Newspapers / The Advance (Elizabeth City, … / March 25, 1913, edition 1 / Page 1
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V;- ; . - -vv ?. .... :ws WITHOUT BIAS. fljJrnouT PREJUDICE FT? "ff"TT "TGT3 J. J&L Jila , . ; i ' - - - , a. ISfllG E , .. . , ; ., . OFFICIAL PAPER OFCURRITUCK COUNTY" ' V0L1 ELIZABETH CITY, NORTH CAROLINA, Tl ESDAY, MARCH, 25, 1913 NO.U HOT GUILTY IS THE VERDICT OF JDIIV lil STOKIEV CASE Jury Drought in Verdict Saturday at Half Past . Five After a tay of Deliberation. Crowds ! ; in Sympathy With Stbkley. T Murden Stokely is a free man. ' V With his father and Bister he U bade again, in the home at Ohananoke a home already -"-' nnfAr hir the Snerter of shame and over which lump: mi wee the shadow of further calamity. It was at half past five. ofclot Saturday, afternoon when - the court house loll sounded forth Ithe news that the jury; that had beard the case of Murden Stoke ly was toady to render its ver- , diet.' ' ": " , The clanging of the bell bronght . the thronging crowds waiting on the street into, the court room. . There, everybody waited with bat ' ed breath while the, usual formal ities were gone through with. As " the foreman of the jury, stood t announce the verdict solemn si lence reigned i supreme. The ' judge faced the jurv The. law- vers present listened witn STain ed faces; .Murden Ptokelr stood " with iinraised ' hand : shrinking from the nmw. inx m.'fv..'" ' bopinp for the words that would mean freedom The lor was rey sonablv calm nd tuiet.wh'n the trial betrnn. : Put the temMe T!i?nment of the nrosecut'5 t tornevs RatiiWlflT:. ;:shoolc':',.:h : comToiire AH w wi n;? V was still sliaken wntnraaypve. Not guilty! , V -ViT -The orowd in the packed court . Toom drew a breath of great re lief and, though "the sheriff was stationed at the door to prevent nny demonstration there was an Irrepressible murmur of approba tion... , ...' ' ':--' - The prisoner and the group of relatives around him ' sat for a i -second speechless and motionless with relief. . Then came realiza tion that the dread ordeal was over,, the father,", son . and er ring sister were, locked ' jtogether in a long embrace tears pi wieiu jov streaming down their cheeb -while the eves of. many specta tors were wet. The crowd in the court worn . surged toward the bar. Those who succeeded in reaching it eagerly stretched out their hands to shake young Stoke 'ly'g in congratulation. 1 , V.But for three days the 'strict en family had had their grief and hame aired before gtrangers. They were eager for the solace and shelter of the roof of friends They, Iost .no time, then, in mak ing their way out of the court . room and were soon in the homes ;f relatives who had sheltered the unfortunate girl and had stood hj the family through the trial. They went back to Chapanoke Sunday,, the father driving over the road that with Murden Stoke ly, he had last traveled on that black night when he oame to Elizabeth City seeking his daugh ter's seducer. The rest of. the family went on the" 11:35 train. So ended one of the moat ter- flc legal battles ever waged: in Pasquotank conrthouse. . OI , a ! was snown iaat ahuk ourc HatnnbtY. February 22nd.' On the Sunday following, word was brought to her fairer and. brother that the girl was in Elizabeth City and had given birth to a child v of which 'she claimed Fenton Towe to be the father. Mr. Stokely and Mnrden knew that Towe had been paying the girl attention for two years. They learned that he had gone to Norfolk and at Chap uuoke station waited for Him Bun daa night until the comina of the midnight train. Learning by a phone message that he .hud stopped in Elizabeth City they g(t a horse and buggy and with Mr, Bagley came to Elizabeth City, getting here" about thiw o'clock in the morning,-' MHcdeu-Jo.Hf;rtif Towe and told, him that the eld er, Stokely wanted to see him at Armstrong's stables. There Btoke- and Murden testified that the fa ther asked Towe to marry his daughter and'that the young man refused with an oath to promise to. do so; whereupon Munlen Stokely whipped ouf a 32 calibre revolver and shot Towe dead with a bullet in his brain. 