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♦ THE WEATHER TO-DAY |
♦ For North Carolina: 4
X Fair and Colder. |
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VOL. LII. NO. 3.
Leads all North Carolina Bailies in Mews and Circulation
THt END OF THE TRIAL
IS LOOKED FOR
THURSDAY
The State Rests Its Case and
Argument Begins Im
mediately.
NO WITNESS FOR WILCOX
His Counsel Declare the State Has
Brought Out All Evidence
Necessary.
THE WITNESS PARKER FAILS AS A STAR
H<* Does Not Give the Sensational Testimony
' Expected. Judge Cropssy Arouses
Emotioe When He Tells
His Story.
(Special to News and Observer.)
Elizabeth City, N. C-, March 18.
—North Carolina has rested its case
against Jas. Wilcox, charged with slaying
his pretty sweetheart. Ella Maud Cropsey,
missing from last November 20 to De
eember 27, when her body was pulled from
the juniper-dyed water in Pasquotank
liver. That declaration was made at the
close of this morning’s session by Dis
trict Attorney Ward.
Mr. Ward, before making the state
ment, reported the names of witnesses
called whom he told to stay.
Judge Jones said since the issue was
so important he would allow each side
to confer until 2:30 o’clock, when he
would convene court again.
Tlie State put on two witnesses after
recess. The defense did cot introduce
any evidence, but the argument was
gone into immediately.
This morning’s feature was the applause
which greeted the conclusion of Judge
Cropsey’s' evidence. He was Nell’s father.
As his deep feeling controlled during all
his examination about the details of the
tragedy which snatched away his most
beautiful daughter, began to assert itself
by emotional and slightly raised tones,
there was rapt attention on the part of
spectators who packed every portion of
the large place of justice to its standing
capacity. When he finally told about Wil
cox's seeming indifference in his great
trouble, his lack of sympathy, his failure
to lend aid or consolation, there was a
subdued rumble of mingled sympathy and
indignation.
Judge Jones rapped sharply for order
and threatened to clear the court room.
THE COURT THRONGED.
There was a dense crowd when court
first opened today. The prisoner and his
sisters were in their seats promptly. The
Misses Cropsey did not appear until late.
Then the court ordered seats vacated and
they sat behind the prosecuting lawyers.
Attorney Cropsey, of New York, sat near
them and took notes.
E. V. Davenport said during the search
for Nell's body, he saw Jim Wilcox and
a joung man by the name of Lowery op
posite the brick yard. Witness said when
the dragging party hooked something in
the river he thought Wilcox turned pale.
Harley Meades, who said he was 17
years old. boarded at the Wilcox horfie
and slept with Jim Wilcox, was sworn.
\\ itness said they slept in a back room
upstairs, that they retired between 9 and
in o’clock and did not know anything front
then until morning, not when they came
and took Wilcox from the bed.
Being recalled by the defense Meades
said he saw Jim’s clothes hanging up in
’hr usual place next morning, behind
the door.
Harry T. Greenleaf said he had raeas
t:r« 1 several distances since court ad
journed last night as follows:
From Norfolk and Southern dock to
Barnes’ har, 1,31)0 feet; from bar to point
near Ives, 3.179 feet. Witness said it
was 2,500 feet from the Ives point to the
Cropsev gate. This tends to prove unac
counted for time.
LITTLE LIGHT FROM PARKER.
"aleb T. Parker was called. He said
on the night of last November 20. he was
at Frog Island. He started towards Eliz
abeth City. He rode about five mils? to
Meades’ store and stopped. It was about
7 or 8 o’clock. Witness stayed at Meades’
about an hour. He next stopped at Mack
Fletcher’s place. He saw Mr. Fletcher.
John Cartwright and others. He stayed
there an hour or more and said when he
was asked the time, it was about 10 o’clock.
Ho stayed a few minutes more and then
proceeded to town.
Witness said he met some people, a
man and a woman, both about the same
height, near the Cropsey gate. He did
not recognize either the man or the wo
man.
