davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-04
Negro Hanged For Murder of His
Steptather
WAS SCENE OF EXCITEMENT
Two Pel..Dns Become Excited II
a Out OF a Tree-AnOther Peep
ing Through Crack Paints as Drop
Falls-Unknown Tongue Preacher
Add to -~Icitefnent.
Especial to The Messenger.

! (SpGcldl TO Inc messenger
Clinton. N. c.. May 3O.-John Mat
this, colored. was hanged here today
for the murder Of his step-father
Tom Merritt. Tue crime for which he
suffered the death penalty was COM
mitted some two years ago and was
particularly brutal. Merritt was killed
While asleep by a blow from an axe
and his head severed from his body
The house in which he lay was Set on
! fire and burned to conceal the crime.
but the charred remains of the body
were found and told the grueSome tale.
The murderer fled and was at large
until some WI months ago when he
was captured in New Bern. and was
| tried at the recent term of superior
court before Judge Long. The evi-
| dence was conclusive and a speedy
| conviction was secured. While in Jail
he confessed the crime in all OF its
narrowing details. The execution was
private within the confines of the Jail
| enclosure, yet some two thousand peO-
| Dle were here to see what they could
see. Two morbidly curious persons
| clfmed a tree in order to get a view Of
the execution and when the drop fell
| they became 80 excited hat they fell
! out of the tree. Another who peeDed
through a crack tainted and fell
sDrawling at the same time. A mum
Der of excited colored women shTiekcd
and shouted and for a moment per-
feet bedlam reigned outside the jail
yard. To add to the excitement the
execution was succeeded by a volun-
teer performance by an unknown ton
que preacher, who broke out in a wild
and violent chattering in an adjacent
corn field. During his rantings, which
We're entirely unintelligible, a good
deal of corn was trampled down, but
nobody gathered n information from
his remarks. The drop fell at Zoo
and life was pronounced extinct tlir-
teen minutes afterwards from stranCu-
lation. The murderer was of a de-
PRAYED and brutal type OF humanity
Until a short time before his execution
his ~profane rawlings shocked all Of the
town within hearing of the Jail He
even declared he would kill his own
mother if he ever got Il again. But
a few days ago he Drofessed religion
and was constantly ministered 10 By a
number Of colored preachers during
his last hours. Like mos other people
who die as he did. he declared he was
saved and was going straight to
heaven.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-04
COMMISSION RESTRAINED
Carolina and Northwestern Railway
Company VIII Fight Reduction.

Asheville, y. G, May 36.-Judge
Pritchard granted another injunction
today against the corporation commits
sion Of North Carolina on petition Of
the Carolina and Northwestern rail-
way company. which road runs be-
tween Chester, S. c.. and Lenoir, \.
c. The road has about 73 miles OF
trackage in this state and Il restrain
ing order was entered yesterday, re-
turnable at this city on the 9th of
June next, restraining the commission
from putting in operation the passen-
ger and freight rate act recently pass
ed by the legislature of this state.
The allegation of the complaint on
which the injunction was issued are
similar to those on which the South
ern, Norfolk and Western, and stock
holders of the Atlantic Coast Line Sc
cured similar injunctions. and are in
brief that the rate reduction is so OK
eessive that the railway will be deprIv-
ed of any return from its property.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-04
TORPEDO BOATS TO RACE
Lieutenant Commander Anderson, OF
Wilmington, In Command OF Flo
tflla.

New York. May 3O.-Vessels coming
along the Atlantic coast next Thurs
day are likely TO catch fleeting Gimp
SEES of one Of the most remarkable
races ever run in those or any other
waters.
Driven 10 their tOpmost speed under
full service conditions, with forced
draught under all -four Of their boilers,
the six torpedo boat d~cstroyers, com
prising the second destroyer fotilla
attached TO Rear Admiral Evans
North Atlantic squadron will try CON
clusiOns over q race course 24O miles
long. beginning on the Scotland light
| ship and ending 1T The Cape Charles
lightship on the Virginia coast. The
d~estrOyers are the Whipple, the Trux-
ton, the Worden, the Stewart. The
Hopkins and the Hull.
Lieutenant Commander E A. Ander-
son is in command Of the flOtilla They
will move out into the river on h
afternoon of next Wednesday and At
6 o'clock Thursday morning VIII begin
their course back 10 Hampton RoadG-
When OF Scotland lightship the elk
feet rivals will line up and the "A
for Virginia will begin.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-04
TO PREVENT SMUGGLING
Reservation Along Northern Border
Of Mexico Created.