0 By last Thursday , evening all the testimony had been taken and Hallet Ward had opened the ar trnmnt for the state. Mr. Ward was hardly up to his standard of effectiveness, though making strontr speech. 1 : 1 -.--. , Judge Ward and Mr. Aydlqtt followed for the defense on m day morning. Both speakers were at their best and -put up a hard fight for their client. The Advance did not have a. teporterA in the court. , room" -j during i the k.rf.f' three siieeche .how'ever, . and men fclowed bv tlipse attorneys. I M. Meekins made the sec ond speech for the prosecution. He snoke in his t characteristic and entertaining style 'and with his; nsual vigor and vehemence, emphasizing tne ract mat iowe euilt rested upon the unsupport ed testimony of Annie Belle.Stoke lv. arguing that th crime was premeditated and urging ine ju rv to brine in a verdict against Stokely in order that law might be upheld and in order that might not be held cheap m ras- nnotank county. .. Mr. Meekins stressed the value of life, quoting the words of Satan, "All that a man hath will he give for his life," as scriptural authority for the ground which he took when he said that he would rather see a loved one dishonored than dead. Mr. Meekins was followed by W..-M. Bond for the defense, Mr.1 Bond said that he was feel inr unwell: but spoke at consid erable length and with no whit less than his usual energy noi- Uhstandins. He urged that tne defense was not basing the plea for Stokely's acquittal on any unwrit ten law nor asking the jury to bring in its verdict in defiance n law " But the defense held, he said, that the evidence showed that Stokely, when he commitiea the act. was not in mental con dition to' be responsible for the deed. He brought out with consid erable force the fact tnat no witness for the state had been wil Ijng to swear to a belief in Btoke f sanity just after the crime wan committed, r He urged con sideration of the expert testimo ny of Dr. McMullan who had Nrirorn thai in hi opinion the bov was not himself when he committed the crime. Mr Bond's waif the final argument' for' the defense. , . Solicitor Ehringhans closed the case for the state. He spoke quietly and wag heard with clos est attention by the jurors. He reviewed the testimony . in the case, especially that of the de fense; and contended that even f there were only, the evidence -7 ''t EASTERN tli 0 AT EREO III BIG B1DLE COfJFEREriCE IS WEEK . , , , ' ' x Great Themes , will b e Considered and Notable Speakers wll Discuss them( in First Annual ; . Session of This Conference 1 The First Annual Setwion of Ihe Northeastern North Carolina Bible Conference convenes with the First ' Baptist ' Church on Thursday night the 27th. This meeting brings to the city an ar ray of eminent religious and lit- erarv talent which is not surpas sed in the South. '-.Educators, incut laymen from nearly 'every j section, of the South, will bring to the audiences each day the most forceful and eloquent ad dresses possible on their several I subjects, v There is promised to those j who attend this' conference a rich treat .from the various i I. I rifted -"sneakers .who-- will dis UNION MEETING AT SOUTH MILLS Boat to Leave Flora's Wharf Friday and Saturday Where The fybte Conference is to be Held SlUMBERLAND IS PRESENTED TO-NIGHT lerous wll j topics laid arranged pro- IH1GH SCHOOL BOYS . t- n ill m liuiivi in. DECLAIM AT ELON r'S (Continued on Page Three) Biggest Production Ever Staged Here Plays Two Nights. Vmid lie "applause -of chajMir rones,' a.newsparer man and .a felrintitedTrirtcts, thr flfialihrs rehearsal. of 'Blumbeiiand the big musical shpw was held at' the Auditorium last night, and every one witnessing the practice 'was agreeably surprised . Even the performers were unable to con cca 1 thei r . wonder men t at the massiveness of the. play and the hosts of groups that ' were con stantly on and off the