ROBESOMAI
H
Established 1870. Country, God and Truth. Single Copies Five Cento
VOL xLlVMNO. 12. LUMBERTON, NORTH CAROLINA, MONDAY, MARCH 31, 1913. WHOLE NO. 2849
EMORY M'NEILL FATALLY SHOT
Barfield Prevatt Uses 44 Colt's Re
volver With Deadly Effect Satur
day Night Shot Emory McNeill,
Jr., Through Head and Body and
Latter Died Yesterday Without Re
gaining Full Consciousness Coro
ner's Inquest Liquor Seems to
Have Been Responsible for the
Crime Reward of $250 Offered for
Prevatt Funeral This Afternoon.
Emory McNeill, Jr., 26 years old,
was shot and fatally wounded Sat
urday night about 10 o'clock by Bar-
field Prevatt, a young man of about J
the same age, son of Mr. W. D. Pre- .
vatt, who lives 2 miles west of
town, and died at 3:50 yesterday af-
ternoon without regaining complete
consciousness. The shooting took i
place at the corner of Water and I
Fourth streets, in front of the town-
hall. A 44 Colt's pistol was used and
Prevatt shot 3 or A times, two balls
taking effect, one going through the
body, the other entering the left side j
oi the face, ranging upward and ,
coming out the top of the head to-,
ward the front. This, the fatal wound,
Sfiems to have heen received na Me.
Neill was falling. McNeill fell to
pe sidewalk and Prevatt ran up
Water street and across the iron
bridge with his pistol still in his
hand. He was seen a lit-'
tie later running near the National j
cotton mill, but he has so far escap-
ed capture. The shooting attracted .
a crowd immediately but it was some
minutes before an officer arrived on
the scene, Chief of Police Redfern
being detained by an unruly drunk- ture of the wounds. One ball enter
en man he was taking to jail and no ed left side in the loin and came
other officer seeming to have heard
the shots.
McNeill was at once taken
to
the Thompson hospital, where his
wounds were dressed by Drs. N. A. '
Thompson, Jno. Knox, W. L. Gran-
tham and T. C. Johnson. He remain-'
ed in a semi-conscious condition until j
shortly before his death, never re-
gaming consciousness sufficiently to
make any intelligible statement.
Both bullets were found, one in the
cap of the deceased and the other
when his shirt was removed.
There were four or more eye wit-
nesses to the shooting and all the tes- j
timony at the coroner's inquest seem-
ed to indicate that Prevatt had wait- j
ed for his victim and shot him as he
was passing him and walking away
from him, and that liquor was at
the bottom of the affair.
Inquest was held yesterday after
noon in R. D. Caldwell & Son's under
taking establishment on Second
street by Coroner G. E. Rancke with a
jury composed of R. R. Cariyle, E. L:
Whaley, Lawrence Parker, Earl
Thompson, G. S. McKenzie and W.
G. Page. Three witnesses were ex
amined Ike Dees, Hector Gavin, col
ored, and L. F. Bullock the evidence
being to the effect that Bar
field Prevatt and the deceased
had some trouble, the beginning
and cause of which, unless it was
whiskey, not being known; that they
had some words at Mr. J. W. Bul
loch's store near the old wooden
bridge on Third street; that Prevatt
left the store a few minutes before
McNeill; that when McNeill reached
the corner of Water and Fourth
Prevatt fired on him from the direc
tion of the town hall; that he fired 3
or 4 times, that McNeill fell on the
,sidewalk and that Prevatt ran up
Water street.
Mr. Ike Dees, the first witness ex
amined, testified as follows: He and
deceased drove in a buggy to J. W.
Bullock's store. Barfield Prevatt was
at the store and said to McNeill,
"You've got it in for me, haven't
you?" McNeill said, Go on, I
don't want any trouble with you."
They went into store. McNeill and
Prevatt went to rear of store and
Prevatt came to front presently cry
ing. L. F. Bullock took Prevatt out
of store and later went up street.