Washington, May 30.-The president
has issued a proclamation creating a
reservation sixty feet in width along
the entire northern border of Mexico.
including the state Of California and
the territories Of Arizona and New
Mexico. The purpose of the reserva-
ton is declared in the presidential
proclamation to be the suppression of
smuggling across the international
line. Private entries in the line of the
projected reservation and such por-
tons of it as are needed for roads are
reserved from the operation of the
order.
Since the abolition of the "Zona
Libre." OF free zone, between Mexico
and the United States. it has beer
found increasingly difficult to prevent
smuggling across the boundary, hence
the presidents proclamation.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-04

Atlanta, Ga, May 3O-A dispatch
from ElPaso. Texas, today, announced
the death there of P. J. HeGovern,
Of Atlanta, chairman Of the Southern
Classification committee, n of the
best known men in the southern terri
tory.
Death resulted from pulmonary trou-
bles, for the relief of which Mr.. Nc
Govern went to Texas several months
ago. He was born in Cincinnati 81
years ago
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-04

Marietta, Ga, May 30.-NemoEn
Day was appropriately observed at the
national cemetery here today, "a de-
tachment Of the 18th United Statos in
fantry, stationed at Fort Mcpherson,
attended under command OF Gen. w.
S. Edgerly, commanding the depart
ment of the gulf.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-04
TO STOP TRAINS.
President of the S. A. t.. VIII Com
ply With Request.

Norfolk. Va. May 30.-At the Office
Air Line railway toady it was stated
that the Seaboard has officially an
nouneed it's willingness to comply with
the request of General Stephen .. Lee,
commanding the confederate veterans
of the south. that all trains on south
ern roads be stopped for five minutes
at 2 D. M. June 3rd, the birthday an
niversary of Jefferson Davis. and the
Richmond. providing other roads will
join in and comply with General Lees
request.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-04

Roanoke, Va. 30.-Frederick
Cartwright, a travelling representative
of a Bristol Tenn, shoe house wa IA
tally hurt by a Norfolk and Western
passenger train at East Raeford, Va.
today.
Cartwright was talki-g with friends
on the train and when it started he
was thrown under the wheels. having
a leg and one arm gu. of and suffer-
ing other injuries. Cartwright - well
known In fh9s seeM61.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-04
CLOSING EXERCISES ST. MARY's
Commencement Sermon Preached
By Bishop Bratton
ADJOURNMENT OF U. $. COURT.

Cost OF Term-Trustees of A.. and
vi. College Establish Chair OF
Modern Languages-State Char
itablc Institutions.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-04
Verdicts Of Guilty Returned.

Buchanan, Ga, May SCATTER de-
liberating all night the jury in the
case of Ben Adams, white, and Mil
lizard Lee, oolored, charged With the
murder OF Reese Jones, a white, man,
February 11th, last, returned a YER
diet today OF sui1ty and recommended
life Imprisonment for both men. The
evidence against the defendants was
entirely cireuMstantial.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-04

Reunion Begins Under Most Enthus-
iaetiC COnditiOns-Unvciling OF
statue OF Gen. j.. T.. Il. Stuart One
OF Features OF the Day-Parade
Preceding dwelling n Brilliant
Pagcant-Was Witnessed by Be
tween $1,000 and 80, 600 People
Al Hollywood Cemetery Annual
crate Dead Took Place.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-04
NATIONAL DECORATION DAY
TratCrnizing of Blue and Gray N
Portsmouth - observance M OtheR
TAIars.S

