♦ THE WEATHER TO-DAY t ♦ For North Carolina: X / X RAIN. | VOL. LII. NO. 6. Leads - all MoFth Carolina Bailies in Mews and Circulation HIS FATE NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE TWELVE And They Will Probably Ren* der no Verdict Before Today. THE VERDICT EXPECTED * / District Attorney Ward Believes it Will be Murder in the Second Degree. THE JUDGE’S IMPRESSIVE CHARGE At a late Hour People Gat'uer on the Street and There Are Reports of a Mob Forming, But the Police Fear No Trouble. (Specia lto News and Observer.) Elizabeth City, N. C., March 21. —Af- ter being- out five hours it is decided that the jury will not render a verdict tonight. Lawyers on both sides say a conclusion will not be heard before Sat urday .and that if a verdict be decided upon the judge will not receive it before tomorrow morning. The afternoon session was taken for the most part in the reading of evidence. When Court Clerk eJnnings had read during the morning session and for an hour after luneh. Miss Anna Delon took his place and read the rest of the testi mony. The crowd of spectators- had dwindled down to a few hundred while the evidence review was going on. Some of the jurymen paid close attention, but others were languild in apparance, and having heard the testimony already, did not care for its repetition in the record. Mary thousand words of testimony were read to the jury during the day, but they had heard it all before and the reading was rather flat. The number of women present was smaller than at pre vious sessions. Jim Wilcox heard it all without showing any emotion. The evi dence reading concluded at 4:25 o’clock. Tudge Jones then announced that since all the evidence was in the jury should retire and consider nothing but the fpets and that no impression gained from the outside should influence the verdict. Alt of which meant the jury should not take into account the index of local feeling shown yesterday by people leaving the courtroom, when Wilcox’s last lawyer spoke, nor the ringing of the fire alarm to distract their attention. The court told the jury to go out and bi ing in a verdict, of murder in the first, or second degree, or of acquittal. He concluded “Mr. Officer, take the jury to their room. You can retire gentlemen.” Questioned about what he thought the jury would do, Mr. Ward, District At torney, said of course he did not know, hut" lie thouoeht a verdict of murder in the second degree would be brought. Mr. Bond, for the defense, while the jury wa sout, said: “I have no idea what they will do. I’ve gotten old enough to let nothing that a jury would do surprise me-” Former Sheriff Wilcox, Jim’s father, was present when the lengthy time tal-en by the jury was commented upon, and some one thought the verdict would be brought quickly. Mr. Wilcox said: ”1 hope the verdict will not be brought so soon. T have heard that they are now getting up a crowd to lynch my boy. I have the names of three leaders who are seeking to srbt up a party.” Mr. Ward remarked to Mr. Wilcox that his was a most remarkable family. He said they seemed incapable of feel ing. Mr. Wilcox looked sad and said nothing. They had already led his son away to jail pending word from the jury room. Soon after the jury'retired Judge Jones went driving with a friend. He did not expect an early verdict. After the jury had gone up I talked with Miss Louise Cropsey, a young wo man with a pretty, reflective face and intelligent expression. She was Miss, Froppey’s sister- Miss Louise spoke of the relations between Nell and Jim aud said Nell had ceased to love him. that she had heard Nell frequently speak about having laid aside his affections. This afternoon an Elizabeth City lady, the wife of a prominent merchant, said mos| of the women here were against Wileex, but that she felt lots of sym pathy for the family, and that she dif fered from most men in the courthouse, who said Jim showed no emotion. She thought he did show feeling, and that if he had broken down and cried, people would have said that indicated guilt. The sue lady said she noticed that when women and men were leaving the court room yesterday, the wife of a well-known juror did not move. As is usually the case in a matter of this sort, some of the prisoner’s staunch est friends are women, though most of that sex in this town are against him. Always nicely dressed, cleanly shaven and ntatlv groomed. Jim Wijcox is a young man whcinr women would like if he could cast aside the prison pallor anil court-room rigidity of expression. Wll •V . .. ' « V ' 'r/• < * \ 'XT* 'va . The News and Observer cox is pleasant with jail attendants. Having seen a frog on his way to court, Jim remarked he would like to get out and have