When McNeill got through trading
Dees and Ira Baxley got in buggy
and McNeill walked up street behind
the buggy. After the buggy had
turned into Fourth street from Wa
ter street and McNeill reached side
walk and was turning corner into
Fourth the firing began. Dees
crouched down in buggy, saw McNeill
falling and Prevatt running. One of
the 'pistol balls broke a bottle of
molasses Dees had in his hand.
Hector Gavin's testimony differed
in some particulars from Dees. He
struck up with Prevatt, Mr. Walter
Shooter and another man whose name
he did not know near the corner of
Water and Third. Prevatt called him
and said he (Gavin) was as good
a friend as he (Prevatt) had, that
her had gotten; into a fuss, - somebody
had called him (giving an approbious
epithet). Offered to take him home
but Prevatt said he did not want to
go. Prevatt flourished a pistol and
said that he had made up his mind
to die. Prevatt argued with Mr.
Shooter and the other man and Gavin
said he would go, but Prevatt would
not let him leave. They walked up
toward town hall. Mr. Dees and Mr.
McNeill came walking up the street,
Mr. Dees leading horse. Prevatt ask
ed McNeill if he called him (using an
approbious epithet) and McNeill said
he did. Gavin asked them to make
up and be friends. McNeill gave each
of them a piece of candy from a bag
he had in his hand, McNeill and Pre
vatt shook hands, Prevatt said it was
all right and McNeill started off.
When only a few feet away Prevatt
asked McNeill again if he called him
a (using the same approbious epi
thet as before), McNeill answered
yes, and Prevatt began to fire, firing
three or four times.
Mr. Bullock did not see the shoot-
ing. He testified that when Pre
vatt came into the store he looked
like he was drunk ; that when Mc-
Neill fame in Vio smA Provaff haA
' some words; while waiting on Mc-
' Neill in the rear of the store, Me
Neill asked him to get Prevatt out
of the store, that he did not want to
have any trouble with him; that he
(Bullock) went to Prevatt and asked
him to leave and not have any trouble
and Prevatt left saying he would
go but would not run. Soon after
McNeill left heard shots.
! Dr. Thompson testified as to na
out right side a little higher up.
The other ball entered the left jaw
and came out top of head towards
i front, breaking the skull. From the
range of this ball he thinks it must
have been fired as McNeill was fall-
ing from the effects of the first ball
The verdict of the coroner's jury
was that death of deceased was due
to pistol shot wounds at hands of
Barfield Prevatt.
There was no evidence that McNeill
was armed
Prevatt has the reputation of be
ing a dangerous character. Chief pf
Police Redfern arrested him here
some time ago and took his large 44
Colt's off "him, but when the case
came up for trial Prevatt was dis
missed with a smaBl fine,
It was perhaps 25 minutes after the
shooting before any officer arrived on
the scene and it ivas an hour or more
before any pursuit was made, so that
Prevatt had a good start. Deputies
Willis Britt and Marvin Bnker went
about an hour after the shooting
to the home of an older brother, Mr.
Simpson Preratt, about two miles
west of town, and founil evidence
that Prevatt had been there, but he
had apparently left immediately. No
one -was at home when they arrived
but Mr. Simyson Britt, nho had bee
away since in the afternoon, came
home while they were there. Sheriff
R. E. Lewis and Chief f Police Red
fern went to the home of Prevatfs
father, Mr, W. D. Prevatt, and
searched in that section until 2 or 3
o'clock yesterday morning but found
no trace of the criminal.
Deceased is survived by his wife
and two children, a boy 3 years old
and a baby girl one year old, his fath
and mother, Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Mc
Neill, who live in the northern part
of town, and several brothers and
sisters. He was engaged in general
work about town.
The remains were taken after the
inquest to the home of the deceased,
in the eastrn part of town. The fu
neral will take place this afternoon
from the residence at 3 o'clock and
interment will be made "m the family
cemetery near the county home. Rev.
C. H. Durham, pastor of the First
Baptist churcli will conduct the ser
vices. A reward of $250 has been offered
by the father of the deceased for the
capture of Prevatt.
