Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1906-07-19
Murdered FAMILY
SET House AFIRE.
Terrible Tragedy Near Sails
bury, Saturday Morning,
NeQrOS Arrested.

tro0uSUOTO, ~. ~ July 'Ao
of the most horrible tragedies in the
history of Rowan county occurred
near Barber's Junction, about forty
miles from this city, this morning.
Between the hours of 1 and O'Clock
unknown persons entered the home
of Isaac Lyrely, we'll known farm
er, while it's occupants were asleep,
killed Mr.. Lyerly, his wife and two
of the younest children, fatally
wounded the third and then fired the
house.
The parents and the three children
were sleeping in the front room on
the first floor there being two older
daughters sleeping upstairs who
were awakened the smoke and
flames from below. The two girls
descended the stairs to awaken their
father and mother. On reashing
their room they found their fa Ter
and mother and the three your
children lying on the bed, tL<
heads were crushed ~ tseir facsSf
badly disfgured. ?
The two older daughters, Mary
and Annie, aged Is and Is respec-
lively, managed to carry the dead
bodies from the house and extinguish
the flames. Then they ran tc the
nearest neighbor, w. B. Barber's,
and told the story of the tragedy.
There being no officers. IF the law at
this place, r. r. Millisan, train dis
patcher on duty at that hour, was
notified and he wired the news to the
sheriff at Salisbury, who started at
once to the scene with bloOdhOunds
and posse of armed men. Blood
hounds were also sent from Winston
Salem to assist in the pursuit.
Three negro men and negro wo-
man, George Erwin, Jack Dilligham
and Mitchell Graham and his wife,
have been arrested and put in Jail
at Salisbury on suspicion of compile
ity in the crime.
Excitement is intense in the neigh
borhood and there is talk oflynching.
CHARLOTTE FOR SAFE KEEPING.
Charlotte. n. c., July 14.-Sherif
Julian, of Rowan county, tonight
brought to this city for safe keeping
Neal Gillespie, his son, John Gille-
spie, Jack Dillingham; and wife, Geo.
Erwin and Henry Lee, negroes,
charged with the murder of Isaac
Lyerly, his wife and two children
near Barber's Junction last night.
There was nothing to indicate a
lynching at Salisbury but the sheriff
thought best to move the prisoners.
The coroner's jury tonight fastened
the crime upon all the prisoners.
GOVERNOR OFFERED REWARD.
Raleigh, N. c., July 14.-The Gov
ernor was notified by telegram this
morning of the terrible tragedy near
Salisbury and at once issued orders
for bloodhounds to be sent from the
penitentiary and also made proclama-
ton of reward of $3.50 for the mur-
derers. Later it was learned that
there were no bloodbounds at the
States prison except two unframed
animals and they were on the Hall
fax county State farm. News of the
tragedy caused much interest here
and everything possible was done at
the executive Offices to assist in bring
ing the fends to justice.
NEGROES MADE THREATS.
Mr.. Matt L. Webb, white man
who had worked with Nease Gille-
spie, alias Nease Graham, large
mulatto, about 40 years old, report
ed that he had heard the negro use
the following language: "Old man
Lyerly can cut that wheat and thrash
it but he will never eat it or get the
money for it,"
This recalled something that Mr..
J. g. Lyerly, son by former wife,
had heard his father say, Nease Gill
lespie, who is a saw mill hand for
Mr.. John Dellinger, moved into one
of Mr.. Isaac Lyerly's cabins last fall.
He, his son and step-son agreed to
work SO much land if they took the
house. A section for wheat was laid