Newspapers / The Wilson Advance (Wilson, … / Aug. 31, 1899, edition 1 / Page 1
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r . rtM XXIX. WILSON, 1ST. C, AUGUST 31, 1899. NUMBER 34. I k If it w l ii I 3 I ii ii in CAPTAIN CALVIN BARNES MURDERED AT DUSK ASSASSIN YET UNKNOWN. him some of the squirrels. She de-1 nied having looked for thegun after ! the shooting was known ot, and that ! she had said she was afraid that! (iffilllOUS ESCAPE OF HIS GRANDCHILDREN rtie Steos Taken To Secure The Criminal Ths Bloodhounds From Northampton Fail To Get The Scent. A foul and terrible crime was com mitted on the outskirts of Wilson last Monday night, and the husband and father lay in the darkened chamber of death and the widow and bereaved family were in the depth of sorrow, not only because of a loved one gone, but because of the horrible deed of deepest grief. and ranging through the bodv was found a douhlf barrelled shot mm in just under the skin near the right the crack of the fence near the old breast, evidently having passed I Nadal place where a Mr. Mercer now - through the left lung. The ball was lives. One barrel had recently been I I w W M WW I ball, perhaps a home made bullet, other was loaded with small shot, put about lending the gun to Teflerson. It was as large as the front joint of a in a long time ago. It is reported Said Mercer told her of lending the man s thumb, weighed an ounce and that Mr. Mercer says the gun is his gun to Jefferson m the presence of one eighth, arid had evidently been and that he loaned it to Mr. Jefferson the hired man Williams, and that she fired from a shot gun or a musket, on Mondav. Mr. Teflerson in his The physicians soon recognized' statement Monday, night denied hav- that the wound was a fatal one, and ing had any gun, and the Coroner's that there was no hope. They did quest, which began at four o'clock, Her evidence and her husband's con all in their power to keep the sufferer Tuesday afternoon, developed other fticted in materia points easy ana the struggle lor life went on important lacts. John Williams, a white man who till about half past two when Captain CORONER'S INQUEST. , was working for Jefferson told of the I Barnes breathed his last. His faith- From the time of the finding of the words between Captain Barnes and ful and devoted wife had sat for un until lour o clock luesday after- Toe Teflerson. Said neither eemrH i i j - - hours holding his hands, but when noon crowds were collected on the mad. He also said that he her gallant husband was no more, her streets discussing the dastardly kill wonderful composure crave wav. and lnK of Captain Barnes. The gun &ad with her daughters she shed tears of been recognized as one belonging to L. R. Mercer, a brother-in-law of he confesses HIS m JOSEPH JEFFERSON IN JAIL IN RALEIGH ABUSES HIS VICTIM. HAS NO SORROW FOR HIS BLOODT DEED had not been told by Mrs. Celia Ed-! wards not to say anything about Mercer lending the erun to Teflerson. Laid In Wait For Captain Barnes Shot Mm Because tie Was Mad About Dresses And Crops Assassin's Story. never heard Mercer tell his wife that he had loaned his gun to Jefferson. Miss Lena Walston, who stays at Mercer's, told that Mrs. Mercer bad which he wjas the victim. The; citizens ot Wilson and the of- Joseph . Jefferson and people were talked with her Monday night about Just about dusk Monday night Capt ficials had not been idle. Sheriff putting things together and the drift Jefferson having borrowed the gun. Calvin Barnes, with his two little Sharp had immediately wired to of opinion was that when Jefferson She knew Monday night that the grandchildren, Henry Ashley Young, Raleigh for blood hounds, and Mr. was arrested the guilty man had been gun uas gone. aged eleven, and t rank Young, aged Geo. X). Green, Chairman of the Mound. Mrs. Celia Walston, a neighbor, eight, were in a buggy coming over Board of County Commissioners, had Dr. John K. Ruffin, the coroner of testified that Mrs. Mercer Sad told the new road from Captain Barnes' wired to Maj. T. L. Emry at Weldon the county began the inquest at four her of Jeftercon having the gun. and iarm and were within halt a mile ot to secure dogs from the Northampton CI0CK wltn a Jury composea pi wanted her to sav nothing about .1. w i - j : Wilson. Frank was sitting by his State farm to put on the rail of the Messrs. J. G. Roney, W. D. Hack- Mercer having lent it to him. Jef- granaiamer s siuc tuu ncuiy uicy assassin, ixo aogs couia be secured "c , uauMi v terson was at her house from 8 to o was standing behind with his hands from Raleigh and it was found that Howard and r. H. Ueans. A bet on his grandfather's shoulder. All the dogs could not be brought from ter set ot men to judicially investigate were laughing and chatting, thinking the State farm in time to catch the the killing of Captain Barnes could of the welcome that awaited them at reaular train: Sunt.' T R K'enW nf not have been found. Mr. S. A. i e . . f - -.... , , w. i home. As the horse started down the hill just beyond Hominy Swamp there came the sudden spiteful crack of a