The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-05-18
McOUEEN'S STATEMENT.

Death-How He Killed Boss
Strong, For Which The State
Paid Him a Bounty.
Laurinburg SpediaI, 9th, to Charlotte
Observer.
Mr.. John D. Mcqueen, fomerly
Of this place, died at the Soldiers
Home in Raleigh last Thursday
after having been at that place
just one week. Mr.. Mcqueen was
born in Richmond county some
68 years ago, and led the life of
the average country lad until
1861, when he joined the first
volunteer company of Scotch boys
fromRichmond county. He served
valiantly until he was captured
by the Federal soldiers on July
Sd, 1864, and remained a prisoner
until July 1865, when he received
his discharge.
After coming home he joined
the good people of Robson county
in their warfare on the LoWery
gang, and never let up until he
had slain Boss Strong. For this
the State paid him a reward. He
had been aresident Of Laurin-
burg for the past few years.
For years newspaper men be-
sieged him for a statement of
his connection with the warfare
on the Lowerys, but all in vain.
However, on February 9Th, 1903,
he consented to an interview, on
condition that the same should
not be published until after his
death. His statement follows:
Some years after the civil wal
| went to Robson county on
some business or other, | have
forgotten what. saw its condi-
ton, and fell into the fight to gel
rid Of the Lowerys. About this
time (1871) some Federal troops
were sent there. German was at
the head Of this band Of soldiers,
and one of the under captains was
named MendalhalI. Joe Bell, from
North Carolina, was a private in
Germans forces. The others were
Northern soldiers and | don't
remember any names but these.
General German called for vOlur-
teers to enlist, and a good
many did. James Mcbride, who
owns everything around Floral
| College, was a lieutenant in the
voluntary company, second lieu
tenant, | reckon. | did not en-
roll myself as a Federal soldier.
My name did not appear as a
member Of the company, but
was given a squad Of men and
} acted as scout. We were about
: six men and we were told tc
} spy out the whereabouts of the
4 Lowerys. This was because they
: would be here one day, somewhere
: else another. Henry Berry was
2 powerful cunning. | acted as
' the guide, sometimes for one
: set of men, again for another
t set. Captain Mendalhall placed
e me in command, and | held this
: place as l0ng as the FederalS
: stayed there. The LoWerys die
). not suspect me. We accom-
i. plished nothing. They could have
. hid from us always in those
. sWamps. | know that some saiC
/. the Federal soldiers were friend
d Iy to the outlaws. | do not be
!. lieve this. After about three
: months, | reckon, the Federal
n went home, at least they left;anC
=. | continued the fight in my owl
e way. This | followed for year
l. possibly. | can't remember, bu
+ a good while anyway. | woulc
:. rest awhile, then go at it again
IL At one time l had a chance /
II kill Henry Berry Oowery).
IS was lying in wait, saw him com
l. ing. When he got near enoug
# to shoot his back was turned
d Moved cautiously. Could not b
10 sure it was Henry Berry, an
y that's why l didn't shoot
| Didn't want to shoot a man dow
r, with his back turned anyway
L just couldn't stand the ide
m without being mighty sure VIII
he was. Found out afterward
! that it was Henry Berry.
S, After this, about a month,
a was reported that he was killeC
ed The band had just finished
E. raid at Lumberton. The repol
i'll was that they were at Tom Low
ery's barn when his (Henr
Berry's) gun went off and kille
8. him. When | heard this,I wei
to see the women who wei
in there. l saw Tom Lowrey
y, wife, and several other of Il
rd women. They said Henry Berl
a was dead, and they had made
lie, coffin at the crib and would n
he let the women see the bod
.rd Told them not to watch viii
To- they went to bury it. Y
,ti- searched for several days for t
led grave, but l do not believe
4. was killed. Think he we
OF West. Some of his family we
rth West afterwards.
/ never let up on Henry b
ry until | was certain
Ous was no longer in Robeson, a
o11us ous then started out after the Stror
tI the Boss and Andrew Strong,
Cne got Boss, | Drained him. | fOu
lgS them in their house in Scufl
II d town. 1t was about this time
on; the year february. l had
ecu nearby and about 7 O'Clock
nipht | Slinned I'D to the hOu