The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1917-11-01
DESERTER FROM
= ARMY CAPTURED
After Midnight Pistol Duel With
Sheriff LeWis-A Host of Dep
nties Spent Wee sma' Hours in
Unaccustomed Work of Man
hunting in Woods and Bays
One Deserter Escaped.
HARBORER OF DE-
SERTERS IN TOLLS

Some 8 hours after he fought a
pistol duel by the light of the moon
in a clearing in woods near Bellamy |
with the high sheriff of Robson
county, one w. S. Canady, deserter
from Camp Sewer, was arrested at
a railway siding near Richardson
Sheriff Arch Prevatt, was brought to
be sent today Or tomorrow to Fort
Caswell to answer to military author
tiles for deserting in time of war.
His companion, w. w. Williams, af-
ter talking face to face with Rural
Policeman Eli Phillips, who was
guarding the Seaboard bridge across
the Big swamp with the stern pur-
pose of jntercepting that very man
and Canady-that same Williams eX-
planned to Mr.. Phillips with meticu-
lous care that he was not the man,
and Mr.. Renee Britt, who was with
Mr. Phillips and thought he knew Will
liams, was fooled too, and Williams
was allowed to pass and go on his
way unmolested; so he is still at
large. Jno. Wilkins, charged with
harboring deserters, was brought to
jail Yesterday bond was arranged
Will DlSkt <AICOILCy SdIA cAAu AAS
was released. If he cannot prove him
self innocent it will no doubt go hard
with him.
Canady and Williams were men,
bers of Wilmington company A, en-
gineers, when that company was sta
toned at Lumberton some months
back. When they went to Camp Sc
vier they deserted and were captured
by Robson county officers. A man
was sent here after them and they
left here under arrest, but they walk
ed away from the officer at Wades-
bore and for some two months past
have been beating about in the bays
and swamps around Bellamy and be-
tween there and one of the mill vii
lagos of Lumberton, hiding mostly
by day and at night raiding chicken
coops, stealing anything they founc
ready to their hands, and making
Of themselves a general terror anc
nuisance to the people of all that sec
tion.
The pistol duel in which Sheriff r
E. Lewis and Canady played leading
parts took place at midni ght Monda!
night almost in a stones throw o.
Bellamy. The. sheriff had received
a "tip" about Where these deserter
might be found. AS he and Deput.
Prevatt were preparing to leave RI
office, Mr.. ". P. McAllister came b.
and accepted al, invitation to Joll
were piloted to the house of Jno. VIII
hns. Wilkins denied tat the desert
ers had been harbored at his houst
Unconyinced, the party left Wilkins
home and stationed themselves fe7
yards apart near at path along wllic
the deserters were expected to max
t1eir way back to the Wilkins place
After waiting some time Sheriff Lew
is started to walk across an ope
space to where Mr.. McAllister wa
reclining beside a tree.
A Command to Halt.
Then things began to hapren; tt
next few minutes were crowded WIT
excitement, and were busy ones. r
one had heard the deserters approac
but IS the sheriff stepped out in1
the open there came. the clear, al
uttered that command continued, "I7
got a thirty-eight". "LeG her fly
said Sheriff Lewis.
Pistol Duel by Moonlight.
BY the bright light of the harve
moon riding high above them the M
stood out plainly. They were not
yards apart In that little cleari1
there were no trees to bother. Ca
ady, holding his pistol with bo
hands, began to fire at Sheriff Le7
is. Sheriff Lewis returned the II
at once and Canady advanced, firm
Each man emptied his pistol at t
other and then Canady turned a
fled. Williams began to beat it aw
while the shooting was going on. 30
men faded out Of the landscape qulc
iV and pa1lI not Eo located
Never Touched Hair.
How either man escaped dea
seems a mystery, but neither was
much as scratched. And Canady W
the target for four other shots wh
the sheriff was pumping five bull'
at him. Mr.. McAllister from the sl'
lines took deliberate aim and I'll
at Canady twice with 38 Colts, a
Mr.. Prevatt, little farther away,
so fired >at Canady twice, but ne
capped unharmed.
Sheriff Lewis and his eompanic
went hack to the house and arres
Jno. Wilkins for harboring deserte
Back After Help.
When they got back to town ab
80 a. NJ. Sheriff Lewis immedlat
deputized the following-all Of wh
belong to the "home guards"
were not called out as such-to
with him and Deputy Prevatt
search for the deserters: G. V. Bro
Jno. S. McNeill, T. A. McNeill,
w. P. McAllister, f. A. Wishart,
Thompson, E. l.. Hamilton, r..
Birmingham, j. P. Townsend, Alt