some fun shooting bull frogs. While awaiting for the jury’s finding Wilcox was one of the most unconcerned men iff the city, so far as appearances go. Nothing acn feaze him. Fciirer District Attorney Leary said many people have misconstrued his re marks about the Cropseys being from the North. He says he feels, kindly to wards the family and did not mean any reflection against people from the North At a late hour tonight there are re' ports that a mob is gathering to lynch Wilcox in case he is freed. They are not important, for in the first place a verdict oc acquittal is not likely, and no verdict of any kind is likely to be brought tonight- That’s what lawyers on both sides say. The police say people afe gathering in smdll bunches, but they don’t expect trouble tonight. THS CHARGE TO THE JURY. _____ v Detailed Proceedings oi the Earlier Hoars of the Day (Special to News and Observer.) Elizabeth City, N. C„ .March 21. Ably, impressively, forcefully, feelingly, Judge Jones today charged the jury in whose keeping is the life ol Jim Wilcox. The judge is a careful, conscientious and learned man, and he talked like one who felt a grhvA responsibility resting upon him. There was deathly stillness as he said the words which must guide the jury in tljeir verdict. Stern men and fair women scanned his face eagerly. Judge Jones requested the spectators to keep quiet, and hoped he would not be interrupted. Having forgotten his spectacles there was slight delay while Sheriff Grandy sent for them- Having no chairs, most of which were held by ladies, District Attorney Ward and others were seated on cracker boxes and the like. The prisoner, neatlv groomed sat far back in his chair, his hands fold ed across the breast. (Continued on Page Five.) THE icon FAILS / 1 r 1 ,.: . • Tobacco Dealers Refuse to be ■ Enslaved by the Im perial Company. (By the Associated Press.l London, March 21.—At a meeting of the Edinburgh Association of retail tobaccon ists today, a resolution was adopted, unanimously, declining to sign the Im perial Tobacco Company’s agreement not to sell American goods for a term of years, but expressing willingness, if the minimum pribe is raised so asto allow a fair profit to dealers, to do what is possi ble. bonus or no bonus, for the sake or British goods. The chairman declared i that no one, outside of a lunatic asylum would sign such an agreement, which would make them the servants of the Imperial Tobacco Company. While the Americans offered a large bonus, no re ! stricticns were placed upon the dealers, i The Belfast tobacco dealers, at a I meeting today, decided to accept the American proposition. The feeling among the London tobac conists, exemplified at a big meeting held this afternoon to consider the rival bonus schemes, was one of bitter opposition to the boycotting clause of the agreement proposed by the Imperial Tobacco Com pany, which was described as arbitrary and unjust. Ultimately, the London Tobacconists, after a long discussion, passed a resolu tion. unanimously, absolutely refusing to sign the Imperial Tobacco Company's agreement as being “unjust and unfair to the dealers and un-English.” The retailers were not content with rejecting the proposed boycott of the American Tobacco but went a step furth er, passing a resolution to support any manufacturers willing to guarantee, on proprietary articles, a minimum profit to the retailer of 20 per cent on tobacco to 25 per cent on cigarettes. The speakers bitterly denounced the British combine, declared the latter had “out-Americanized the Americans” and said that its recent action would only result in forcing the remaining independent tobacco concerns in England into the arms of the Ameri cans. The resolutions were adopted with much cheering, mingled with groans for the Im perial concern. FROM CHATTANOOGA ON TO CHARLESTON VIA ASHEVILLE- Humor That the Southern Will Have Through Line Current in Carolina's Moan tain City (Spcial to News and Observer.) Asheville, N. C., March 21. —A rumor is current here to the effect that the Southern Railway will have a through line from Chattanooga to Charleston via Asheville. The through line to Chatta nooga by the Southern is to be obtained by the purchase of the South Carolina and Georgia extension. This road runs from Camden. South Carolina, to Marion, North* Carolina, a distance of about 125 miles, and is a valuable piece of property. It was originally built as a part of the three C’s road that was to form a connecting link between Charleston and Cincinnati. For the first time in the history of the city school, Arbor Day was celebrated here today. Trees were planted at the three school buildings and appropriate exercise held. Foreman Robingon of the Breese jury, says that Juryman Hooper, who hung the jury in the Breese trial, stated upon taking his seat in the box that he had hung a number of juries. 