Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 191?-19??, 1914-12-03

merS or camp followers, who pretended
to be connected with the army, engag-
ed IN forays into the surrounding
country, robbing, pillaging and insult
ing women, until at last a band of Con-
federate soldiers who had returned
from the war, after their surrender.
found 1t necessary to pursue and de-
stroy these m~arauderS. One of them,
Whose name was Wilson, at the head
OF his band of ruffions, was on n of
MS usual expeditions in the summer
OF 1865, between G~oldsboro and Wilson
county line, when a party of ex-Confed-
crates under the command of DR.. r.
Ihomas Person, now of Wilson, hastily
gathered, attacked and pursued them
> and ran their leader into Goldsboro.
where he sought protection from the
garrison, and shot and killed him on
the steps of the store on the corner of
Boundary (now Holly and East Cen
ter Streets, then occupied by the late
Sol. keaton. This act, daring in the
extreme, brought relief to the people
OF the county. Among those who par
ticipated in it [ recall Frank M. Ay-
cock, a gallant soldier, patriotic citizen
and excellent farmer, and Gilbert
Ward, who won distinction in war, and
never III his life feared man or devil.
whose affectionate loyalty to his
was Unsurpassed DY anV man |
l ever knew. ,
Dr. Person, a man of dauntless cour-
age, capacity for leadership, and great
ness of heart, after practicing his pro-
fess1on for many years, during which
no sufferer, however poor, ever sought |
MS service in vain, still lives far be-
yond his four score years, enjoying the
confidence and love of troops OF
friends. A kindred spirit representing
the gallant soldier, loyal citizen and
old time physician, whose life has been
spent in unse1fish devotion to his
nelghbors, is DR.. J.. B.. Kennedy, of
Grantham township. 1t is a delight to
pay tribute to these old time country
doctors, among whom | should like to
include John F. Miller, W. H. H. Cobb
Geo. L.. Kirby, J. d. Spicer and Thos.
Hill, OF Goldsboro, who have passed
away and M. Mel. Tatum, of Mount
Olive, who still survives.
one OF the most celebrated trials
that took place in the Court House just
removed was the trial of the Worley
murderers, in April 1878. On February
IL, 1878, James Worley and his wife,
Apple Jane, humble but Industrious
and worthy citizens, living in the low
Of Fork township, were found
murdered in their humble home, in
LIZ p1 SoShSS VI l1GlI 11lduC cU1lu anu
little five yea old daughter. On i'll
vestigation it was found thai a crime,
even more horrible than murder, had
been perpetrated. David A. Grantham
was at that time Sheriff of the county
"a descendant of one of the Oldest and
most respected families, a man of I'M
usual intelligence, energy and charac-
ter. He organized an investigation,
aided by the citizens of the neighbor-
hood, which resulted in the arrest of
negroes, Noah Cherry, Harris At
k1nsen, Robert Thompson and Jerry
Cox. So careful and thorough had
been the Investigation that the last
named defendant finding himself in
the coils OF the law turned states evil
There was great excitement
when facts of the tragedy became
generally known, and there was immi-
nent probability that an attempt might
be made to lynch the prisoners, which
GOODNESS and courage of Sheriff
prevented; and the prisoners
duly brought to trial on April
30, 1878, in the presence of a numer-
ous and highly excited multitude. Hon.
ohm Kerr presided at that session of
court, the State was represented
by Hon. J. Moore, Solicitor, assisted
by William T. Dortch and w. E.
Clarke.
The defendant, Harris Atkinson, was
by John. D. Kerr, now of
Clinton; Noah Cherry, by George r.
Wassom, a negro lawyer of Goldskero,
md Robert Thompson by Swift Gallo
afterwards Solicitor of the dis
Lrict.
The evidence was fully developed by
and experienced counsel, both for
the State and defendants, argued with
great ability and the charge of the pre-
siding judge was clear and impartial.
The defendants, Cherry, Atkinson and
thompson were convicted, sentenced
and on the 18th day of June, 1878, exc
cuted by Sheriff Grantham in the pres
OF an immense multitude.
The investigation of this case begun
by Sheriff Grantham, and his assis-
ANTS, participated in by the Coroner's
Jury, presided over by DR.. George L.
Kirby, he Coroner; the quiet courage
and determination of Sheriff Gran
than, which prevented the application