The Robesonian., 1918-02-07
DIXON NOT GUILTY
So Said Jury in Case Last Eve
ming After Being Out Only
Eight Minutes.
P L E A D SELF-D EFENS Z,
Large Crowds Attended the Trial
Which Began Thursday of Last
Week-Examination Of Wit

Which Began Thursday of Last
Week-F;xamination Of Wit
neGses Was Completed Monday
Afternoon and Lawyers Arg1led
The Case I've Days,
"Not guilty" was the verdict ren-
dered by the jury in the case in which
W. d. Dixon was tried for his life on
the charge Of killing Alfred Thomas,
Indian, at Pembroke on the NIGHT OF
November 10, last year. The case
WaS turned over to the Jury at GIT
last evening and it was only eight
minutes later that tie ;ur1 3anaeTed
It's verdict Of not guilty.
Perhaps no heart was made gladder
by The verdict that that Of Mrs. Dixon,
VINO had stayed by hel husband
throughout the trial.
There was much interest in the
trial, which was begun Thursday af-
ternoon Of last week. The examina-
ton of witnessed was completed Mon
day afternoon and Tuesday morning
the attorneys began their plea. Mr..
1. l.. Johnson, representing the State,
was the first to sneak. He was fol-
lowed by MIR. A. w. Mclean for the
defense, followed by Mr.. S. Mcintyre
for the State. Mr.. H. f. Stacy fol
lowed Mr.. Mcintyre for the defense
Mr.. Stacy's speech completed Tues
days session. Those who spoke yes
terday were: Mr.. T. A. McNeill, Jr.
for the defense, Mr.. H. S. kirkpatrick
for the State, Messrs. W. s. Britt and
G. B. Patterson for the defense and
Solicitor S. B. Mclean for the State
followed by the charge to the Jury
by Judge Connor.
There was much interest in the case
and large crowds packed the court
room throughout the trial Attor.
neys for both the State and defense
made a hard fight
The jury was composed CT the fol
lowing. irwin RarfielG, C. E. inn1an
d. A. Pittmar, u. S. -RIarlay. W. S
Small, P. S. Steed, A. A. Mtig1l5, G
NJ. Baggett, z. y. + Usher, a. ! nc
MILAN, A. Il. Parker, Hector McMil-
Ian V
THIS trial completed The work o;
the term andJu dge Geo. ". Common
of Wilson, who presided, left last
night for Wilmington.
The following testimony, in addi-
ton to the report published il Mon
days Robesonian, was offered:
Rural Policeman Walter Smith.
Walter Smith, rural policeman, tes-
titled that be recalled the time when
he was sent for to go to Pembroke
to assist il aIresting Alfred Thomas
He said that Thomas cursed him and
Dixon after they had succeeded il
arresting him, that Thomas kicked
him and when he threatened to Kill
Thomas if he kicked him again Dix
on asked him not to hurt Thomas
Thomas declared he would kill Smith
and Dixon if it took him 10 years tc
do it, and that he had the steel jack
cts TO do it with. The witness cor
roborated the testimony oft he de-
fendant in regard to his deputizing
him to arrest a negro before the kill
ing. He also stated that Dixon was
the best he ever saw on catching ne
groes.
On cross examination the witness
said that Thomas was drunk when Re
ed if he had not been in Thomas
store on one occasion and asked
Thomas the price of eggs Thomas
! replied, "thirty cents to anybody be-
sides you, but forty cents to you
He left without buying the eggs.
A. B. Beasley.
| A. B. Beasley's testimony was that
he worked in the Mccormick Cos
! store at Pembroke; was in the store
| on night Thomas was killed. Saw
Dixon soon after the shooting. Dixor
was holding handkerchief to head anc
was bloody He saw the screwdrive1
in evidence fall out of Dixon's clothes
when he pulled off his coat. Wher
asked about Dixon's character the
witness said it was good, while thai
/ Of Thomas for danger and violence
was bad.
P. B. Burks.
P. B. Burks testified that he hae
heard Thomas say he would Kill Dix
on and Smith if it took him 10 years
The witness also testified that Dixon's
character is good and that Of Thomas
was bad.
Mrs. w. D. Dixon.
Mrs. w. D. Dixon, wife Of the de
fendant, testified that they had si1
| children, twins 3 years old and a sab.
that was 3 weeks old when Thoma
was killed. That her husband un
loaded brick the day before the killing
and went home just before dark; at
supper about $50; after supper talk
ed about getting some things for tn
children Saw nothing UNUSUAL o
strange in husbands appearance o
actions. Was in bed when she hear
shooting Jumped out Of bed an
ran to door, Heard somebody as
/ "Where is Dixon?" Heard Dixon say
"Here l am" Went and got cloa
and returned to door and saw hus
band coming up steps. He was bleed
| ing freely and holding handke1cIle
: to head. Asked husband to let he
bathe his wound. When asked wha
| was the matter, her husband replie
} that Thomas had shot him and he ha
: shot Thomas. Her husband hande
, her his pistol and left. The ,witnes