Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1922-08-17

AfI LII liz. y ~ Y t1ttAtt t&tttl ais tltAN
been IN Greensboro, that he had
driited into the SandhiIls, alter
nearing that work touId be had
inere. hewas hungry lfilen he got
@ southern Pines, and the two
prisoners led him. After supper
they wanted TO go oil IN the couAy
Try, and the little negro went. He
thought they were gong to see some
country girls.
The three took the Pinehurst road,
and went past the garage where the
ketchen family was camped. a
mile d so beyond they sat down,
and he went to sleep, ne said, II
was near midnight when Thomas
and Murphy awakened him and said
they HAD to get back to townS Muir
| ply went close to the garage and
looked in as they passed, and a lit
tie further on he declared that he
was of a mind to so back and make
those people give him money.
They went back. The little negro
said he didn't go in the garage. He
declared that the two went inside,
aud presently he heard two shots.
He started back toward the place,
an saw Mrs. Ketchen slinb through
| the window with her baby III hel
arms. Murphy ran after her, ano
grabbed her by the arm. She strug-
gled, and while she fought, Thomas
held the light Murphy hit her
back OF the head with the pistol.
The assault was cousumated. The
witness hesitated to give the details
of the assault, when pressed by the
Solicitor.
After the assault was consum-
MATED the Thomas negro went Dack
to the garage where the woman $
Husband was lying shot through the
lbody, and searched it for money
The Murphy negro told the woman
| that she had to give him money
after he had ravished her. The boy
lsaid he ran down the road, ne sald
and was Joined later by, the other
1.-Two. He described their wanderings
during the rest Of the night, ana
their arrest the following morning
ILawyers of the defense We're unable
| TO shake his story at any point
Court Marks Time.
Deputy Sheriff Beck, whose quick
thinking resulted in the arrest, de,
scribed ii in detail. DR.. j. NJ. MILL
ken, who attended Mrs. Ketchen,
lher husband and the little baby,
Iwho was powder-hurned from the
shot that almost killed its tather'
described the mans condition, the
wounds and condition of Mrs. ketcll-
EN- when he treated her shortly al
1ter the assault. She had scratches
land bruises about the body and a
heavy lump back of the head where
she was struck with the pistol.
The State rested. Defense counsel
startled the assemblage somewhat
Iwhen the two defendants were
lsworn. Thomas first on the stand,
HE leaned against the wall and told
his story indifferently. He reclted
like he had drilled himself i'll 1t,
| and the best efforts Of Solicitor Nasll
Hailed to shake him. So also with
1.-THE tale of Murphy. They were on
1.-THE stand more than two hours.
I News of the flagmans ability 10
identify the negroes as the three
that swung on the train at South
ern Pines brought a halt i'll the pro
ceedings after the prisoners had
Testified, and the indulgence OF the
court was asked until he could be
drought from Hamlet. Sheriff Blue,
land other deputies filed i'll after
dinner, recounting The story OF inc
ARREST. until Honeycutt arrived In
Iresponse to Solicitor Nashs request
Storm Hits Charge.
| Another of these Sandhill storms
Ibroke lust as the State rested anf
lboth sides announced their inten
ltion to curtail speaking. The ware
!house has no windows, and tht
Judges stand is backed up agalns'
Ian opening on the weather side o
1.-THE house. Judge Long had to SIM II
| some to get out of the rain and ge1
i'm range of the jury. Scarcely {
ldozen people heard his charge out
Iside of the men in the box to whom
lit was directed.
| Only one issue of law was IN
| volved, and it was not contested
| that being whether a second party
mot guilty of an actual assault, bu
guilty of aiding and abetting IN al
| assault. Judge Long simply sum
led up the contentious of both sides
Irecited the evidence of both sides
defined rape, and instructed the Iur.
4 THAT if they believed the testimon.
Iof the two negroes on their own DE
I half to set them free, but ii the,
believed the testimony of the Stats
and that Thomas aided and abettet
lin the assault, to find them botl
lgllilty of rape, but if they foun'
THAT Thomas did not assist, to- tin'
him not guilty of actual rape.
n III