Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / June 16, 1909, edition 1 / Page 6
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TWEynIYEOB STEELE HCKDERVS THE SEOOXD DEGREE John erfe, Negro. Who to SerT" 4c a Tea Yew Term Urthe reoltea 1 tiary tor Hottseoreaklne; Done ' in , Guilford County. Receives Twenty. FIT Yers More iY- the Murder : of Joba MitobeU Just live Years Ajo el Hsnvtey's Brickyard Nes , 4 Um CUf Jury FbM Him Guilty of ' Murder 1b the second Degree Jury Had On Several Hoars. If thirty-Owe years is time sufficient, John Steele, colored. ouht to be fair ly familiar with the general system of ths State penitentiary at Raleigh when liberation finally comes. He has Just served about five years of a ten year term for housebreaking in Guil ford county and last niht at 7:20 o'clock Judge Counclll added twenty flw years more for the murder of John Mitchell, colored. With this pleasant prospect facing; him the ne gro will gt baok to the prison from whence he came to be tried. The court stated that if later It saw reason to lessen the sentence, this could be ef fected without difficulty. Steele's trial was begun yesterday morning when court convened. A Jury was secured from the venire of 25 without much difficulty and the SUtt began the introduction of its evidence. 8olicitor Clarkson prosecuted, while the fight for the defense was conJuct ed by Messrs J. W. Barry. J. F. New ell and D. B. Paul. The first witness placed on the tand was Ell Kirk, colored, who together with the other two men, was an em ploye of the Ramsey brickyards, four miles south of the city on that 6th day of June. 1904 He stated that he was a close eye-witnpss of the killing, being but fifteen feet away from the two principals in the somewhat dramatic scene He esw Steele walk up directly WTLX. GET Just TO-DAT. . - " Superior Court on the BJe of I1 -Jjlttte TbU Moraine Whoa the brwring of isry to U Blg Murder Case WiH B Bn. These be ' anxious h,ours for two hundred men summoned to appear at Superior Court this morning as a member of the special venire of 200 from hom are to come ths mem bers of the Jury Jo try W. 8. Bigger The nrawing of the names resulted In the summoning of, quite a number whose names do not usuaily figure in such connections and who would re gard the performance of such duty as about the most disagreeable imagin able. The empaneling of a Jury will be begun this morning as soon as court convenes. This is the day set nearly two weeekf ago for this hearing. which is one in which the whole com munity feels an absorbing interest. The people of -this aenon have read la the daily press during the pst few years Interesting accounts of trials somewhat similar to this, in which the opinions of alienists were arrayed against each other in determining the subtle distinctions between different mental states and this of medical Jurisprudence has become a topic of the day. This comment is pertinent by reason of the fact that empo rary Insanity will be assigned by the defense as excuse for the killing of J. Green Hood, in February. That is the only question which can legitimately arise. The deed was done in broad daylight near the in tersection of streets thronged with CHOOSES THE PES'. ir. fmnt nt Mitchell, draw nis pisioi level It at him and fire. The injured : people. The fact of the killing will, Ltor fQr the 8ute concurring n this man died in about nve minuies. amen- "t course. dc aomineu. aiiu in uu ell was stooping to set down his wheft ; a case there can be no other ground barrow when the other discharge, the . tor acquittal than that of self-defense wsapon. 1 r insanity. .The unwritten law, it is ETli Kirk's wife was an Important true, tan be pled on the sly, as 'it bearer of witness. Steel was a boarder i were. in her home, which was not far dis- Considerable difficulty probably tant from the place where the horn-, be pxpenenced in drawing a Jury to icide occurred. He rushed Into liieMaj. The eleven lawyers on both house, seized his pistol and as hurried- sj.jea have had ample opportunity to ly rushed off. A few minutes later he;SLa.n the names of the veniremen and returned This time it was his valise make investigations as to their views he seized snJ. quickly tossing some 1 0n religion, politics, sociology, law, personal