last night.
he had no weapon aoCut him but gave
evidence Of having imbibed whiskey, a
bottle also having been found in his
pocket. None of the men arrested bear
absolutely faultless characters, and at
first last night 1t was believed that the
assault was made upon the negro who
was standing in a crowd at a point
near one of the churches where he
had gOne to attend the meeting. De-
velOpments show that the dead negro
had borne a bad character as many as
three successive warrants having been
held against him at one time for carry
ing and using a pistol and for rock
throwing. The party of white men
were known to have been together at
an i~ll-favOred place kept by q negro
by the name Of George Lane who at
present stands indicted for operating
an unlawful business. There is no
doubt that all the men were drinking,
at midday in Raleigh after dis
posing of a load of water melons. The
hearing was held this afternoon before
a Wake county magistrate.
While enrOute from FuquaE Springs
to Raleigh with a negro prisoner a
deputy sheriff of Harnett county al
lowed him the temporary freedom Of
the toilet of the passenger coach n
while the train was running through a
bhiCk wood growth the prisoner eSCap-
ed by crawling through the window
and dropping to the ground while the
train was in motion.
A, crowd of delighted S~unshiners I'M
der the care Of Col mel Fred A. Olds,
director of the organization last night
returned from IN extended outing at
Beaufort and other North Carolina
coast points. The trip from the sea to
the capital was made in perfect safety.
the incoming train being only slightly
delayed.
The state insurance commissioner IS
IOday sending out blanks 10 all the fire
chiefs and building inspectors in the
state, as required ~ the fire waste law
Superintendent Cherry. who has
charge of the capitol building and
grounds was much perpleNed today by
an unusual occurrence. The streets.
grounds and buildings of he various
departments are teeming with eNCIr-
siOnists and some of them had gained
access to the top of the stately capitol
building. to better view the
iRg country. One of them tempered
with the flag pole. and the flag OF North
Carolina slipped nom its place at the
top of the pole. Superintendent
Cherry was in short order besieged by
a number OF curious with the question:
|'Who's dead?' The quizZing was {
planned that the state flag was flying
only at half mast.
DR.. C. H. Herty, professor Of chems-
try at the North Carolina university
spent the day in the city Oh business
with the state department OF chemistry
Hon. John H. Small, congressman
from the first district was for seVeral
hours a Raleigh visitor today. having
left this afternoon. Primarily the WISH
of the eastern representative was &c
appear before the corporation commits
sion in regard to the owe Valuation
of the taxable interests OF The Lake
Drummond Canal & Water Co., Will
home offices at Baltimore. Md. 1t was
desired that the matter be heard b!
the commission before that body passed
on the taxation which last year was
placed at 5000, 600. Congressman
Small is looking on the very brigh'
side of all affairs appertaining to tn
people of his district and their plan:
and enterprises, already in operation
and in contemplation. On Nationa
affairs he had little to say except tt
approve the suggested denominations
postal note which has been under ad
visement, and which he considers 81
great and so necessary a helpfulnes
to the people at large.
1.-THE cotton crops" said he, in Hyde
Tyrrell, lower Beaufort and lower
Washington counties. has been great!
damaged by the heavy and incessan
1oinc N+Io,u;ca tho noNnIo 90 ir