stage al most ceaselessly ; The director of ''Slumber land" has indeed ful filled his promise-to give to Eliz abeth City the "biggest and best" musical entertainment i ever'" at tempted here as last night's re hearsal as a show, eclipsed any thing ever seen here before, and will surely surprise those who are fortunateenough to. secure good reservations for seats. ; There are so , many different diversions from the regular the atrical performance inclnded in Slumberland' that it is hard to describe exactly; what the show will be like. Enough to state, that there la nothing ever given ike it, full of surprises in cos tumes, action and singing, some thing extraordinary and interest ing that will keep the audience guessing . wnat will come next, and the very next, musical num-1 ber will be so different, from the one proceeding it that the audi ence will be. unable to .to remem ber one half of the performance after it is over. Even those taking parts, "kave hot seen all of the play and will not tfet a chance to see it as the play will not go on in its en tirety until the first night's per formance. The play is simply too enormous to try to give a fall rehearsal,, the system.. is to re hearse it In sections until to plar is ready-for presentation. I "Bluroberrand' will be repeat ed n Wednesday . night for , the same price of .admission . I i '. ,; r ; ! MISIOKABT RALLT -A Missionary Bally will be held in Blackwell Ifemorial Church De cuss the nun down in the gram. Rev. Ii. T. lel, the pastor, and his board ofXwelve deacons are back of this conterence, which will hereafter be an annual fca- the work of hurch . Fifteen , prominent speakers from . different sections . of - the Routhland will be here besides the local corps of ministersnnl workers. A specialist in Young People's work will conduct' an extra service for. the-young teo- Elon College. N.C.. March nln nf thp.oitv, an ex'nert. lady nUMoftJColk'gMvasdwppy4oKlay4wdrkeeUt4 to entertain some twenty prom- ppecial meetings fdr the ladies, ieing young men. from as many On Saturday afternoon .from five forward-looking High Hchools in to seven the Ladies' Aid Society the' State in the third annual in-of the church will tender a re- ter-scholastic declaimers contest, ceptioh to ' the visiting speakers The preliminary contest was held and workers. ' at one o'clock this afternoon and A competent committee on the each of the contestants spokaf be- (reception, the bonrd of fifteeji fore a commutes consisting of lohurch ushers, and eiriit boy pap- Rev. E. M. Carter'Kev. W. 8. fes will handle the visitors and Twenty Contestants ' For claimers Media on The - 1 Rostron.' The Camden and Currituck" Union will hold, its regular ses- ' sion with Ebenezer Baptist Baptist Church at Houth Mills : this week. i It. T. Bryant, long a mission ary in the heart of China will bo a distinguished visitor at this ' meeting of the Union and every- - body within ,reach should be sure k to hear his address on vforeitm mssions. , V Mr. M. O, Wright will run a boat from Elizabeth City, for 1 the accomodation of those here who desire to attend the Union 1 This boat will leave Flora's dock at half -past eight on each morn-1 ing and returning will reach Eliz 1 abeth City in the evening. . . CALLEl) to - - , CHRIST'S CHURCH1 The membership of Christ't Churyh (Episcopal) have Called. Rev;' Mr. r'Ashby of" Vlfgi'nia to. 1 rector j 3 Mr,;. Ashby will pay a visit to Elizabeth City some time this week, for the iiurnose of inspecting the field with a, view to al-ceptinir the ''call. - ' ''OUR AWFUfi AUNT" AT CAMDEN C.i II. r Hales, and Prof .A v Liggett Lin coin. A large number of audi' tors heard ; the preliminary ; con test in which were the follow ing contestants:'. Program of the Preliminary Cm- Jamestown High School, . "Da vid Coletrane,' Jamestown, N.C. Subject: John Adams on the Dec laration. ' : '-.