The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1915-05-20
A BALLAD OF NAOMI WISE.
Murder That Occurred in Randolph
a Century Ago.


furnishes the Daily Journal, of that
city, with the following story of the
murder Of Naomi Wise, which oc.
CURED at Randleman more than a
century ago. To many old people the
story of the murder of Naomi Wise
is familiar, especially along the river
and about Randleman. Col. Blair's
story of the tragedy follows:
About 100 years ago, near Ran
dleman, lived a fine gentleman by
the name of William Adams. AT
his house there was a beautiful eirI
named Naomi Wise, an adopted child
and whose parents were dead. Not
very far away lived the aristocratic
overbearing family of Lewises, noted
tor their size, mus ular development
and daring. Jonathan Lewis, son of
Richard Lewis, who had shot his
own brother, was clerk in the store
of Benjamin Elliott, and fell in love
with the beautiful Naomi Wise.
He called to see her frequently
and had promised to marry her, but
his family thought she had not
wealth and position enough for him
and desired that he marry another,
Miss Elliott, a sister of the owner of
the store in which Lewis worked. To
accomplish this it became neces-
sary, according to his idea, to dis
pose of Naomi. He drowned her in
Deep river, and an old lady, Mrs,
Davis, heard the screams at night,
and she and her son heard the gal
Looping horse leaving the other side
of the stream
After the crime Lewis went to
his home, changed clothes, went to
Ashebero to the store, went into the
country to sale, drank heavily dur
ing the day and spent the evening
with a Miss Martha Hussey. 1t was
known that he would not hesitate to
kill any one that attempted to arrest
him. but posse headed by Robert
Murdoch, suddenly fell upon him at
the Hussey home and took him to
Jail at Asheboro.
Probably with the assistance of
his family, he escaped and fled to
parts unknown. Years afterwards it
was reported that he was living in
Ohio. Some citizens determined to
so west and bring him back. They
succeeded in finding him and in hir-
ing some hunters to bind him, which
they succeeded in doing after ter
rifle fight.
On the way back to North Caro-
lima he escaped from his captors,
but they succeeded in overtaking
him him and in landing him safely
back in the Asheboro Jail. His trial
was moved to Guilford county and
for lack of evidence, many of the
older witnesses having died, Lewis
was acquitted. He afterwards died
in Kentucky and after lying on his
death bed for many days in great
misery he confessed having muir
dered Naomi Wise.
For years the song concerning Ma
omi Wise was well known through
Randolph and Guilford counties
There are several verses of the song
The following differs slightly from
the one published in the book writ
ten by DR.. Braxton Craven, and
which is pretty we'll circulated over
the county:
Come all you good people, III have you draw
near,
A sorrowfuI story you quickly shall hear,
story I'll tell you bout Naomi Wise,
How she was deluded by Lewis'S lies.
He was so good looking, so handsome and
brave,
And SO many women his promise he gave,
His horse was the finest, his clothes they
were new,
His bearings were knightly, his words were
not true.
He promised to marry and used me quite well,
But conduct Jntrary sadly must tell;
He promised to meet me at Adams spring.
He promised me marriage and many good
things,
Still nothing he gave but f1attered the case,
And brought his fine horse he had won in the
race.
''Come get up behind me, We'll go off to town
And there we'll be married, in union be bound.
| got up behind him and straightway did go
To the banks of deep river where the waters
| did flow.
He says Now, Naomi, l'll tell you my mind,
Ny mind is to drown you and leave you be
| hind -
"Have mercy, have mercy poor Omi cried;
mo mercy, no mercy" the monster replied.
''In deep Rivers bottom your body shall lie;
sl'l wed another, I'll biz you goodbye"
The wretch then did choke her, as we under
stand,
She fell in the river, behind the mill dam.
Be it murder or treason, oh! what great
| crime
To murder po0r Omie and leave her behind
The river was muddy, the water was deep,
And on its old bottom poor Omi did sleep.
Young | evils rode ON hV night and bY daN: