The semi-weekly messenger., 1906-07-31
WILMINGTON n c.
TUESDAY, JULY 81, 1906.
LOOKS LIKE A CONSPIRACY.

The following circumtances in con-
nectiOn with a murder committed near
Smithfield in this state on July 18th
would indicate that there is conspir-
acy among some negroes who commit
ted the murder for the sake of robbery
to put it on a leading citizen OF that
town
On the night Of July 18th Alonzo
Jones, a young merchant Of Smithfield,
was murdered on the highway near
that town by some unknown person,
being shot through the head from be-
hind, the ball coming out through the
face A special dispatch to the Char
lotte Observer Of yesterday says
sensation was caused in Smithtield the
evening before by the arrest Of Charles
Peacock, a prominent young merchant
of the place, on the charge OF being the
murderer The cOroner'S jury investl-
gated the case behind closed doors for
two weeks The Observers CORE
spOndent learns that there was tesu-
mOny by negroes that they saw the
two men walking together along the
road and soon afterwards heard pistol
shots Just about where the white men
found the next day. There was also
testimony by one of these negroes that
a short while before that time-at
$50 o'clock-he saw Peacock close his
store and walk off UP the road with
Jones. 1t is said there was some other
circumstantial evidence pointing to-
ward Peacock as the murderer.
The Observers correspondent says
as to Peacock's side of the case:
Peacock's contention is that it is
either case of mistaken identity or
a hold attempt bv the negroes to place
the responsibility on some one else to
shield them. Peacock says he dld see
Jones in front of his store shortly al
ter O'Clock in half drunken condl-
tiOn. talking to some negroes aDOut
buying a house and lot, at the same
time displaying roll of bills. He does
not known where Jones went from
there. nor with whom he left, but for
himself he closed his store at $3.50
O'Clock and went directly home. His
brother unlocked the door for him TO
come in and asked him what time it
was. He struck a match and they
both looked at the clock and saw 1t
was 9:45. He went straight to his
room and retired, as his mother closed
and locked the door behind him. This
is what Mrs. Peacock will swear to in
COrrohOratiOn of this statement. 1t is
said that Congressman f. w. POu and
Mrs. Pou We're sitting on their front
porch. Just across the street from the
Peacock residence. and saw Peacock
come down the street and go in his
home as near the time mentioned as
they could guess and ten or fifteen
minutes after he had gone into the
house they heard the pistol shots in the
direction of the Highland bridge. It
is said PeacOck's side of the evidence
was not produced before the coroner 5
jury hence in consequence of the evil
denCe produced against him. he was
ordered arrested.
He has been committed TO jail with
out bail. but his chief attorney. Con-
ereSsn1an f. w. POu. has gone to Will
son tonight to apply to Judge Connor
for a writ Of habeaS corpus, which will
probably bring all the evidence before
the public soon. II is expected the
hearing before Judge COnnOr will come
up tomorrow or Monday. Mr.. Pea
cocks father is an influential and high
~ respected old merchant of smith
field and has one son besides the one
IN question and three very bright and
popular daughters. Mir. Charles Pea
cock himself is a brilliant young man
OF good reputation in his community
and has had bright prospects in the
business world. as we'll as socially. He
is about - years old and is in the
mercantile business with his brother,
in which they have been successful.