difficulties, the use of fire arms and financial affairs. And any other subject by which human nature may be Judged. Practl6ally all have been summoned As soon as the Jury Is drawn the taking of evidence will be begun. clothing into it, Jhe departed straight way elsewhere bound. HAD HOT QUARREL Abe Wllkine was a third witness on whose word the fate of the defendant largely hung. Wllkine told of the quar rel In which the bad feeling between the two men evidently had its origin. A workman on the brick kiln asked Steele to come and turn an arch. Into he situation butted Mitchell with the remark that Steele's intellectual cal ibre was not of sufficient capacity to enable him to perform the act effi ciently, or something to that effect. At any rate, ths remark would appear to have boon unflattering to its target. Both men then proceeded to say things to one another things not re corded in alther Sunday school libra ries, 'Unhwsal Polite Letter Wrlt ter" or "Compendiums of Etiquette." Steele then left the ward. In a few imlnutes he returned, accompanied by hie trusty pistol. Addressing Mitchell as ths latter was rolling a wheelbar row acroas the yards, he interrogated him as to his design to reflect on his family troe. Whether a reply was mads is not recorded, but at any rate ' the insulted one biased away. Ihe hall entered the top of Mitchells left shoulder, ranging downward, at an. ansle of about 45 degrees. Dr. C. S. McLaughMn, the county physician. extracted it Just helow the left should er blade. The self-defense story was that of the defendant, not differing In any marked detail from such narratives. On the night preceding the affair, he said, he had had trouble with Mitch ell, hiving been accused falsely by ths other in regard to some family anair Mitchell drew a stlok of wood on him and threatened to kill htm If he aid I not cease to deport himself after the ' fashion charged. After the first quar rel on the brickyard he waxed afraid - of Mitchell and secured his pistol as a means of protection Mitchell loosed his hold on the wheelbarrow and after the Biblical fashion had armed himself with a brickbat. Just as .he was rising to his . f eet thus equipped, came the bullet hie way. Th axa.mination of witnesses oc cupied but lltOe time and Was cow slewed before noon recess. Speech es wers made by all the attorneys. Eloauent pleas were made. The Jury was Instructed that on the evidence It could find the prisoner guilty of mur der ha the first degree, or in the sec ond degree or could render a verdict of acquittal. VRDICT AT DUSK. The twelve men received the case about I o'clock and did not agree on verdict until a little after 7 o'clock. . In order not to keep ths prisoner in suspense as to hia sentence, the Judge was sent for. the Jury filed, in and de livered Itself. Judge Counclll stated that the offense was a serioue one, and .there was little to mitigate its seri . ouaness. He commented on the char acteristic of the negro race which makes its members often vicious to- ' ward one anotiier more vicious even than toward meanbers of the other race. He was Informed that the pris oner was 21 year old. He then Impos ed sentence of twenty-five years, stat ing that if he" saw fit to reduce this later he would do so. The sentence, or course, Is to begin at the expiration of V the term now in process of being served. The only question with the Jury was " "whether it was first or second degree murder and it inclined to leniency. Had Steele Riven himself up and stood . trial' immediately after the killing ln " Stead of running away and later coro ? mining the other crime he would have five years of his murder sentence behind him and would be free from ' the Incubus the other ten year assignment A'OBUE MAN'S 'OBLiE RECORD. M.metJUntf of the Hintory of Rerr. Dr. H. G. Hill, of Max ton On of Uie Loading Presbyterian Ministers In Ui South. Rev. Dr. H. O. Hill, of Maxton, the veneraMe pastor of the 'Maxton and Centre Presbyterian churches. who spent yesterday and last night in the city In attendance upon he sessions of ths board of regents of Barium Springs Orpharae. Is one of the most emhvent ministers In the Southern Oeneral Assembly. He ws asked few days ago the number of sermons he had preached. After thinking a short time he responded thsjt hi' rsooHleotlon as to figures did not go farther beck than 18 71. but that since that time hs had preached, approxi mately. 