Charlotte Observer, 30th: Special
Policeman J. Robert Eskridge was
shot and almost instantly killed by
an unknown negro in a colored vau
deville theatre on East Trade street
below College at 8:45 last night. Af
ter firing several shots the negro
forced his way through the panic
stricken throng to the door, yelling,
"I'm going for an officer!" Pistol in
hand and tearing off his red sweater
as he emerged from the door
he ran a few yards to South College
street, turned and swiftly ran down
it and was soon lost in the darkness
across the railroad tracks back of
Swift &-Co.'s place.
FOUND DEAD BESIDE TRACK
Body of Unknown White Man Found
Beside Coast Line Tracks Near
i
Pembroke From Toronto, Canada J
Coroner G. E. Rancke held inquest
Saturday over the body of an un-'
known white man found dead be
side the Atlantic Coast Line tracks
near Pembroke Friday morning. The
verdict of the coroner's jury was that
deceased came to his death from
causes not known to the jury. The
skull was crushed in where deceased
is thought to have been struck by
a train. The body was found with
the head against the bank of the
ditch on the left-hand sid? of the
railroad from Pembroke tz uic,
about 1 mile from Pembro!:3.
Nothing was found ta idetli'y '.ha
deceased but a letter, w'.v had been
taken out of its envelope, was found
on the body. It began "Da't? Broth
er Jim" and was signed "rn"s Ra
ven," her address being give:: as 56
Stafford street, Toronto, Can. She
wrote of her husband, "Reggie," hav
ing left her, and of an estate left
by their mother which could not be
settled until the youngest son (evi
dently the deceased, came of age. De
ceased was about 20 years old, about
5 feet 6 inches tall, weight about 125
pounds, light hair and light complex
ion. In his clothes were found $1.15
in cash and a half-pint flask of whis
kjy not opened, and a handkerchief
with dim mark which looked like
"Shay. K."
The remains were interred on the
railway right-of-way and the depot
agent was instructed to try to com
municate with his sister.
Negro Killed at School Closing Ex
ercises at Fairmont,
Charlie House, colored, was shot
and killed at Fairmont Thursday
night by Norwood Dunn, also colored,
in the school house just before the
beginning of the closing exercises at
the close of the colored school, a
crowd of colored people being in the
building at the time. House died in
a few minutes. Both negroes were
employes of the Beaufort Lumber Co.
Dunn went to his boarding place and
went to work the next morning as
usual, no effort seeming to have been
made to anrest him. Coroner Rancke
held inquest Friday and within an
hour after the veniffct of the jury
that Housm was shot by Dunn Sheriff
Lewis was notified and had arrested
Damn, wJio was found at work- witk
the lumber company's force. Phi
made nr effort to escape. He claims
that the shooting -was accidental, tr.at
House took hold f his hand and ?the
pistol was accidtntally discharges. It
was m evidence before the corimer's
jury that House and Dunn had
been together in the afternoon and
were apparently on the best of erms,
thaft in the school house Houne was
sitting in front of Dunn, a crowd was
laughing and talking, and Dunn had
a small 25 automatic pitted in his
hand, that one negro said Dunn was
going to shoot him and Dunn said no
he was going to shoot House.
DEATH LIST WILL HARDLY
EXCEED FIVE HUNDRED.
Press Dispatch, 30th.
Investigations yet tend to confirm
the estimates of fewer Iran 500
deaths in the floods that sipept over
a score of cities in Ohio and India
na last week. As the waters receded
from Dayton, Columbus and other
places, leaving a thick coat of mud,
alarm was raused by the rapid rise of
the Ohio and Mississippi rirers, in
undating parts of cities along their
banks. There is not much danger
of loss of life in these places, however
as the inhabitants have hiTls to flee
to and are used to floods.
Revised reports indicate thaft the
number drowned in Dayton may not
exceed 150, although there are those
who say the number will be much
greater. .
The death list at Piqua, O., fell off
from the estimate of 50 to 12 known
dead.
Antioch Wins 16 Out of 22 Prizes
at Hoke County School Commence
ment. Reported for The Robesonian.
At the first Hoke county school
commencement, held at Raeford Fri
day, the Antioch school was the win
ner of 16 out of 22 prizes offered.
Expert calculators estimate that
one man of every 47 who voted for
President Wilson is asking for a job.
