The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-01-17
lkGR0 GUARDED
A S{QRD TRIAL
vile Town on Special
Brute Who Outraged Miss Matte
Sanders. Murdered Her Father, J.
l.. Sanders, and Little Grand.
daughter. Irene Overton,
Pleads Not Guilty 20 Crime.

Montague was found guilty in first
degree after the jury deliberated
eight and one half minutes. The YER
dict was returned at AIS p. m.
Carefully guarded by 40 COM
panies OF the state militia, Nathan
Montague was taken TO Oxford from
the penitenJary in Raleigh yester-
day on al special train. arriving
In oxford at 1910. Sheriff Wheeler,
of Granville county. was in charge OF
the prisoner and he was protected
en- route by the Raleigh military
company under the command OF Cap
tain Moody. Upon his arrival In Ok
ford, the Oxford military company,
under command OF Brigadier General
ID. S. koyster. guarded the prisoner
from the train TO the court house.
and there we're no signs that an at
tempt would be made TO evade the
strong hand OF the law in trying TO
lynch the negro.
Nathan Montague Is charged with
one OF the most brutal crimes In the
history OF North Carolina, that OF
outraglng Miss Matte Sanders. MUIR
dering her father J. l.. Sanders. and
his little granddaughter, Irene Over
ton. and then burning their bodies
In their hoRe near Hester on the
night OF December 10. That the
negro was not lypched at the time
was due 10 the quickness of Sheriff
Wheeler. who brought the prisoner
20 Durham. From Durham he was
taken to Raleigh for safe keeping
Judge George W. Ward presided
at the special term OF court,
and Solicitor s. NJ Gattis was as
sisted In the prosecution by Judge A
w. Graham. who was secured b,
members of the family Of the de-
ceased A special venire were
present from which a jury was
drawn. Two of the strongest wit
nesses for the state were ex-Sheriff
Fleming, OF Granville, and Mr.. r. z
Starns. The negro's knife which wal
found the night OF the crime near tho
ruins os the house. and the bloody
garments OF the young woman were
produced as circumstantial evidence
The people OF Granville have sign
cd a petition which will be presented
TO the general assembly asking thai
the negro be hanged at the scene O
hts crime.
Many Rumers In 0xferd.
A large crowd gathered NJ the sta.
tion yesterday expecting that th'
negro would BE- brought on the South
ern train arriving IN oxford az
o'clock. and when he failed to show
up on this train. the crowd gathered
at the seab0ard station expecting ih'
negro on the s:40 train from Ralelgi
via Henderson. No one knew that |
special would bring the prisoner Z
oxford. There we're many rumor'
heard on the streets IN oxford In ih'
morning but the Suns special CORES
pondent was unable TO verify any o
them. One was TO the effect tina
during the pas, two weeks more thai
900 pistols had been sold by the on
ford hardware stores. bu, the pro
prletors OF these stores refused I
make any statement In asking tha
the negro be brought 70 the scene o
the crime when be is hanged. the peo
pie feel that the reputation of III
county has suffered IN permitting IN
negro 20 be taken from Granville.
Many Visitors Present.
There were many visitors present
many coming from Wilson. the HON
OF the murdered mans son. ny. w
Sanders. who was az the trial Il wa
evident that the trial would be COZ
cluded yesterday.
Al the Court House.
The Raleigh and Oxford militar
companies we're stationed at eyei
entrance 70 the court house and .
visitors we're allowed TO enter u
building. The Raleigh company
Oxford was 65 strong and brought
Calling gun, prepared for any enc
gency.
Judge Ward appointed Mr.. n.
Lasater and Mr.. A. A. Hicks 70 re-
resent the defendant. but a. N
Hicks was going 20 Raleigh TO attel
the funeral OF Colonel Hicks, he vi
excused land Mayor Burnette vi
selected IN his place. The followlI
grand Jury was selected: G. r. Go
don. who is foreman. ]. II. pucke'
X. n. Rogers, W. 8. Suite. T.
Burch, d. n. Oakley. G. G. currI
G. 3. Alexison, =. Scott West, q.
BrcedIove. r. r. Lloyd, =. M. BIaloc
". A. Nonce, q. Y. Ayrock. W.
Farrobow, J. u. Booth, w.
Montague and G. ]. Gee. The pc
Jury that IL hearing the evidence
the case is composed OF II. l.. WI
kins. w. w. Lane, y. Y. Curtin,
r. CurrIn. 3. g. iIobsood. Ed Lnm
kin, w. 6. Daniel. l.. ID. Blaekwe
George n. Wilson, y. ". Beazey.
", ChApellc and Oscar yancey.