4.900 sermons and had de livered something like 2.200 ad-' dresses. Dr. HIW is about 77 years of age and Is a splendid type of that rdrniat, militant ciergv of by-gon.s days. He has held almost every hrnor in the gift of his Church, hav ing served as moderator of he Synod of North Carolina and moderator of the General Assembly. For the pa. 3 years he has been a member of ths board of trustee of Union Theologi cal Seminary, Richmond, Vs., and for S8 years he has been chairman of the home missions committee of Fayette vtlle Presbytery. Dr. Hill, while in he city, was the guest of his friend. Rev. Dr. P. R. Law, at the Central DKATH OF MLSft ANNIE BROWN. Estimable Yonng Iady Paws Awav After Two-Weeks' Illwects Funeral Tills Morning. 'Mlas Annie Brown died at St. Peter's Hoepltal yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock after an Illness of two weeks wtth typhoid-pneumonla. The deceased was a daughter of Mrs. Texana Brown and was It years of age. She is survived by her mother, two Bisters, Mrs. R. N. Forbls and Miss Lena Brnron; three brothers, Messrs. Will, Lathan and Warren Rrown: four half-sisters, Mesdanvee A. M. 6ammonda, J. 8. Crenshaw, R. M. Ross and J. M. Roes, and two half brobhers, Messrs. J. A. and C. C. Brown. The funeral will take plac this morning nt Oarmel Presbyterian church in Sharon township by Rev. Dr. A. R. Shaw, pastor of Tenth Ave nue Presbyterian church. Miss Brown was connected wtth the (Southern BeW Telephone Company and was a young lady of rare dis position and unusual chetrm. She was a demoted memtoer of the Tenth Avenue Presbyterian church and had many friends in Charlotte and In the county. Choosing the Leaser of Twe IMU, George Lament Prefers to Weep Indoors Coanty Officers 6cd ho Ters at, the Ctosuisje, j . It's the' penitentiary and not the roads for George Lamont This Is the substance of an order made yesterday morning In Superior -Court tor-Jvdge W. B. Councin. The action was taken at the request of the prlsoser. through counsel for the defense. The "ruthers" of the local authorities coin cided perfectly witl those of him who is most concerned. The prospect of bearing the responsibility for his re tention, considering his probable skill at escape and the possibility that friends may come to his rescue and by some means procure his liberty, was not in the" least Inviting to the man agers of the county chaingang. Lamont was given a Ave years' sen tence a little over a week ago on the charge of larceny from the person, being accused of pickpocketing in three cases, convicted In one and ac quitted in two, through lack of con vincing evidence. The Judge, in assign ing him to the county roads, seemed actuated by regard for his health as well as for the county's need of ac tive workers. But the prospect was not pleasing to the prisoner, who perhaps hopes to land some more congenial and gentlemanly work in the penitentiary than digging dirt. Ths court's order was as follows: "The defendant, George Lamont, being at the bar of the court and through hie counsel, Shannonhouse and Redd, moves the court to change the place of detention during nis term or connnemem rrom nis semence to the chaingang of Mecklenburg county, N. C to the State prison at Raleigh, N. C. and It appearing to the court that the county authorities consent to such change and the sollc For. Your ' Early Bxcning eye-opener a Breakfast braoer Ltmch lip-amacker -t Dinner demi-tasst Sapper s ystem-toaer - fit raw ) LUZIANNE, COFFEE all the time. IU wfnw ' ' Hi THE RCILYTAYLOl3 OO NCW ORUCANA CJ.M3.sV. Death of Mrs. 6. A. Alexander. Mrs. 6. A. Alexander died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. McCol lough. on Villa. Heights, yesterday morning at t o'clock, after a long Ill ness. She "fas 7T years of age. The fi.neral was conducted yestsrdey af ternoon at 4 o'eJook by Rev. Dr. H. H. HuUten. pastor of the First Bap Mat church. The body win (be carried to Ttichtourg, S. C, this morning for burial. request to make such change, it is now ordered by' the court that the sheriff of Mecklenburg county deliver the defendant to the State prison au thorities af