gun and Captain Barnes lunged for ward saying, "I'm shot." The reins hung, feebly in his hands arid the horse, a spirited animal, went rapidly tonvara. Most lortunately a negro man close at hand had heard the shot and hearing three times the pain stricken exclamation ot some one "Oh, my! Oh, my! Oh my!" ran out into the road and saw the horse com ing swiftly down the hill. He recog nized Captain Barnes and ran to- waras the puggy seizing the reins and bracing the stricken man who was leaning from theside of his vehicle. hed Bunch, the negro, asked what was the matter and Captain Barnes told him, saying "I don't see what any body wanted to shoot me for.' T 1 ne then asked Bunch to help ?et Monday night. J. F. Eason testified that at the re quest of Sheriff Sharp he had drawn a load from the eun now in court the A. C. L. was wired and a special Woodard took part by request in the That Qne banel had been used train was secured to bring the blood hounds. . Mai. Emrv came from Weldon to Halifax, having wired ahead to bring the dogs from the Northampton farm there. These examination of the witnesses and Mr. H. G. Connor, Jr., took down the evidence. The first witness was Ed Bunch, the negro who assisted in getting were finally secured and three dogs, Captain Barnes and his grarldchild- in charge of Mai. Emrv and two men ren to Wilson after the shooting. His o j - - " fromy the farm, reached here at half testimony gave no clue. . past one. These were taken to the Drs. N B. Herring and Nathan scene of the crime, but the ground Anderson next testified as to the was so dry and the wind had been so wound, the bullet extracted and the high during the night that they were cause of the death, ascribing it, of unable to get the trail of the murder- course, to the injury done by the ball. Jefterson without any inducement had re cently and that the other was loaded with bird shot. Bennie Mercer, son of L. R. Mer cer, testified that Jefterson J eft Irs father's house at three o'clock exact ly, as the clock str jck then. Willhm Edwards testified that Jef ferson told at dinner that he was1 go ing to town Monday afternoon to look for fodder hands and did not see him till night again. Mr. J. F. - Edwards testified that From Raleigh Post, second edition Wednes day morning, August 30th. The murderer of Captain Calvin Barnes, of Wilson, N. C, was brought here this morning for safe keeping. . J. Jefterson is the name of the murderer. He arrived here this morning at 2:50 over the Southern Railway from the eas in custody of Special Officers Jake Edwards and Wm. Wells, oi Wilson. The prisoner was taken out of the Wilson county jail shortly after dark last night. The talk of lynching had become rife, and it was found neces sary to remove the prisoner, who was quietly driven to a station nine miles this side of Wilson, where he was placed aboard the first train. The officers came direct through to Ral eigh with their charge. To a representative of The- Post this morning Jefterson acknowledged that he killed Captain BaTfies. : The behind the barv1m)iation er. Early Tuesday morning they were returned to Northampton. Captain Barnes was able to talk to friends early in the night, and told them of same words that had passed "during the morning between him and Mr. John Jefterson, who was in charge of one of his far'- - Dr. Anderson, who examined Mhe bodv after death said that the hall had fractured the left shoulder blade and passing through the body broke some of. the ribs. It was taken out near the right breast. Charles Best testified to having found eun waddine near the spot home, and the negro climbed into deputies went after him. He was ' at .1 the buggy and with his arm around Captain Barnes started for Wilson. Seeing some negro women at the branch he called to them to go for more help, but none reached him, though the women ran for aid. teaching Captain Barnes' home n Nash Street, his grandchildren lumped from the buggy and ran into house, exclaiming "Grandpa's shot!" Mr. William Walls, a son-in-of Captain Barnes, had seen the k"ggV coming, but nothing unusual seemed the matter 'till he heard the exclamation from the children and Jtan he saw . that Captain Barnes Was leaning forward, held by the negro. 1 n r ' moment he was bft for medical JelP while Captain Barnes' son, ames D. with the help of friends and the negro Bunch carefully lifted the funded , man from the buggy to a ot and carried him to his room, ere his wile1 and daughters, despite noie shock of such a home .g," did what they could till a im... ysician 3 And 3 a httle later Dr Nathan erson. Dr. Herring made an nation and found that the ball enered back of the left shoulder, A warrant was issuea iui Mr. Jef- where Captain Barnes was shot, and ferson and Sheriff Sharp with some later on to rinding a shot gun near a fence in the woods iust this side of the house where L. R. Mercer now lives. L. R. Mercer, brother-in-law of Jefterson, testified that Joseph Jeffer son was at his, Mercer's home, be tween two and three o'clock. That he asked for Mercer's shot gun as he wanted to kill