Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Tag: murder

September 15, 2016

Committed on suspicion.

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Fayetteville Weekly Observer, 8 March 1858.

In the 1850 census of Northwest, Brunswick County: cooper Henry Patrick, 24, wife Hester, 24, and children Anne, 2, and William, 4 months. Next door: cooper William Patrick, 47, wife Sophia, 55, and Ezekiel, 23, Massa, 17, Mildred, 16, Benjamin, 2, and Margaret Patrick, 9 months.

In the 1850 census of Northwest, Brunswick County: Elias Freeman, 59, wife Abby, 50, and children Celia, 21, Prucilla, 20, Joshua, 21, William, 20, Jesse, 16, John, 12, Mary, 10, and Eliza Freeman, 4, plus Julia Jacobs, 10.

In the 1850 census of Northwest, Brunswick County: Henry Jacobs, 43, wife Mary, 42, and children Eli, 18, Sylvany, 11, Mary, 15, Betsy, 9, Eliza, 7, and Jerry Jacobs, 4.

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May 26, 2015

Robertson perpetrates an outrage.

Terrible Affair . — One of our most worthy Citizens Fatally Wounded. — On Thursday night last, Messrs. Albert Hinton, James Penny, and Keith, three citizens of this County, who were acting as a patrol under the appointment of our Court, in the discharge of their duties, visited the plantation of Mr. B.K.S. Jones, about 10 miles from this city, where a negro wedding was in progress. On going into the kitchen where the negroes were assembled, Wm. Robertson, a free negro, who was sold out of the jail in this City some time last year for debt, assaulted Mr. Hinton with an axe, splitting his head open, and inflicting a wound upon him which it is feared will prove fatal. The same negro struck Mr. James Penny with a shovel and knocked him senseless to the ground. Mr. Keitch was also knocked down, but by whom it is not known. Messrs. Penny and Keitch soon recovered, but we are pained to learn there is but little hope for Mr. Hinton. Mr. H resides about 4 miles from this city, and is one of the most estimable men in the county. Our citizens are greatly incensed against the perpetrator of this outrage, and a large number of them joined Sheriff High yesterday morning, and went out in search of the diabolical fiend. The negro, Wm. Robertson, is described as very black, and about 6 feet in height. 

P.S. Since writing the above, we have learned that it is reported that Mr. Hinton died yesterday morning from his injuries. — Ral. Register.

Fayetteville Observer, 4 May 1857.

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September 27, 2014

The horrid deed.

MURDER. – An inquest was held by coroner Scott over the body of a free negro named Chaves, who was found murdered on the Fayetteville road, several miles from this city, on Friday morning last. His death was caused by a frightful wound extending from the groin upwards towards the bowls, which was doubtless made by a knife. The testimony before the coroner’s jury, we learn, implicates a free negro named Jordan, and a free woman in the horrid deed. The woman has been lodged in jail, but the man has not been taken.

The North-Carolina Star (Raleigh), 8 November 1854.

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August 8, 2014

Most Horrible Murder.

Fville_Weekly_Observer_3_8_1858

Fayetteville Weekly Observer, 8 May 1858.

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July 25, 2014

He is guilty of assault; she, of murder.

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On Tuesday, therefore, the criminal docket was taken up, when Lewis Chavers, a free man of color, was put upon his trial for an assault and battery on Mr. Drury Kemp, a white man. Chavers was found guilty of the assault, which was of an aggravated nature, and fined one hundred dollars, and ordered to be sold for the payment of the fine. …

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On Thursday, Harriet Durham, (a free woman of color,) charged with the murder of Grace, a negro woman, the property of Mr. John Pennington, of this county, was put upon her trial, and pleaded not guilty. The evidence in this case was entirely circumstantial. It seemed, from the proofs, that the prisoner and the deceased slept together in the same log-cabin; that on the night the murder was committed several of the witnesses were in the cabin with the prisoner and the deceased, and that they observed the signs of ill will between them; that the witnesses left the cabin about midnight; that next morning, about sun-up, one of the witnesses discovered the deceased lying in the jam of the chimney outside the cabin, with her skull broken; that the prisoner was interrogated by the witness before the body was found, as to where the deceased was, and that the prisoner said she did not know, but that somebody had called upon the deceased that night in a low voice, and asked her to come out of the cabin and go to a certain place; that another witness, after the body was found, told the prisoner she might as well confess herself the murderer, for she would have it to do; that the prisoner was afterwards asked why she had killed Grace, and that she answered because Grace had threatened to kill her; that the prisoner admitted she had struck the deceased two blows with a very heavy iron pestle, which caused her death. It was further in evidence that there was no way of getting into the cabin but through the door, which was fastened inside every night with a strong pin; that the iron pestle, which had been rusty and out of use before, was found that morning bearing the marks of having been scoured in the ashes; that blood was sprinkled upon the bed-clothing, on the floor, and upon the walls and loft of the cabin; that there was blood upon the door-sill, and evidence upon the ground outside the door of some one’s having been dragged upon it; that part of the bed-clothing had been washed, and that the blood had dried upon them in circles; that they were scortched in some places, and a portion of an old rug, the property of the deceased, cut out and hid or destroyed. This was the substance of the evidence on the part of the State. The prisoner offered no evidence. The case was opened by Hugh McQueen, Esq., for the prisoner; he was replied to by the Attorney General, and as the prisoner offered no testimony, was entitled to the concluding argument. This argument was more upon the facts than his opening speech, and was consequently extended to greater length; and we believe the opinion of all who heard it was that it eminently sustained his reputation for ability and ingenuity. The verdict of the Jury was, Guilty.