1 RALEIGH. NORTH CAROLINA. SATURDAY MORNING. MARCH 22. 1902. A BILL TO PROTECT THE NATION'S HEAD \ The Measure Passes the Sen ate ‘>2 to 15. A BODY GUARD PROVIDED The Bill to Bepeal War Taxes is ilso Passed. Ac IT GOES THROUGH WITHOUT DIVISION Patterson of Colorado Forcefully Opposed the Bid to Protect the President and Fair banks Advocated It. Amend ments Voted Down, (By the Associated Press.) Washington, March 21.—Two import ant measures were passed by the Senate today, the bill for the repeal of the War Revenue Taxes and that for the protec tion t.f the President of the United States. The revenue reduction bill was passed without division and after only one short speech, Mr. Tillman, embraced the op portunity afforded by the bill’s consid eration to protect again the repeal of the duty of ten cents a pound upon tea. The owners of tea teas now in this coun try in bond, Mr. Tillman said, would get the benefit cf the removal of the duty to the amount of $.1,000,000. Since the duty had been levied upon the tea the United States had been receiving a bet ter quality of tea, which had been sup plied to the people at no increase, he said, that the experiment of tea culture was being made in South Carolina and he believed it would be successful. This was a “baby industry” and really .need ed the protection. This w’as the tea eul-r tue industry gave occupation to many colored children and might do much other good- The b ! ll for the protection of Presi dent was under consideration the greater part of the session. M- Patterson, of Colorado, made an extended speech in opposition to it, and Mr. Fairbanks, of Indiana, advocated it in a forceful ad dress. Amendments were offered by Senators Morgan, Mallory, Telle, McLaurin, (Miss.), and McCumber, (North Da kota), and rejected. The substitutes offered by Senators Culberton, Bacon and Patterson were rejected. The bill then was passed 52 to 15 as folk ws: Yeas—Aldrich, Allison, Bard, Bever idge, Burnham, Burrows, Burton. Clark, (Mont.), Clark, (Wyoming), Cockrell, Cullom, Deboe, Depew, Dillingham. Dry den, Dubois. Elkins, Fairbanks, Foraker, “Foster, (Louisiana): Foster, (Washing ton): Frye, Gallinger, Gamble, Gibson. Hanna, Hansbrough Harris, Hawlpy, Heitfeld, Hoar. Kearns, Kittridge. Lodge, McCombs, McMillan, Martin, Mitchell, Nelson, Perkins, Platt, (Corn.); Pritchard, Proctor, Quarles, Scott, Simmons, Spooner,- Stewart, Til ler. Vest Warren. Wetmore—s2- Nays—Bacon, Bailey. Bate, Berry, Blackburn, Carmack, Clay, McCumber, Mallory, Patterson, Pettus, [Rawlins, Tallafaro Tillman, Welllnton—lf>- The bill provides that any person with in the United States who shall wilfully and maliciously kill the President or any officer on whom the duties of President may devolve, or any sovereign of a for eign country, or shall attempt to kill any of the persons named, shall suffer death: that any person who shall aid, abet, advise or counsel the killing of any of the persons named, or shall conspire to accomplish their death, shall be im prisoned not exceeding twenty years: that any person who shall threaten to kill or advise or counsel to kill the Pres ident. or any official on whom the duties of President may devolve, shall be im prisoned not exceeding ten years: that any person who shall wilfully aid in the escape of any person guilty of any of the offences mentioned shall be deemed an accomplice and shall be punished as a principal. The Secretary of War is directed to detail from the regular army a guard of officers and men to protect the President, “without any unnecessary display” and the Secretary is authorized to make regulations as to the dress, arms and equipments and duty of such cuard. * STEWART FIFE ACQUITTED- Charged With Murder of Frank Richardson- Dramatic Scene in Court Room. (By the Associated Press.) Savannah, Mo., March 21.—When court opened at 9 o’clock today the jury in the case of Stew'art Fife, charged with the murder of Frank W. Richardson, at the home of the victim, Christmas, 1901, rendered a verdict of acquittal. It is said that only one ballot was taken and from the beginning the jurors stood unanimous for acquittal. The case went to the jury last evening. When the verdict was announced .there was a dramatic scene in tfie court room. Mrs. Fife, mother of the accused, sprang forward and embraced her son, shoutiDg for ioy all the while. Mrs. Richardson, j widow of the murdered man, was also j in the court room and gave vent to her i emotion Fife was so overcome that he could not speak. This was the second trial in the Richardson mfirdcr. Mrst RLchar