Norfolk, Va, May S0.-The unpreec-
dented fraternizing of the blue and tho
gray when President Roosevelt NaE
the oratorof the day at Portsmouth,
Va, last year, was repeated in todsy'R
observance there. There was a IN
rade OF United States seamen. head&
by civil "a and army and navy vet
erens. The ceremonies OF the day,
preceded by a military high mass NJ
st. Paul's Catholic church. condactsd
by Rev. Father Anthony Durkin, OF
Baltimore. took place at the nathlnRl
cemetery in the woods OF the naval
hospital grounds, wheR PresLdent
Roosevelt spoke last year. General
Edwin J. Browne. OF Washington. ID.
c., national commander of the army
and navy union, was the orator OF The
day.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-04

bership. Mrs. Chives invited the assc-
citation TO attend the memorial exer-
cises to take place in old B~landford
church, Petersburg, next Tuesday, and
the convention then adjourned TO take
part in the Stuart monument un-
yelling.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-04

Winchester, Va, May 30.-Tha
graves of more than 5000 union SOL
diers buried here were decorated today
by members of the ladies National
Memorial Association. Memorial ser
vices also We're held.
The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1907-07-17

place in the country that has so
little regard for the laws as the
people in this very county of
Fayette."
He told the grand jury to look
well into the charges made against
gambling.
He said in part: The law
must be enforced and | would i'm
press upon your minds that you
should look well into the saloon
closing law. / feel that every
thing in this regard is being done
that can be done, but | want you
to root out the various evils which
have their hold on this city.
Investigate fully the occurrences
of last Saturday and place the
blame where it belongs. ! am I'M
alterably opposed to any man car
rying a weapon of any kind and if
it is possible to be done it must be
stopped"
The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1907-07-17
READY FOR THE FRAY.

The State ticket is preparing fol-
an active campaign, asking that
the ticket be elected on the prin-
ciples of Democracy. Declaring
against Capitalization, favoring a
reduction of the tariff and oppos.
ing the trust methods. The affairs
of the State are an open book.
A Democratic administration is
constructing a capitol building that
will invite comparison with that OF
any State in the Union and that
without increasing the rate of tax
alton.
The school per capita has been
increased to 50. 40, leaving a bal
ance in the Treasury to the credit
of this department.
The temperance question has
been strengthened by the enact
ment of the County Unit Bill and
additional measures helpful to the
cause will follow. The lid" is Oh
in Louisville and other cities and
the moral sentiment of the State is
being led by the Democratic adj
ministratiOn.
The people know that things faI
beyond their fondest dreams are
being realized and at the present
aggressive rate Kentucky will soon
be listed among the first in morals
and the people will press onward
with that party that leadeth to
victory.
The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1907-07-17
WORTHY.

What the Democratic admins
tration of public affairs in Ken
lucky has done for the Common
schools of the State, and is doins
as is evidenced by the action just
taken by superintendent j. II
Fuqua IN declaring a per capt.;
for them for the coming schoo
wear of $40, is one of the
Incentives under which its nom
inees will 90 before the people il
the November election. Thi.
percapita is the largest daclareC
by the Department of public
Instruction.
The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1907-07-17
kentucky Crop Report.