squirrels thaywere ruining his corn. He said that he did not loan the gun to Jefferson, but that he told him that anyone who was carelul and would return it all right, was welcome to it. He left Jefterson at- the house and went to work. Did cot see Jefterson leave. home. in bed when called, but very quickly dressed and came with the officers to Wilson. An examination of his house for weapons failed to 1 T-fc " . , , reveal any. Keaching here he was questioned as to his movements dur ing the day. He told of the words between Capt. Barnes and himself, said neither was mad and that he had seen nothing of Captain Barnes during the afternoon, but had spent the time rambling over his corn field till about dusk when he went home. Geo. Williams, a white man working with him corroborated his testimony. Jefterson was examined today before Jefterson knew where the gun was. .LIU ilUL ICU ftliy lucn. 1C111 jci- ferson the gun and did not look for it Monday night. Heard no shot arrived. B- Herring was the first to a magistrate. There were many callers at Cap tain Barnes' during the night, and larcrp crowds were congregated at - & 00 various points waiting lor develop ments, great sympathy being expres sed for the afflicted family and the horrible deed being condemed in the strongest terms. x Tuesday morning searching parties took to the woods and near the spot where the shotting occurred pieces ot cloth used for gun wadding were found. The surrounding woods were thoroughly searched, until finally Mr. Charles Best one of the searchers, about dusk. Mrs. Delphia Mercer, wife of L. R. Mercer, testified to Tefferson being at the house after two o'clock, that he had little to say, and did not ask her about any fodder hands, nor say a word about hiring one Abe Rackley to work in his corn. Said that she left her husband with Jefterson and that when Mercer came to the place where they were working tobacco that he said that he had loaned his gun to Jefferson, who was to give made a statement in the office of Mr. S. A. Woodard, that Jefterson said he had gone to Mercer's to get a fod der hand, and had asked Mrs. Mer cbr to let him have Rackley, that be had neither gan not pistol, and did not know there was one on the place. This concluded the evidence and the jury retired and brought in a ver dict that Calvin Barnes came to his death by a shot gun wound inflicted by John J. Jefterson who was lying in wait when he fired the shot. ' Jefterson was committed to jail without bail for trial at the next term 1 of the criminal court. Between eight and nine o'clock, in order to remove any chance of lynch ing, Deputy Sheriff William Wells and M.J. F. Edwards took Jefterson from the city lock up, and driving round the outskirts of the city went to Lucama, where they boarded the Southern train for Ral eigh. In Raleigh they put Jefterson in charge ot the cityauthorities who will place him in the countv jail for safe keeping. Mr. Wm. Wells talked with him on the trip. At first Jefterson vehe mently denied the crime, laying great stress upon the fact that no one had seen him get a gun or have a gun. Later on he ceased to deny the crime. Twenty-Seventh Off. Harrisburg, Pa., August 29. The Twenty-seventh Volunteers started from Camp Meade to-day on three special trains for duty in the Philip pines. . , Bouse without displaying the least bit ! -v.. I . of concern. He was coltf-tdgd m his recital of the facts and had only harsh words lor his victim. - - Jefterson is a tall, sparsely-built man. He has a grizzley brownish be?rd; that conceals his white face. His eyes are positively wicked. "Did you' really kill Captajn . Barnes?" the prisoner was asked. "I shot at him," he replied without the lerst hesitation. "They swore this thing on me, and I reckon I killed him. "I have been farming for Captain Barnes. I had a whole lot of trouble with him. He has bothered me all the year. He wouldn't buy suppliesr as he promised me, and re fused to help me. He has interfered with my hands and has p'ways given me trouDie. "He was the only enemy in the world that I had. He can't be ?ny more. Nobody ever saw any peace with him. Over five hundred people down there are glad he is dead. Yes, over five thousand, if all w?s known. But he won't bother any body else. He can't now. He's a kind'er leader in the town. He be longed to the Barneses and I rec&oa some of them is glad, too. He was mean enough. "He wanted to make ::: j - filter work in tobacco. I woui stpnd it. I got t-ed of it all and I shot at lrm." "When did it occur?" - "I met him about dinner ?nd told him to bring me some cloth to make my daughters some dresses. He said he wouldn't do it. "That night I met him and asked him if he had bought the dresses. Said he hadn't and wasn't going to. I told him I was going to kill him and shot him." "Did you kill him?" "I don't know. They say he's dead." "Did Captain Barnes have one of Continued on 4th page.
The Wilson Advance (Wilson, N.C.)
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Aug. 31, 1899, edition 1
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