Raleigh to be received by them and to be held anj detained to serve out the said term of five years' Imprisonment heretofore pronounced byvthis court at the term at which the j defendant was tried. CHANGES PLEA TO NOT GCllTY. Recorder Will Not Accept i-uiwiilHwIon of Young White Man Ctiarsed With Forgery Who Doe Not hoeni to Comprehend tlie Import of the Ac cusation. Declining to accept the man's own plea of guilt on the charge of forg ery because the defendant was evi dently Ignorant of the srrlousness of the offense and had not had the ad vice of counsel. Recorder D. B. Smith yesterday postponed until this morning the case ajainst L. C. Huck abee. A check for 130 to which the name of Mr. B. C. Osborne was sign ed was presented to Mr. L. Kosen baum Saturday night and cashed. Mr. Osborne learned of it. arrested Huck abee himself and carried him to headquarters In a buggy The act-used has spent considerable time aroflnd the Osborne stables. Mr. Osborne stated that the signature was a good Imitation of his own, but It looked though It had been slowly traced. while his habitual signature Is writ, i ten at top speed. I "I am guilty," said the prisoner ; when ttie recover put the- question. "Do you know what It takes to con stitute legal forgery?" tfeje recorder asked him. stating that he did not be lieve he appreciated the seriousness of his crime. He replied that he did not. neither had he consulted a lawyer, hut he j tnougni ne migni pet money "Miougn to hire one if he could get into com munication with his mother. "I don't like to force a man Into trial on a sej-ious charge like this un less he has had time to prepare his defi-rtse." said Mr. Smith and the ra-.-was docketed for to-day. Huckabee is said to huvr? come here about six months ago and to have been employed at the colored motion picture, show on East Trn;le street. "GET IT AT HAWXET'S." Sparkling Deliciousness Sparkling, fizzing, full of life fresh as the dew in early morn, cool as a mountain stream, delicious. HAWLEY'8 SODA the soda that grows ever more popular Join the army of soda drinkers now regailng themselves at Hawlev"s. A de lightful place to meet and treat your friends. flawley's Pharmacy TKYON AND FIFTH RTS. 'Phones 13 and 260. SILK L INGERIE Best for every Coal of Quality. use. CUnchfleld DRY CLEANED Ladles dainty silk lingerie can be perfecty cleaned and finished by our process and restored to a good as new con dition. We handle all such dainty materials very carefully. by hand, and clean them without the ripping of seams, remov ing of buttons or of articles of trimming. Our charge is entirely rea sonabe the service prompt and satisfaction is absolutely assured. Try us. Chailotte Steam Laundry Lannderers. Dyers. Cleaners, ait South Tryon St. K3X!Q9ss2gBsHBssa8HBsK9EBBsTscsKSB I l . uo ,we nne uanne or Utr corbta lUe of Lo,. 4t , ishtog.Hsrdwars ,for reMdeaces, offles buildiR U. f business; ouse'; 1 h"el- eu - Tu ea buy. Cerbla roods at about the roods are sold and why net cat th. k. u mers-, us bef ore too buy as it U Important t WcddUnbii.Harclware Company, In it Eas, a i Black's Transfer Company We re weU equipped to hsLS the BiiRgage Business. Office in Southern Passenger De pot open day and night. Thones 105 or 1919. We also give prompt at tention to all kinds of Hauling. 1 4 t-Nye Hutchison & Sc INSURANCE FIRE, LIFE, ACCIDENT OFWCB Ko. , , BiJMii f It's (ill Right For a Golrffe 4 traveling? Then make a list of those wear things you'll need for your trip and let us supply your wants. Eer-thlnK that's new and correct in furnishings is here. Everything that's right in clothing is here. See us to-day. THE TATE-BROWN COMP'Y Furnishers, Hatters, Clothiers. To lessen the cost ef your office work and to shorten the hours of the bookkeeper there is a new loose leaf ledger that is called THE GREEN ROUND BACK LEDGER! Jt has no exposed metal parts to scratch a desk. Stamped Steel partg ao there is none of the danger of breaking be cause of flaws. We Invite the inspection of any office men who value time and money. i I POIP & MOORE CO. R Oftlce Outfitter. j :05-J07 S. Tryon St. 