The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-03-27
YOUNG MAN ATTEMPTED SUICIDE
Reasons For the Act of Young
Seamaqs
Mr.. Seamams Expresses Regret at His
Action-Court Of General Sessions
Open-Important Gases to Come 10
Tria1-Death OF II. Fletcher Gibson.

morning for the county OF Marlboro,
with Judge Gage presiding. an affable
gentleman, with pleasing manners, and
very courteous TO all, yet firm and Il
strict disciplinarian, requiring all 10
be prompt and at their post OF duty.
Judge Gage is universally beloved and
esteemed not only by the bar members,
but the entire citizenship of the coun-
ty hold him in profound v~enera.ion.
Stenographer F. F. Covington and So
~licitor, j. Monroe Johnson, both were
on time and at their post.
Solicitor Johnson and S~tenographer
Covington both are natives and former
residents Of old Richmond county, and
they don't understand, scarcely, how
territory is now called Scotland"
A. the recent session of the South
Carolina legislature the salaries of
botn OF these court officers we're IN
creased, the stenographer now receiv-
ing $1,000 and solicitors 81, ZOO.
Notwithstanding the Indictment
weather, the large courthouse audito-
rum was we'll filled when court con-
vened at 10 o'clock. The numerous
capital offenses is the reason so many
people were present, as the witnesses
in the half dozen Or more murder
cases would constitute a good crowd.
The grand jury was organized by
election of Mr.. Henry B. Freeman as
foreman a wise and judicious selection.
Several bills were given out by the
solicitor and some the grand jury re-
turned with true bills" in two or
three cases. Court very soon entered
upon the trial of Ephriam Zimmerman,
colored, charged with killing another
negro, about a year ago, in the lower
portion Of the cunty. This case was
tried at the last spring term, result
ing in a mistrial. T. w. Boucher IS
representing the defendant.
A murder case is Sc, for Wednesday
and one for Thursday. 1t will require
more than the entire week TO try the
mu,,ler cases on the docket. There is
only one weeks court this time and
only criminal cases can be tried.
the Messenger correspondent. this
afternoon wired an account of the at
tempted suicide of young Seamans, of
High Point, N. c., which occurred
this morning at the home of Mr.. Jas.
F. David, in East Bennettsville. Your
correspondent today visited the unfor-
tunate young man and talked with
him concerning his condition and the
cause of the rash act. The young man
belongs to a good family in High Point.
The first Monday in January he came
10 Bennettsville with the Penny Broth
ers. horse traders from High Point,
n. c., remained in town several days.
Last Friday the young man made his
in town again and went to
Mr.. David's boarding house. Saturday
morning Chief of Police William Kel-
ly received a long distance phone
message from the chief of police in
High Point telling him to arrest Mr..
Secrease and hold him until further
notice. Mr.. Kelly found the young
man riding a pony on the street and
made the arrest, drawing
his pistol while making the arrest.
and took him to the Jail enclosure.
Mr.. Secrease sent for Mr.. John W. I.e-
Grande, his attorney, who demanded
an immediate trial. which resulted IN
releasing the young man on his W
recognizance until today at s O'Clock,
but holding the animal in one Of The
sales stables. The phone message
stated that he had stole the horse,
while the young man stated that he
had been keeping the horse for its
feed, and that the owner knew of his
leaving, and authorized him to sell
the pony at a certain price. This morn
ing his attorney, the mayor, and Mr.
Ingram, the owner of the horse, who
had arrived last night, were waiting
at the court house for Mr.. Secrease
to make his appearance. They phoned
once or twice for him 10 come. Mr..
and family except Mrs. David,
had all left home and gone to their
respective places of business. The
young man came down stairs and seq
ing Mr.. David's pisa1l on the bureau,
took it to his room and directly Mrs.
David heard a pistol report up stairs.
She quickly went TO his room, fund Mr.
SScrease across the bed making lamen-
tations, etc, she ptoned Mr.. David
what had happened, also phoned DR.
who came at once, examined
the wound aiding him all he could
The ball "a n. SO calibre) entered
the lower part of the right breast and
ranged upwards, passing through the
left lung and lodging in the rear OF the
left shoulder. DR.. Townsend Will cut
it out tomorrow as he can feel 1t near
the skin, having almost passed entire
ly through his body.
When The Messenger correspondent
called this afternoon late, 10 see him
he was in bed perfectly rational, and
stated that TIE modification of having
been arrested. and the manner OF The
arrest. was more than he could bear.
Besides he thought of the trouble and
alarm it would cause his poor mother.
that he, at the moment, preferred
death. He seems now TO regret the
act. and says If he gets well he in
tends to sue the town for false arrest.
and for using a pistol when there
no need of such treatment The
vounp man is well behaved, and Mr..