Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1907-08-28
LEXINGTON AND DAVIDSON COUNTY,
A OlsgracefuI Scene Between Ex-Sheriff
D0rsett's Wife and His Paramour.

Mrs. Columbia Fritts has pur-
chased the farm of John D. Holt,
the consideration being $4,000.
This deal is quite interesting be-
cause of the fact the family into
whose hands the property has
come, is family of cotton mill
operatives. It is unusual for op-
eratives to invest in farm proper
ties, especially in a period like
the present when the drift is en-
tirely from the farm to the mill.
Mr.. Yelvlngton, Western Union
telegraph operator at this place,
tells us that the situation is i'm
proving somewhat and that he can
now do business with many more
offices than this time last week,
when he was practically out of
business because of the strike.
The situation appears to be i'm
proving throughout the country.
There are 55,852 telegraphers in
this country, 1856 of whom are
in the commercial offices. How
many of them are on the strike is
not known.
Superior court adjourned Friday
afternoon, although it was two
weeks term: The criminal docket
was cleaned up earlier than ex-
pected, and "a number of railway
cases continued, and the Judge
moved up the calendar, taking up
cases the latter part of last week
that were set for this week. As a
result very few civil cases we're
tried. Ned Dorsett, the negro
murderer from Thomasville, plead
ed guilty to manslaughter and
was sentenced to ten years. This
was later cut down to seven years.
Sclicitor Hammers success last
week in securing a verdict and a
sentence that shut up a brothel
that has long disgraced this COM
munity pleases the good people of
Lexington and reflects great credit
on him. The case presented diff
culties. 1t has been about a year
since it was begun. People freely
predicted that nothing would come
of it. The big solicitor conducted
1T In a most adroit, masterful way
and won. He merits the thanks
of the people of this town, and he
has them. The people Of the dis
trict made no mistake when they
reelected him last fall.
The town was stirred nightly
Monday night after 8 o'clock when
the news got abre ad of sensation
al encounter between Mrs. Savan-
nah Dorsett. wife of ex-Sheriff
T. S. F. Dorsett, and the notorious
Laura Hargrave, at the office of
the Dorsett livery stables.
It seems that Mrs. Dorsett, hear
ing that the woman was at the
stables, went from her home to
the office, which is only short
distance. 1t Is said that the
Hargrave woman was there hav-
ing deed made to her property
here. Under sentence of court,
she was to have left the state with
in 30 days from last Friday, aud
she had been making preparations
to leave. There are confused &C.
counts of what happened at the
office, and it is safe to say that
none of the rumors are true. Blows
were passed and it was over in a
moment.
All that was actually witnessed
by people on the street was when
the two came out of the office, the
negro pulling Mrs. Dorsett by the
hair while the latter screamed.
The big crowd which quickl J
gathered cared little for what har
pened. Feeling ran high agsins
the mulatto. She was arrested
and arraigned before the mayor
who set 2 O'Clock yesterday fo1
trial and required $500 jus,ifie
bond. Zeb V. Walser asked tina,
this be cut down, and fin" |,
Mayor Meyer did reduced 1t to $30(
Hayworth took a bond with
Tom Hargrave, colored, as surety
who justified in the above amount
The woman, upon being released
made rapid preparations and lef
on north bound No. 12, and di,
not return, thereby forfeiting tn,
bond and steps will be made te
collect it.