'Phone 40 U Summer Hasn't Started It begins June 21st'and there is lot? of ho weather ahead. We want to sell you that Summer Suit wo hav talked aboutbefor the 21st. If you will BUT try ou one of our Suit? we a: show you the advantage in our clothes. We have Summer Underwear that is tin- bes We carry it in every sort of a garment mad'' an can show you what you want, no matter what it ii If you are going away, don't do it without win our new line of Suit Cases, Bags and Trunks. We have a line of these unsurpassed and if it something you can't find elsewhere he suit tt com here and look ours over. ED. MELLON COMP'X "Remember Mellon 's Clothes Fit ; BOARD OF REGENTS MEETSl AH the Officers ot Barium Springs Or phanage Ke-EJ acted Past Year VTas One of Marked Prosperity. The board of regents of Barium Springs Orphanage held two sessions In the parlors of the First Presbyte rian church yesterday. There were present Jtv. Dr. H. G. Hill, of Mar lon, president; Iiev. D. I. Craig, of Reidsville. secretary; Mr. P. M. Brown, of Charlotte, treasurer, and 6Rev. Dr. C it. ' Richards, of David son: Mr. A. M. Scales, ef Greensboro, end Mr. W. H. Belk. or Charlotte. Ttev. John Wakefield, superintendent of ths Institution, mas also present The most important business trans voted was the election of officers, the old board being chosen to serve for the coming year. Mr. William aarle Hill, editor of The Fatherless -Ones, the organ of the institution, and field gent, -was also re-elected. The re tort of ttfoae in charge showed thai the Institution has enjoyed a year of s&ATked prosperity. Small Fire Vewterriay. A small fire occurred . at the home of Capt Thomas H. Gaither. at No. 31S West Fifth street, ypsterday morn ing at 11:30. The alarm was turned in from box 3 8. A considerable amount of smoke was issuing from the attic when the firemon arrived. The small blase was ext'niil?hpd by the use of chemicals exclusively. x wa ter was thrown. ' SCHOOL BUILDING Sealed bids for the erection of the Graded School building at Laurin burg. N. C, will be received until Monday, June 21st at 10 a. m. Plans may be secured from T. J. GI1L Secretary, Laurlnburg or Wheeler, Galllher ft Stern, Archi tects, of Charlotte. D. K. McRAE, Chairman. Stratford House 11 East 3 2d Street (Near Flifth Avenue) JTEW YORK An absolutely fireproof hotel. Centre of the shopping and theatre districts. Arranged in suites of one. two, three and five rooms with baths. Special rates will be made to Southern travelers coming to New York during summer months; crutslne tbe very best. John L. Chadwick ft Co. . Proprietors. Cheap viano to be sold as a cheap piano at a cheap price, but There Should be a Way To prevent cheap pianos from belng sold aa high grades md at prices that will buy a strictly high-grade piano. If you turn a deaf ear to all circulating igent. ar.d buy your piano from the old reliable lim Of Chas. M. Stieff. you run no risk. Write to-day. Easy terms if desired. CHAS. M. SIR i Manufacturer of the Artistic Stieff, Shaw and SUeff SeLf-player Pianos. I Southern Wareroom 6 West Trade St, CHARLOTTE, N. C. a U. WILMOTH, Manager. -(Mention this paper). . No Use Talking that blue "serge offer is "taking" with the men who know good clothes. $21 is the price $30 the value. Tailored to Taste 9 S. Tryon St. G. B. CABAX1SS, Mgr. ' - . -;v. '. v : Queen Charlotte Trade Mark Registered BLUE BLACK Writing fluid Writes blue and turns blaek. Best ink for book-keepers' use, rec ords, etc., where dura bility is desired. Will not mould, fade or thicken. Is pleasing to the eye and admirably adapted to fountain pens. 2 oz. Bottles, 5c. 1-2 pint Bottles, 25c. 1 pint Bottles, 40c. .1 pint Bottles, 40c . 1 quart Bottles, 75c Stone & Baninger Co. Booksellers . Stettooers, Offlc Outfitters. ' m When Yqu Plan to Furnisli You Dining Room Do it The Aid of This Store i Such an elaborate showing of Dining Room Fuj niture was never gathered here betore roi specton. " -VfUoTr- TVni'n T?r Suits from ?1 AW UlllLU . OU1LS 111 Itcouii-"" 7 H55.fJO.00. r 1 IHninff Room. Suits in Early English, W$ l $500.00. rt ' All of these Suits consist of Pedestal Table mj board, Serving Table, China Closet, two Arm nnrl eW Sirlft f!hair. . All of same finish and maaf match. 1 xr Visit us often if only to see the new styles introduce. " '' DifH CO. -t
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
June 16, 1909, edition 1
6
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