On cross-examination by Mr. Aydlett,
Parker said he had been knowing Jim
Wilcox some years. He also met other
! : sons that night, for the road along
th<re is much travelled. He did not see
th<> man’s face, nor the woman’s.
CHARLIE REID TESTIFIES.
Charlie Reid, said he was deputy sheriff.
Mr. Tox Wilcox sent for him Saturday
night after the disappearance. He saw (
Jim and went on out of the house aud
b«-gan talking to Jim about the case and
told him if he knew anything he should
The News and Observer.
let it be known. Jim said: “I’ve told
all l can tell.’’
When they got over to Hayman’s rail
way they saw Mr. Cropsey. He came in
the office where witness and Jim were
sitting. Later all three went up to the
Cropsey home. Mrs. Cropsey came and
sat on the lounge by Jim <ind putting
her hand on his shoulder asked about
Nell.
Jim told her he did not know; that he
left her crying and did not know why
she was crying unless it was because
he had told her he was going to quit her.
He had seen her cry once before. Mr.
Cropsey remarked that he did not believe
it.
Witness, Jim and others went on the
Cropsey porch and Jim showed where the
girl stood with her right arm against the
porch crying. Wilcox said he had told
Nell to go inside several times. Jim had
told witness he stayed on the porch ten
or fifteen minutes.
On cross-examination, witness said he
went with Jim as a friend, that Jim was
polite ,to the family. Jim had made no
effort to run away. Witness said as they
were leaving the Cropsey home he re
marked that Jim could have seen Nell
from the road such a bright night. He
said Jim replied:
“1 could have seen her, and if I had
known all this trouble was coming I
would have called her sisters before I
left.’’
Witness said Wilcox was indifferent
about Nell’s disappearance, and that may
have been a part of his nature. He did
not wish to do the prisoner an injustice,
he said.
JUSTICE CROPSEY’S STORY.
Justice W. H. Cropsey said he was
Nell’s father. He went upstairs on No
vember 20 about half past eight. He
came down again at a quarter to twelve.
He ate a saucer of prunes and two slices
ot bread. A few minutes later he heard
the town clock strike twelve. He went to
bed again.
At a quarter to one. witness went down
stairs again when his brother Henry
called him to get a gun. He saw nothing.
Ilis dog seemed seared.
“Then Ollie came down stairs," he con
tinued, “aud said Nellie was missing.
Everybody was soon excited. I tried to
quiet my wife.
“My brother and I went to the Wilcox
house aud tapped on the door. Mr. Tom
Wilcox answered. I did not see Jim.
"Later Chief Daw.son brought Jim up
to the house. Jim said there he gave
Nell’s picture back. Next morning and
for two or three days, we hunted for the
picture around the yard and along the
river front but no trace was found.”
Witness further along said that Wilcox
, stated before the mayor that his mother
had waked him that night, and he turned
over and went to sleep again, for he
was a sound sleeper.
Witness said Nell was a graduate of
Brooklyn High School. She read quite a
number of books. Most were from the
Sunday School library. He said Nell was
of lively disposition, but was timid and
afraid to go out alone at night. Nell was
a good swimmer. Judge Cropsey said
that during all the trouble Jim Wilcox
had offered him no consolation or assist
ance. He said in answer to a question
from Mr. Aydlett that a New York de
tective had been stopping at his house
some days but that he did not employ
the detective. He had never asked Jim
j for any assistance, he said, in response
i to Mr. Aydlett’s question.
Asked if Wilcox had not been over to,
see him with Deputy Sheriff Reid and
shown sympathy in the matter, for the
first time since he had been on the stand
Judge Cropsey seemed stirred with great
emotion and his voice was slightly raised
as he said he did not consider Wilcox’s
visits with deputy sheriffs and police
chiefs as trips in the nature of aid or
consolation, but if he had come volun
tarily with Mr. Aydlett or some other
citizen he would have regarded it dif
ferently. His words were applauded.
THOMAS HAYMAN TESTIFIES.