-' - '- " Hawfields High ; School, Albert look nfter the comfort or Icrowds who will attend. the Subject: The Old North State. High Point High School, S. A. Perry, High Point, N . C. Sub ject: The Perils of the Nation. Robersonville High School, Wll liam Gray, Robersonville, K C. Subject:" Uncle Peter and the Gray Mule. . '' Madison Graded School, Gor- Gibson. Mebane, N. C. Subject: don I). .Gibson, Madison, N. C. Give Me Liberty or Give Me Subject: Liberty Under Law. Death. , I Winston City Public School, Pikeville High School, Charles Gordon Ambler, . Winston-Salem, liin- Taylor, Pikesville. H . C . Sub- N . C. Subject : Secret of iect: The New South. "Tr I coins Tower Churchland High School, Clar- Bethany liign Kcnooi, vt n v. Snunirh Unvnml. N. C. IB. Truitt. Summerfleld. A RnhiPft. Mother ttoitia and Heav Buwect: xne oum - anu en. Wednesday night. Kev. K. L. Wella and Key. A. A . Bntler will be present and will make addresses on this oc- casiori.'' -' : . . . J. C, Her Problems. . Friendship High School, LaFa yette Iseley, Burlington; N . C . Subject: Beyond the Alps Lies Italy. .V ' ' ' The final contest was partici- bam, N. C Subject : The Central rpated in br lhe following eight ization in the United States j. young men, wiioser anpjecra are Concord Public School, Joseph inven above: uooine, Hawthorn, Concord, N. C. Sub- spaugh, u. k. usonara, nare iect: The Grave of My Country Pointer, Albert Gibson, Leland .Fremont High school, Lana iaov, umiuu v.. Avcock. Fremont. N. C. Subject :'". Oibson. ,:ane judges in ine Oxford Graded School, Thomas L. Pace, Oxford, N. C. Subject: The Face on the Floor. East Durham High School, Earnest 8. Boothe. East Dur The Lance of Kanana. s Yadkin College Higo Schopl, C. R Leonard Yadkin College, N. C. Subject: Our Country's Call for Meni- . . Avcock Graded School, Miss Nellie Brooks, Haw River, N. C. Subject: Asleep at the Switch. Mebane High School. J. Frank Warren, Mebane, N. C. Stibject: When 1 the- Evening Shadows Lengthen. Monroe nieh School. Ware Pointer, Monroe. N. Durham High School., Victor S. Bryant, Jr., Durham, N. C. final contest were Prof.' N. F. Brannock, Dr; W. Wicker, and Prof. W. P. Lawrence. The College Band furnished music for the occasion, and Messrs. R. A. Cbampbell and v. P. Heatwole gave a cornet' duet, which was ;encored vigorously. The judges declared Mr. Earnest S. Boothe, winner and Dr. Wicker presented him the handsome gold medal which is always awarded ; the winner in this intellectual con- C- Subject: ftest. . ttoxuoro ana uooiemmee luga Schools were not represented on accouhf of train connection ' The Camden Amateur Theatri cal Company will present a play entitled, "Our Awful Aunt" in Camden Court House on the eve ning of March 29th, and it will -begin at 8:00 o'clock sharp. , The play is given for the bene fit of the Woman's Betterment Society. It is 'spicy and is" cal culated to entertain all who may ' attend. - 'K"-"i -m- Admission, 15 cents for adults ' and 10 cents for children. . SUNDAY SCHOOL ROOMS COMPLETED Corinth Baptist Church has re- ' ently added a number of attrac tive Sunday School rooms to its building ; and these rooms are V now complete: f They were erect- ' ed at a cost of about one thous- " and dollars and practically no outstanding debt is to be left on the church, the money having ' been raised almost as fast as the 1 work progressed." ' ' i Mr. 8. S. Davis, superintend' ent of the -Sunday. School, has -been one of the leading spirits in . the movement for these new Bun -' day school rooms ; ' ' HAD nAND MASHED Ed Brinson, an employee of the ( Crystal Ice and Coal Company got his hand caught tnto some machinery, while he was engaged', in oiling it Sunday morning, and v had it crushed. All of the bones in the hand1 were mashed to pieces and the ' , bones in . the arm were broken ' twice. Dr. O. McMullan ren- " dered the surgical aid, and the' injured man is getting along fair lv well. . The physician has not' yet decided if amputation is nec essary. -, v
The Advance (Elizabeth City, N.C.)
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March 25, 1913, edition 1
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