The first half of June was quite
wet, raining nearly every day.
Corn planting, especially in low
lands, that was already late. was
still further retarded by these en-
cessive rains. Early planted corn
suffered for cultivation and many
fields became foul with grass and
weeds. The latter half was al
most ideal, and gave farmers
splendid opportunity to get their
wheat in the shock in good con-
dition. and wage war on the
weeds that were rapidly taking
their corn fields.
The acreage of corn is little
short of last year, owing to the
unfavorable weather Much low
lands would have been planted
under favorable conditions. The
corn crop is not up to t h e
standard, causing a great deal of
replanting and making the crop
very irregular. The wheat crop
improved materially during the
month, but will fall short of an
average crop. While the yield
will be less than an average, the
berry promises to be very fine.
The prospective yield is l6 per
cent. less than the 1905 crop. Oats
promise three-fourths of the 1906
crop. Many counties are almost
"A failure and only a few have full
crop.
Rye promises some better. but
considerably below last year.
Hemp is nearly up to last year in
acreage and condition. Burley to-
bacco is reported 10 per cent. short
OF last year In acreage, owing to
scarcity of plants and labor.
Much of this was planted late in
June and will depend largely upon
a late fall if it makes a good yield. |
The dark district has fallen off %
per cent. in acreage for want of !
plants to set a full crop. Much of
this is also late. Grasses are do
ing fairly well. The high price
and Scarcity of seed cut the acre
age of stock peas. Potatoes prom
Use full crop. The fruit crop, !
except berries, will be a very short |
one. Near a full crop of sorghum
and miIlet. On the whole the
outlook is not so gloomy as APP
peared some weeks ago.
The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1907-07-17
ENFORCE THE LAW.

After two fights in Lexington
in which two lawyers carrying pis-
tolls shot at other men and after
one man was killed Circuit Judge
Parker spoke plain words to the
grand jury:
Il want you to go fully into
these disgraceful events. | think
it would be far better to stop in
yestigatlng other charges if it is
necessary so that something can
be done to enforce the law"
Il do not like to say it, gentle
men, but doubt if there is any
The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1907-07-17
from that Sc

We announce the candidacy of
K. F. Mastin for reelection as
G lief of Police of this city. He
has been Chief for Is months. St
far as we have heard his vigilance,
enforcement of law and conduct as
a citizen and officer have been
commendable. For over twenty
years he has been on the force,
and is in position to know what
ought to be corrected.
The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1907-07-17
PROSPERITY.

That Democratic administration
of public affairs in. the State 0
Kentucky for the last seven year
has been for the best interests
all the people Of the State. is evi
denced by the influx of forei9l
capital during the last few year
seeking Investment. The publ
records will bear out the statemen
that more money has poured int,
Kentucky during the 'ast half !;
dozen years than for a quar- e. of !;
century before; that more firm.
and corporations with large capita
have been organized within tn,
State by citizens of other States il
conjunction with citizens of Ken
lucky, and that more of the for
tunes made in Kentucky have beer
invested within the State than du
ring any similar period in the his.
tory of the State. That nothing is
more chary than money seeking in
yestment is a well known fact.
The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1907-07-17
CORRESPONDENTS,
GRASSY LICK.

Harvesting wheat is finished.
Crops are looking fine.
B. T. Carl sold to II. l.. Greene
II fat heifers at 34c.
Harry Reice is visiting C. w.
Bush and other relatives here.
Will Mason was at Winchester
Friday and Saturday.
On Sunday Bessie and Laura
Blount were at Mt. Sterling.
Little Miss Francis Hurt, of Mt.
Sterling, was the attractive guest
of James Mason and family last
week.
Miss Dora Swango organized a
missionary meeting for youn&
folks with ii members, with MisA
Mary Pegs as President; Pierce
King Vice President; Bessie Blount
Secretary: Dora Blount Secretary.
Working Committee-Ethel &.
and Clara Carl, Russia Wade,
Nellie Ramsey. Mary ID. Mason,
Mary Dean, Johnnie and Herbert
Karrick, Clarence King and VIM.
Buch.
Sanford Shannon and wife,
Clark Shannon and sister and Miss
Mary Dean visited Mr.. and Mrs.
John Pegs.
Protracted meeting begun at
Wade's Mill Sunday night. Bro.
Stone and Bro. Minnard are the
preachers.
Rev. G. F. Oney breaches here
next Sunday.
The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1907-07-17

Elder j. ID. Hunter, of Camel
City, is in the city. He is Deputy
State Counsel of Camel City dis
trict of the order of Jr. O. U. A.
M. His object is to institute
council in Mt. Sterling. He dis
tributes Bibles, American flags and
breaches the gospel according to
the belief of the Church of God.
The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1907-07-17
Out of Business.