Thomas Hayman, who had worked with
Jim in a marine railway, was called. The
witness said Wilcox told him the reason
he did not help with the search for Nell
Cropsey was that- if he should find her
the people would say he knew where the
body was and that he killed her. Hayman
declared Jim was a strong man aud Could
handle large pieces of timber with ease.
Witness thought ha knew what he was
talking about for he considered himself
a pretty good man.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
The prosecution wanted to prove that
the trousers Jim Wilcox today wore in
the court house were not those worn on
the night of Nell’s disappearance as hhd
been stated.
Miss Ollie Cropsey and Miss Letfie
Cropsey, sisters of the dead girl, Were
sworn. Each testified that the pants
worn today were not those he had on the
night of November 20.
Lettie said she had searched all about
the premises for the picture claimed to
have been given Nell, but nothing of it
was seen.
"We rest for the State,” said District
Attorney Ward.
Mr. Bond—”lf your honor please, that’s
the case for the defendant.”
Then there was consultation about the
order in which the speakers should come.
Ihe instructions had previously been
handed in to the judge The instructions
were not argued.
Judge Jones congratulated the crowd on
its exceeding good order and hoped it
would continue decorous. He warned
against any demonstration and said if lie
found any man guilty he should be fined
for contempt.
ARGUMENT IS BEGUN.
Mr. McMullan made the first speech.
He began by saying he was sick with
fever, that his associates had agreed lie
should open, that the solemnity of the oc
casion appalled him, that though con
scious of weakness he was never more
desirous of oratorical powers. Continuing
he said: “Your decision, gentlemen, is
important not only to the defendant and
to justice, but the eyes of Pasquotank
county are upon you. The eyes of the ’
RALEIGH. NORTH CAROLINA. WEDNESDAY MORNING. MARCH 19. 1902.
whole world are upon you, they are watch
ing you, gentlemen. I hope you will be
guided by reason and not by prejudice.
“My heart goes out to the family in
deepest and abiding sympathy. Every
man's sympathy in this county is theirs.
We know the anguish of it.”
The speaker said there was no evidence
to show Nell died by an assassin's hand,
there was no evidence to connect Jim
Wilcox with the crime. He said the State
relied upon three things. Jim was last
seen with Nell, his conduct was against
him, and the doctors’ testimony. He ad
mitted the first and denied the others.
He believed that Miss Cropsey loved Wil
cox, and Wilcox loved her. He thanked
God Nell’s 'ife was blameless, and Wil
cox’s conduct was not indicative of guilt.
“In the name of eternal justice I ask for
a verdict of not guilty,” he concluded.
MR. TURNER SPEAKS.
Mr. Turner, for the prosecution, came
next. He said it was an extraordinary
case. A fair young girl budding into
womanhood had been taken away, not by
Almighty God, her mother bending over
and attended by sisters, but taken with
a murderer for a pall bearer, the waves
for a coffin, the river bottom for a grave.
Turner agreed with McMullan that
the eyes of the civilized world were upon
the jury. The dead body of Nell Cropsey
called for vindication. It was a disgrace
to Nortli Carolina, the home of Ransom,
and Jarvis, a burning shame that a wo
man should be knocked in the head like
(Continued on Page Five.)
THE CREW RESCUED
The Spanish Steamer Broken
in Two on Cape Look
out Shoals.
(Special to the News and Observer.)
Morehead City, N. C., March 18.—The
United States revenue cutter Algonquin
arrived here this evening with the crew
of the Spanish steamship Ea of Bilbao,
Captain Y. Garary.
She sailed from Fernandina, Fla., on
March 13th with twenty-five thousand
barrels of rosin and twenty-five hundred
tons of phosphate and was on route to
N»‘W York to finish her cargo, when off
Cape Lookout Shoals she encountered a
heavy fog and struck at 9:30 a. m. the
outer diamond. On March 15th, on ac
count of high seas and brisk southeast
to northeast winds, no assistance could
be rendered by the life saving crew. On
Tuesday morning about 9 o’clock the
crew was rescued by the life saving
crew of Lookout station, with the as
sistance of the United States revenue
cutter Algonquin and several tugs.