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The North-Carolina Star (Raleigh), 12 April 1843.

 

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June 5, 2014

Blame it on the grog shop!

Attempt to Murder. – On Monday evening last, the citizens of the heart of our town were alarmed by loud cries of Murder! On repairing to the spot, it was found that a coloured man named Ephraim Hammond, had been struck on the head with a brick, by which his skull was shockingly fractured. Suspicion having attached to two white men, named Frederick Jones and Allen Rowell, they were taken up, and after examination, fully committed for trial. There is little or no hope of Hammond’s surviving the injury.

It would be improper to detail any of the circumstances connected with this horrid affair, except to state, that it appears to have been produced by an occurrence on the same evening, at a gambling table at one of those sinks of iniquity, a Grog shop! kept by one of the prisoners, and in the same building recently occupied by Wm. M. Anderson, who, only six weeks ago, vacated it to take up his abode in Jail for the murder of Madison Allen.

When will our County Court do its duty towards the suppression of these nuisances? – Fayetteville Observer.

The People’s Press (Wilmington), 2 February 1838.

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June 3, 2014

Two trials.

Superior Court. – On Thursday, the 7th instant. Negro Ephraim, the property of Dr. Simmons J. Baker, of Martin county, was tried before the Superior Court of this county, for killing Francis W. Anderson, a free boy of color, by throwing at, and striking him on the head with a stone, which occasioned his death, after lingering a few days. He was convicted of manslaughter, and sentenced to receive 39 lashes.

On the following day, the trial of a young man, of mixed blood, though, to all appearance, a white man, & having a white woman for his wife, charged with attempting to commit a rape upon a white girl of about 12 years of age, took place. The jury retired about eight o’clock in the evening, and, in three of four minutes after, returned with a verdict of Not Guilty.

The North Carolina Star (Raleigh), 15 April 1825.

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May 30, 2014

On trial for the murder of a Swede.

Murder and Arson.

Jesse Holley, a free mulatto, was arrested on last Saturday night, by Mr. A.D. Bordeaux and others, for the murder of a Mr. John Hendrick, and the burning of the house where said Hendrick lived, one night last week. When arrested, Holley had on clothes recognized as the property of the deceased. He was brought to town on Sunday morning and committed to prison, to stand an investigation at next Superior Court, which will be held here next week.

We learn that Mr. Hendrick was a native of Gottenborough, Switzerland [sic], where he has a wife and two children, and was making arrangements to send for them during the present year. He is represented as a man of industrious habits and a good mechanic. He was a shop carpenter by trade, but was in the employ of Mr. Bordeaux, about 2 miles from town, near the Railroad, at the time of his murder.

Wilmington Journal, 9 April 1852.

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To-day, Jesse Holley, a free mulatto, is on trial for the murder of John Hendrick, a Swede, who was killed on the night of the 3d inst., in his house on the Railroad, about 12 miles from town. The house was also burned down. – Jour. of yesterday.

The above named Prisoner has been found guilty.

Weekly Commercial (Wilmington), 30 April 1852.

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May 30, 2014

The worm turns, no. 1.

Murder in Henderson.

Mr. J.T. Henry, of Henderson county, while chastising a free negro named Abe Revels, on the 22d ult., was stabbed twice, and died the next day. The negro has been lodged in Jail in Hendersonville, to await his trial.

Asheville News, 6 August 1857.

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May 22, 2014

He complained of being unwell.

Law. – …

We understand that Joel Mitchell, a free negro, who was arraigned at the last Halifax Superior Court for the murder of Miles Ralph another free negro, and who had his cause removed to Warren county, was attempted to be brought to trial at the Superior Court held for that county last week. On his way to the Court-house Mitchell complained of being unwell, and was suffered to take a seat in the Court-house yard – medical aid was immediately procured, but it was ineffectual, the prisoner breathing his last in a few minutes – he was much debilitated, having been severely indisposed during his confinement; and it is supposed that the alarm attendant upon the situation in which he was unhappily placed, hastened his dissolution.

North Carolina Free Press (Halifax), 27 October 1827.

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