It is said that North Carolinians are
not as rampant after Federal office
as citizens of other States seem to be.
' WRITTEN AND SPOKEN WORD.
High P raise for The Robesonian That
is Greatly Appreciated Why Not
Make Lumberton a Flyless Town?
Card-Board Card-Players Having a i
Ki"h Old Time.
The following, from the senior
j member of the firm of R. D. Caldwell
& Sor., is highly appreciated by the
editor and his assistants:
To the Editor of The Robesonian:
I have been impressed by the live
I matter contained in the recent issues
of The Robsonian, and knowing that
newspaper men have to be strictly on
the job to put OUt such papers as your
'recent issues have been, I desire to
I express my appreciation of the good
work you are doing. Such a paper
: 3 you are making of The Robesonian
'at this time is entitled to the patron-1
'r.ge of every intelligent citizen of a
large section of country. It may be
that many subscribers have not paid
attention to the paper recently, so j
I would appeal to any that want to
pass judgment on the merits of The
Robesonian to examine the last three
or four issues of the paper (and a
greater number if they desire) and
mike their verdict as to The Robe
sonian being a good newspaper.
I really think it is a paper for every
citizen of our town, and a large terri
tory surrounding it, to be proud of.
I believe there are hundreds and
thousands of your subscribers that
would gladly express themselves an
I have done herein, but they are busy
about other matters and take it for
granted that it is your business to
put out a good newspaper.
Wishing you great success in the
god work.
Yours very truly,
R. D. CALDWELL.
It's a pretty widespread belief, you
know; that newspapers and newspa
per men come in for all kicks and no
words of commendation. They do
come in for a deal of criticism, quite
naturally, some of it just and some, of
it unjust. There be some who heave
bricks at The Robesonian and some
who tess it bouquets. The bouquets
warm the heart of The Robesonian
man and encourage him; and the
bricks well, if they are well-aimed
and fairly thrown he tries t stand up
to them cheerfully and learn what-
1 ever lesson they ranay teach. But Tke
Jlobesonian man believes that the
people, speaking "broadly, give a
newspaper crefiit for whatever of
worth it may justly srilaim and that
it is up to the newspaper man to
stay on the b and do the best he
knows and let the results take
care of themselves. If he does that
he hasn't time to whine around about
being appreriated.
Which is -merely by the way. The
editor of The Robesonian is beholden
to Mr. CaWwell. His kind words will
brighten many blue hours when old
"What's the use?" sticks up his
nasty frsnt ani tries to make all ef
fort serai useless.
Why not -make Lumberton a fly
less town? Honestly, iow, why not?
It is not an impossibility. At least it
can be made measurably so, if every
body win help. There's the rub. The
folks of one household may do their
possible, but it will skill little unless
all tit mighbors Oa their possible
too.
"Swut tfhe fly" is all right, in a
way, hut ii really it, a sort of Mrs.
Part'ms;tiDL stunt UJie old lady, you
remember, who on a time tried to
pii b-M-l the Atlantic Qcs&n with
a mop. 3y your leave, it is a sort
of "woiik of supererogation" or
would be, if the r were carried
out of dowss, where it should be car
ried. That's tfce medicine, in an article
reproduced recently in The Robeson
ian it was stated that the American
people spend $10,006,000 a year for
window and door screens in an effort
to cage themselves in against the fly.
In this artide the method suggested
is to make ue in maw? ways of the
conical wire aaesh flytrap so as to
turn the tables n flies and "put them
in jail and let ourselves out" The
plan involves, of course, the abolition
as far as possible of all breeding and
feeding places for flies and the ap
plication of the conical flytrap to the
garbage can, the screens on windows,
etc. It is said that garbage cans are
on the market thj$ have a eover larg
er than the can and not fitting down
closely on it so that flies gain ac
cess to the can under the cover and
escape through a hole in the cover
oyer which is fixed a flytrap.
That would seem - the most simple
and effective way of fighting the fly.
He is sure to visit the garbage can
and if you catch him there and abol-
BOY ACCIDENTALLY KILLED.