The steamship broke in two yesterday,
and up until this morning the crew was
on the bridge with nothing to eat or
drink, hoping to be rescued. In the
meantime the sea fell and having but
one boat the life savers only managed to
take part of the crew aboard the Algon
quin. Capt. Gaskill, of the life saving
station, rescued the remainder. There
are twenty-seven in the crew. All were
saved but are badly weather beaten.
The steamship and cargo are a total
loss.
The schooner yacht picked up by Mer
ritt's tug off Hatteras and towed into
Cape Lookout proved to be the Endymon,
of Boston, and will be towed to New
York for repairs.
TO HOLD A 810 FAIR.
Associations of Greensboro. Burlington and
Winston May Unite
(Special to News and Observer.)
Greensboro, N. C., March 18.—The man
agement of the Fair Associations of
Greensboro, Winston and Burlington is
understood to be considering the advis
ability of uniting tlie three associat’.ons
ard holding the biggest lair ami race
meet in the history of North Carolina
during the coming fall- The plan is to
pool the premiums, purses and all other
interests of the three fairs, thus insur
ing the best attractions and fastest rac
ing ever seen in this State. The purses
for trials of speed would aggregate
$6,000, while a large sum would be given
in premiums. The secretaries of the
three fairs held a meeting here a few
days ago and discussed the matter. Af
ter conferring with their stockholders
they will meet again and come to some
conclusion in the matter. The united
fair would probably be held in Greens
boro during the week of the State Fair
at Raleigh.
Little Felix Zollicoffer Dead.
(Special to News and Observer.)
Weldon, N. C., March 18.—Felix Zolli
ceffor, the little sen of Dr. and Mrs. D. B.
Zollicofifer, died here last night of pneu
monia. The remains were laid to rest at
half past three o’clock this afternoon.
Bishop Cheshire preached a fine sermon
at Grace church here Sunday night.
Some of Weldon’s citizens are again
agitating the question of a public bridge
here over the Roanoke, but there appears I
to be a strong opposition ameng a good .
many to the plans proposed.
A lively little snow storm raged here
this morning for about half an hour and
the local weather prophets say the fruit
is killed. There was ice in the buds.
Wilmington Baseball.-
(Special to the News and Observer.)
Wilmington, N. C., March 18.—With
Col. Walker Taylor as chairman a com
mittee is actively at work for subscrip
tions to the State Baseball League .o
put Wilmington in. The matter will be;
decided iu a few days with the outlook
is excellent and the club will be managed
by Mr. Bear.
MASON DRAWS IRE
EIRE OF MR, BM
Bill Providing Protection Kor
President Discussed
BACON IS FIGHTING IT
Mason Sharply Criticises an Amend
ment He Offers.
THE AIR CLCARED BY AN EXPLANATION
The General Debale on the River and Harbor
Bill is Enlivened by an Attack on
the Measure by Mr.
Helpburr.
(Special to News and Observer.)
Washington, March 18. —For three
hours today the Senate had under consid
eration the bill providing for the pro
tection of the President of the United
States and for the punishment of those
who commit assaults upon him by the
United States courts. It was discussed
at length by Mr. Bacon, of Georgia, who
opposed it, and by Mr. Hoar, of Massa
chusetts, who supported it.
Mr. Bacon's argument followed the
lines of his speech delivered ten days
ago. Mr. Hoar’s speech was largely
legal and constitutional in its scope. He
maintained the right of the Government
to protect itself against assault upon its
sovereignty through the President. Mr.
Mason made an attack upon anarchy
and its methods and incidentally sharp
ly criticised an amendment to the bill
offered by Mr. Bacon. He denounced it
as opening the door to special pleading
for the benefit of the assassins of the
President. This drew Mr. Bacon's fire.
He considered Mr. Mason’s criticism a
personal reflection ujJoff himself and re
sented it with heat. An explanation by
the Illinois Senator cleared the atmos
phere.