Under the modern Louisville adj
ministration 300 rooms formerly
used for the operation of crap
games were raided Sunday and as
a result of this movement 900
gamblers are out of business.
Gambling will stop in Louisville
under the present Democratic adj
ministratiOn.
The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1907-07-17

Mr.. Harry Linthecum, proprie-
tor of the corner grocery, is very
much elated over the opening of
his meat department Monday. The
favorable comments were highly
gratifying and Mr.. Linthecum is
encouraged to believe that our
people will buy only the best.
The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1907-07-17
MOUNTAINS DEMOCRATIC

1t appears to the public that the
Republican nominee for Governor
Wilson. will exhaust the greater
part of his powers trying to per
,uade the mountain people to vote
for him for Governor. Now
Wilson had just as well stay away
from that section for the mountain
voters are unalterably prohibition
lists and are pledged to the party
that stands for relief from this
t 'rrible curse that binds them.
We look for a mighty majority
from that section.
The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1907-07-17

On Hawkins Branch, Menefee
county. on last Sunday after Rev.
George Daueherty had preached a
sermon it is reported Hood Poyn-
ter passed by and struck the
preacher in the temple with stone
telling him to the ground, leaving
him in a critical condition. Poyn-
ter is in the Menefee Jail.
The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1907-07-17
Republican CAMPAIGN.

The Republican State Campaign
Committee has been appointed and
consists of the following:
Albert Scott, of Louisville, will
be chairman and in general cor
troll.
A. 5. Barnett, of Hartford, Sec
rotary and in charge of details of
organization.
John G. Wood, of Mt. Sterling,
will direct the bureau of literature
and speakers.
The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1907-07-17
DONALDSON. CLARK COUNTY.

Crops are looking fine after the
much needed rain.
School begun here Monday, with
Miss June Barnes as teacher.
Frank Pendleton is still living.
Mr.. Fred Cracraft, of Wades
Mill. has severe case of typhoid
fever.
Mrs. Bird Kidd is very i'll.
Dudley Wade has returned home
from Sam Turkeys. He will re-
turn to Ohio after a visit at home.
Cart riding is all the style down
here, also horseback riding.
Mrs. Campbell is very sick.
Mr.. and Mrs. Jerry Star were
with their daughter, Mrs. Wade,
Sunday.
Mrs. Harvey Johnson, of Mid
dletown, visited her parents, Mr..
and Mrs. Dea Stull.
Mr.. and Mrs. John Mullican
visited at Albert Reeds. Also
MIR. Reeds sister from Ohio.
Miss Florence Curry, of Grassy
Lick, has returned home after a
two weeks visit with her sister,
Mrs. Alice Turley.
Laurance Gillaspie is slowly i'm
proving after an attack with a wild
horse.
Rev. Baber, from Willmore, is
holding a tent meeting on the Du-
ley pike, near Wades Mill.
The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1907-07-17
Indictments Disappear.

The indictments in the Franklin
Circuit Court against acting Gov
ernor w. ;. Taylor, Caleb Powers
acting Secretary of State, Charles
Finley and others have disappeared
from the Franklin Circuit Court.
There is no clew as to what has
become of the papers.
The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1907-07-17

The Electric Theatre on Main
street deserves a liberal patronage.
The Stereopticon Views are the
best to be seen. Good music du-
ring the entire time. Show opens
every evening promptly at $50.
Admission only sc to all.
The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1907-07-17
ONE MAN DID IT.

If one man could be the instru-
ment through whom a $15, 100000
depot will be erected. what wor-
derfuI things could be accomplish
ed by a united effort.
The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1907-07-17
Arrests In Lexington.

On Sunday the police in Lexing-
ton arrested three persons for sell
ing beer on Sunday-Mrs. j. B.
Crouch, who has saloon on Con-
stitution Street, Barker and Wyatt
on same street.
The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1907-07-17
Reunion.

On Sunday w. G. Moore had
family reunion of his fathers
and mothers families. Six of his
fathers brothers and one sister
were present, the entire kinship
present numbering twenty-three.