Stephen Humphrey of Saddle Tree
Killed by Accidental Discharge of
Gun Whil Rabit Hunting I'ltmr
al Friday.
! Stephen Humphrey. v '. 1
old, son of Mr., and .-!r. J. J
U uni-
I phrey, of Saddle Trc, uc:'ui ;nt.i!ly
shot himself with a breschloading
shot gun Thur.-.day ahojt neon and
died within abojt two hojr?;. Drs.
T. L. Northrop and C. T. Poole of St.
Paul were summoned and trev ar-
rived before th-- boy died, but there
was no hope uf uvovery. The funeral
was enrdnrtmi FriHnv nftrnnnn at
3 o'cloci. i.?v. I. I'. Hedgpeth, of
Lumb-on ar I intsrment made in
the family Ia r grounds, near the
home.
Immediately tfter dinner the boy
took his father's gun and went out
rabbit hunting. He had gotten only
a short distance from the house when
his dog started running a rabbit.
The boy ran down the branch about
.300 or 400 yards from the hoiSe;
and climbed upon a stump in order
that he might see the rabbit. While
on the stump, he in some way became
unballanced and in an effort to catch
himself .started to lower the gun,
stock downward, when the hammer
struck the edge or the side of the
stump and went off, the load taking
effect in the boy's right side just a
little above the hip and lodging in the
breast. He was conscious until
death and told all about how the ac
cident occurred. He walked about
100 yards after he was shot, and was
found just a few minutes after he
was shot by Pope Humphrey, a boy
of about the same age, son of Mr.
J. L. Humphrey, who was on his way
to join Stephen in his rabbit hunt.
Superior Court.
A 2-weeks' term of Robeson Super
ior Court for the trial of civil causes
began this morning, Judge G. S. Fer
guson of Waynesville presiding.
Judge Ferguson is a guest at the
home of Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Law
rence, Sixth street. No cases of spec
ial importance were disposed of at
the morning session. Among the
out-of-town attorneys attending
court today are Messrs. G. B. Pat
terson, B. F. and S. B. McLean of
Maxton, E. L, Wooten of Rowland, A.
P. Spell of Red Springs, and H. F.
Seawell of Carthage.
Death of Mr. Joseph M. Britt
Mr. Joseph M. Britt died yester
day morning at 4 o'clock at his home
near Broad Ridge Baptist church. He
had been sick for about three weeks
and death was not unexpected. De
ceased was about 50 years old and is
survived by his wife, 5 brothers
Messrs. Isham, Pink, Marshall, Aaron
and John Britt and 3 sisters. The
funeral will be conducted from the
borne this afternoon at 3 o'clock and
interment will be made in the Ward
cemetery, near Mount Eliam church
ish all feeding and breeding places
else vyou can sit on an unscreened
porch and be bothered with "narry"
a fly. This is, you can if all your
neighbors do likewise.
It the window of the Pope drug
store is a bunch of card-board gen
tlemen who 6eem to be having a high
old lime at a game of cards. A Lum
bertn man who qualified as an ex
pert in a case in court here a time
age says the game the card-board
gentlemen are so much interested in
is tke great American rame of pa
ker. Two of these gentlemen are
sitting so you can see the t hands
they bold. One has so says the ex
pert aforementioned a straight ace-
high flush and he's looking back
over sis shoulder confidentially at
you and winking the other eye. He's
ready to bet the limit. The other
hand in sight is 3 aces and a king
and another card that you can't see,
and this sport also looks pleas
ed as can be and is ready to make the
ceiling the limit or the blue sky,
The other two are studying their
cards with doubtful faces. In center
of the table is a bottle of juice that
cheers but does not inebria.
Is a pretty good stunt and now
and then you see a steady church
going citizen risk one eye on the
game and smile as he passes on as
though he were remembering some
night in the past when, in the wee
sma' hours, he held a pretty good
hand himself, if anybody should hap
pen to ask. him, and bet all the chips,
in sight and the only trouble was
that the other fellow held a little bet
ter hand.
You can never tell.
BRIEF LOCAL NEWS ITEJ4&.
Middling- cotton today. il centK
Mr. James liarker has accented a.