Earlier in the day a lively debate was
precipitated by the effort of Mr. Raw*
lins, of Utah, to have printed as a docu
ment some Philippine correspondence.
Eventually, the matter was ordered
printed, as requested.
Mr. Bacon, of Georgia, offered an
amendment to the first paragraph of the
bill for the protection of the President,
providing the penalty of death for an
assassin of a President if the assault
upou the President was committed “be
cause of his official position or for the
purpose of destroying the Government
or impairing the exercise of its consti
tutional powers.”
Mr. Vest, of Missouri, suggested the
possibility of a Federal jury acquitting
an assassin of the President, because
the motive as specified by Mr. Bacon’s
amendment had not been proved. In such
a case, he asked, would the assassin be
liable to indictment under the State law?
Mr. Bacon said an assault upon the
President might be a crime against the
person and it might be a crime against
the Government. The purpose of his
amendment was to differentiate between
the two crimes.
Mr. Bacon contended that an assault
upon the President as a person ought to
be punished precisely as any similar of
fense against any other citizen was
punished; otherwise an official class
would be created in the United States.
The foundation stone of our Govern
ment, he maintained, was absolute
equality before the law.
Mr. Mason, of Illinois, said the pend
ing bill was “but the formation and
shape of public opinion which thrice had
been arousel by the murder of the Presi
dent.” To his mind it was a well consid
ered and thoroughly mature measure
and the amendment offered by Mr. Ba
con, he thought, was not warranted by
the conditions or by the law.
Mr. Mason said the present was a bad
time to fix special pleading for anar
chistic criminals.
In the course of legal and constitu
tional argument in support of the bill,
Mr. Hoar replied to some of the points
made by Mr. Bacon. He suggested that
Mr. Bacon’s amendment and his objec
tions to the bill were founded not on a
special rule of law, but a special rule
of escape for the criminal specified by
the measure.
Mr. Bacon took sharp exception to the
criticism of Mr. Hoar, asserting that the
Massachusetts Senator’s statements were
“unjustifiable” and “misrepresented” his
argument.
Mr. Bacon replied with some evidences
of heat to the criticism of his' amend
ment made by Mr. Mason—criticism
which he felt reflected upon him person
ally. He demanded to know whether
there was a Senator on the Republican
side who believed he could be guilty of
defending anarchists or their schemes
or a Senator who believed that he had
presented anything that would afford a
■method of escape of anarchists from
just punishment when guilty of an as
sault upon the President.
Mr. Mason replied that he certainly
believed what he had said and was wil
ling to state it again. The Senator from
Georgia knew, however, that he was in
capable of reflecting upon his (Bacon's)
honor or integrity of purpose.
“What 1 said,” replied Mr. Mason,
“was that the amendment offered by
the Senator from Gorgia was a basis of
special pleading for men who shall be
caught in the act of taking the life of
the President. It opens wide the doorj
for special pleading. What l said did’
not reflect directly or remotely upon the
honor of the Senator. I was character
izing the amendment, not the Senator.”
RIV£R AND HARBOR BILL.
General Debate on the Measure Closes This
Afternoon.
(By the Associated Press.)
Washington, March 18.—The general de
bate on the River and Harbor Appropria
tion Bill in the House was enlivened to
day by Mr. Hepburn (Iowa), who made
his annual onslaught upon the measure.
Contrary to his usual custom, Mr. Hep
burn found several things in the bill to
commend, although some of his criticisnj|
were quite severe. Mr. Hepburn said thH
Congress should set a definite limit upon
the depth of water sought to be obtained
in seaport harbors—3o feet for instance—
and place a limit upon naval architecture.
Otherwise he declared, there would be
no end to the depth of water which would
he demanded.
The other speakers today were Messrs.
Ball (Tex.), and Lawrence (Mass.), both
members of the committee, and Messrs.
White (Ky.), Thompson and Burnett
(Ala.), who spoke in favor of improve
ments of interest to their districts. It
was agreed that general debate on ihe
hill should close tomorrow at 3 o’clock.
Saturday, April 26. was set aside for me
morial services of the late Representa
tive Stokes, of South Carolina, and the
late Representative Crump, of Michigan.
SOLDIERS J II RIDE
Pistols and Knives Flash in
an Affray at “Ihe
Blue Goose ”
(By the Associated Press )
Mobile, La., March 18.—A report was
received hero today from Fort Morgan,
Ala., at the entrance to Mobile Bay
j that a riot between soldiers and civilians
occuried there Sunday night. One man
is reported to have been killed and ten
■ or fifteen wounded.
There has been no communication be
j tween the barracks and this city since
' Sunday afternoon, and the news was not
learned until a private boat came in to
day. About forty or fifty soldiers were
drinking at a saloon called ”The Blue
j Goose” on the outside of the reserva
j tion when the tight started between the
| boys in uniform and a crowd of civilians
who were making repairs at tfle bar
| racks. Pistols and knives are said to
I have been used. Michael Keoughan,
■ who was discharged last Saturday from
the army, was shot to death and ten or
1 fifteen were wounded in the shooting
1 an.J cutting which was general lor a
I time.
RALEIGH MAN FALLS AMONG
THIEVES AT NEWPORT NEWS
j I hey Drug and Rob Fred Marks and Leave
Him For Dead. Now He Must Work
on the Streets.
(Special to News and Observer.)
Newport News, Va., March 18.—Fred
Maiks, a cigar maker, hove into port from
Raleigh yesterday with his pockets well
lined with greenbacks and fell among
thieves, who drugged him and robbed him
and left him for dead in an alley before
the night was done.
Marks was found in a semi-unconscious
condition by two policemen shortly after
midnight. Physicians restored him to
consciousness after several hours of hard
work.
Marks is unable to describe the men
or women who robbed him. He has only
faint recollection of visiting a number
of resorts with several variety actors
and female concert hall performers. This
afternoon when arraigned in police court
none of his companions of the night came
to bis assistance and being unable to im
mediately show that he was not a vaga
bond, Mark? was committed to the chain
gang. He will have to work on the streets
a.s a sweeper until he can give bond.
WANTED D B HILL TO SPEAK
Wake Forest Literary Societies After Him. It
is ‘‘On to Charleston ”
(Special to the News and Observer.)
Wake Forest, N. C., March 18.—The
literary societies of Wake Forest are
trying to obtain the consent of Senator
David B. Hill to deliver the commence
ment address before the societies.
There is much interest taken here in
the Charleston Exposition, especially
since the Exposition number of the News
and Observer, and a number of the stu
dents expect to visit it during Easter
week. A special car is being talked of.
A HEAVY CRIMINAL DOCKET
Jim Walker, the Would be Poisoner, Among
the Prisoners.
(Special to News and Observer.)
Washington, N. C., March 18.—At the
next term of court there will be more
criminal cases than have been cn any one
docket for several terms.
There is now enough evidence obtained
to bring to book the murderer of John
Caton at Mill Three negroes
are in jail at Swin Quarter to be tried
at the next term of Hyde court for mur
dering Capt. Roy Williams at Swan
Quarter.
The negro Jim Walker, who attempted
to kill Dr. Taylce’s family with arsenic,
Monday, is imprisoned to await trial-
To gratify his hatred against the negro
nurse Walker came near committing'
wholesale murder by killing six other
people.
The month of March has been a scries
of storms aud freshets. The fish nets in
J the river have been lost repeatedly and
twice there has not been a net ip the
river. Shad are running light and tlie
local dealers are highly disappointed at
the outcome and the prospects.
The old Bell building will be torn
down next week to make way for the
new three-story, thirty room hotel-
S. R. Fowle & Son w ill begin at once
to erect two stores and a handsome Na
tional Bank building on their Main
street property.
HALF MILLION DOLLARS INVESTED-
Cabarrus County Copper and Gold Mines Have
New Capital Put in Them.