, osition with Mr. Geo. M. Whifruild.
tie t':an work Saturday.
License has been y..-uii i'-r thf
marriage of Nellie Tayiur and Willir
Harrtllson; Viola I'rici-. and Ei. T
Barfield.
George Iialla., a whit.K mm from
Parkton, was jailed here Saturday by
Deputy Walter Parham on a charge
of assault with a pistol.
Rowland Sun: We predict toe
the new law firm of Lennon k. Stacy
at Lumberton, abundant success. Both
are young men of unusual promise.
Kowland bun: Lumberton i& in
deed fortunate in securing the; La
Fayette Mutual Life Insurance Co.
which is moving its headquartMs t
that place from Fayetteviile.
Washington Cor., 2Sth, Wilming
ton Star: Tue Postmaster General
announced today that the postoffice
rat St. Pauls had been advanced to.
the presidential class and the salary
incras.-.-d to $1,000 per year.
Walter Branch wan lefVmr the
mayor this morning to answer charge
of being drunk and disorderly on the
streets Saturday night, when he. wan
locked up by Chief Redfern. He wa.",
taxed $5 and costs.
Mr. W. I. Linkhaw purchased Sat
urday from Mr. N. P. Andrews, three-
small houses and a lot near th? foot
of second street in that section
known as the "bottom." The con
sideration was $1,000.
Mr. C. M. Prevatt for severaf
days has been sick at his home or
Cedar street. Ilia condition is.
thought to be somewhat improved to
day and it is expected that he will be
able to be out again in a few dajs.
At the Pastime theatre this even
ing will be shown "Tis. Mother,""
Pathe, and "Colonel's Escape Mov
ing of Isabella," Kalemv Picture show
visitors know that Pathe and Kalem
are among the best pictures made.
Mr. Harry Green, who for several
months had held a position as clerk
in the Waverly . hotel, resigned last,
week to accept a position in Wilm
ington at the Orton hotel as cigar
clerk. Mr. Green went to Wilmington
Friday.
Mr. P.Q. Weathersby, local Metro
politan Life Insurance agent, is open
ing up a nice office in the A. Wein
stein building. Mr. Weathersby has
been doing a successful business here?
for his company for some two or
three years, but heretofore has not
had a general office.
Mr. E. G. Sipher returned Fri
day from Wilmington, where he had
been for a day or so undergoing
treatment for his eyes, which have
been troubling him for some time. He
says that the condition of his' eyes
is improving, but he fears that the
sight of his left eye will be lost.
Sheriff Canady of Tatnall county,
Ga., came to Lumberton Thursday af
ternoon for Isham Nichols, mentAf-i
of whose arrest at the LumWton
cotton mills was made in Thitraday's
Robesonian. Sheriff Canady came to
Lumberton from Pembroke in an auto
and returned with his prisoner by
the same route, catching a Coast
Line train at Pembroke.
Snrinrro f i t i t Tu
with much regret that we learn that
Mr. John F. McEachern and family
are to move from Red Springs to
Raeford. The change is made on ac
count of the business affairs of Mr.
McEachern, his farming interests be
ing in Hoke county, and he finds
Raeford more convenient in looking
after them. They will go about the
10th of April.
Mr. W. O .Britt of Orrum, who,
as has been mentioned in The Robe
sonian, purchased a week or so ago
Mr. and Mrs. R. G. Inman's in
terest in the Lumberton hotel, is
moving today and within the next day
or so will take active charge of the
hotel. Mr. and Mrs. Inman and chil
dren expect to leave about the mid
dle of the week for Parkton, where
they will take charge of the Park
ton hotel.
Two engines were partly demolished
and a negro fireman suffered a bro
ken arm in a collision between two
Atlantic Coast Line freight trains at
a crossing in Fayetteviile Friday.
Foley Kidney Pills will reach vour
individual case if you have anv form
of kidney and bladder trouble, any
backache, rheumatism,, uric acid pois- .
oning or irre?u!ar and painful kid
ney action. They are strengthening,
tonic and curative, and contain no
habit forming- drugs. For sale by all
dealers. j