(Special to the News and Observer.)
Salisbury, N. C., March 18. —With a
paid up capital of $500,000 the Chicago
Consolidated Copper and Gold Mining
Company has been organized. It will op
erate gold and copper mines in Cabarr us
county, near the Union mine, within four
miles of Gold Hill.
Captain R. I). Curd, manager of the
Oddie Mine, is the manager of the new
company, and four shafts already slightly
sunk show splendid outlook for copper
and gold.
Church Improvements at Newton.
(Special to News and Observer.)
Newton, N. C., March 18. —A few
ago the Presbyterian church was remod
elled. A few days since an order w r as
given for handsome seats, the ladies as
suming half of the debt and thev have
gone to work to earn the money.
The Lutheran congregation are having
their church beautifully remodelled.
The Methodist church is soon to be
enlarged and otherwise improved,
j The German Reformed members have
; just placed in their beautiful church a
handsome pipe organ. On the evening
of March 16th, the organ was dedicated
to the service of the Lord and Rev. Mr.
Stubblebine was installed pastor of the
chui eh.
Martin Court in Session.
(Special to News and Observer.)
Wllliamston, N. C-, March 18—Martin
Superior court is in session this week.
Judge Henry R. Biyan presiding. Ow
ing to the illness of Judge Bryan, who
could not hold Wilson court at the regu
lar time, Wilson and Martin court are
both held this week For this reason
Solicitor diaries C. Daniels is not here
this week, being engaged in important
murder trials at Wilson court. The State
is represented by Mr. W. O- Howard, of
the Edgecombe bar, who has made a fine
impression, winning th e good opinion of
the people and the bar.
earch For Calvin Jones Continues.
(Special to News and Observer.)
Suffolk, Va., March 18.—The where
abouts of Calvin Jones is still a deep
mystery, his friends are greatly alarmed
over his absence, as this is the eighth
day since he was last seen. The Elks at
a meeting last night appointed a commit
tee to make diligent search, with power
to draw on the treasury for all needed
funds. A short while ago he told some of
bis friends that if they missed him they
would either find him in South Africa or
the Philippines.
Lived to be 104 Years Old.
(Special to the News and Observer.)
Fayetteville, N. C., March 18.—At the
age of 104 years a negro woman has died
in Cedar Creek. She was the mother of
twenty-five children, ten still alive, the
youngest fifty-eight years old. Os nine
children seventy-eight grand children are
now living. The woman was a slave of
the Jonathan Evans family, with which
she always remained, being in full pos
session of her faculties up to a short
time of her death.
Electric Light Plant Sold.
(Special to the News and Observer.)
Shelby, N. C., Mawwi 18. —Today the
electric light plant, which has been shut
down for two months, was sold by the
creditors to McMurry & Miller, who will
start it at once and give good lights to
the town.
The plant was sold some time ago un
der execution and bought by the credi
tors, who sold it today for four thou
sand dollars.
Salisbury Canning Factory.
(Special to the News and Observer.)
Salisbury, N. C., March 18.—Machinery
and cans for a new canning factory have
been ordered. With SIO,OOO paid up cap
ital a company has been organized in
which are Messrs. M. L. Bean, D. L.
Arey, S. F. Lord and James Moyle. The
company will can all fruits and vege
tables and wHI be ready for this year’s
ere;}.
Senator Money at Davidson.
(Special to the News and Observer.)
Davidson College, N. C., March 18.—
Dr. Henry Louis Smith has secured fro.n
Senator Money, of Mississippi, an ac
ceptance of the invitation to deliver the
commencement address at Davidson. He
is among the ablest of the Senators and
is an eloquent and forcible speaker, as
well as a talented lawyer.
New Jail For Robeson.
(Special to the News and Observer.)
Lumberton, N. C., March 18.—A fine
jail is to be built for Robeson county and
a committee, consisting of County Attor
ney A. W. McLean, Mr. E. K. Proctor,
Jr., and Mr. R. D. Caldwell, of Lumber
ton are to have plans prepared aud in
vite bids. The jail is to cost in the
neighborhood of $25,000. *
♦44444444444F4444444 4*
♦ the weather TO -DAY.4
▼ For Raleigh: X
| Fair and Colder. |
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*0 VE CENTS
THE PHOENIX PIER
BLAZES TO ftSHES
The Steamship British Queen
Totally Destroyed-
SEVERAL LIGHTERS LOST
Men on the Docks Assert That Many
People Perished.
LONGSHOREMEN CAUGHT ON THE QUEEN
Thes2 With Sailors Sleeping in the Forecastle
of That Ship the Men Whose Lives
Are Said to Have Been
Sacrificed.
(By the Associated Press.)
New York, March 18.—The pier of the
Phoenix Line in Hoboken was destroyed
by fire tonight. The steamship British
Queen was totally destroyed, several
lighters were burned, the fire threat
ened the Campbell stores, and for a time
it looked as if the tlames would reach
the Holland-American Line docks. The
Maasdan, of the latter line, was towed
safely into the stream. 1
Men who were on the docks and on the
British Queen when the lire started as
sert there were many lives lost. They
said that longshoremen were imprisoned
about the ship and that some sailors
sleeping in the forecastle of the British
Queen did not get out.
The latest information is that no lives
were lost, though it is asserted that the
chief engineer on board the British Queen
is still unaccounted for.
RESULT OItSTHIAL
Jury in the Breese Case
Could Not Agree
Eleven For Conviction, and One For Acquittal.
Motion For Change of Venue For New
Trial Denied.
(Special to News and Observer.)
Asheville, N. C-, March 18.—Th>‘ jury
in the Breese case, which has been be
fore the Federal Court here for the past
two weeks, failed to agree and a mis
trial has been declared and the jury dis
charged. Eleven jurors stood for con
viction and cne for acquittal. Motion for
change of venue for new trial was de
nied. An effort will be made to get the
case heard again at once- The Dickerson
case will be heard at the June term in
Charlotte. A renewal of bond for
Breese and Dickerson for fifteen thous
and collars was submitted and aceept
,ed by the fcourt. Penland requested
that l:*s case not be removed for Char
leston.
Rev- Richard Wainwright, aged sev
enty-two, died here yesterday. Dr.
Wainwright was a. native of England.
He has been rector at Bowman’s Bluff
for eighteen years.
GENERAL MA DEFEATED.
Forced Back by the Rebels After Two Days of
Fighting
(By the Associated Press.)
Hong Kong, March IS-—General Ma.
has been defeated by the Kwang-Si
rebels, who have taken possession of
Fang Cheng. They have killed or cap
tured all the mandarins and have looted
the town.
General Ma attacked the rebel strong
holds, but after an engagement, lasting
two days, was forced to retreat. The
rebels then established their headquar
ters at Fang Cheng.
The rebellion is spreading rapidly in
the provinces of Kwang Si, Kwang
Tung and Yun Nan.
A letter received here from Tien Pul,
fifty miles from Kwang Chou savs all
business is suspended there owing to
fear of the rebels. Marshal Su is at
Lien Chou and General Ma is at Kao
Chou (both in Kwang Tung province).
Both of these commanders are awaiting
reinforcements. They wish to join their
forces, but the rebels are holding all the
intervening passes and prevent a junc
tion of the government, troops- Many
of the imperial soldiers are joining the
rebels, owing to the superior pay offered
them and the opportunity for looting.
The rebel leader is Hung Ming, a rela
tive of the celebrated Hung Sou Cheun,
leader of the Tai Ping rebellion
LIBERALB GAIN A VICTORY.
And Fighting on the Isthmus is Expected to
Follow.
(By the Associated Press.)
)\ ashington, March 18.—Secretary Long
has the following cablegram
from Commander Rodgers, of the gunboat
Marietta, dated Colon today:
“Liberal army has gained a victory.
Rebels have possession of country tt(est
of Panama. Fighting expected on Ehe
isthmus.” fc