An OLD SERVANT OF GENERAL WASHINGTON'S KILL BY FALLING TREE - Basil Lee, the oldest colored man in the county, being in his one hundredth year, was killed in this county while he was burning brush in a new ground and near a tree some men felled with the axe. They hallooed at him and told him to get out of the way, but being rather deaf, he did not hear them, and the tree fell on him and killed him. He was a former slave of General Washington, and was twelve years old when General Washington gave him his choice to live with him at Mt. Vernon or be sold; he preferred being sold, and was sent to Richmond and put on the block, and was bought by a member of the Lea family in this county, and has remained inthat family ever since- Milton (N.C.) Chronicle
(Source: The Richmond Whig, Richmond, Virginia, February 4, 1873)
STEPHENS REALLY DEAD - From Raleigh papers of Thursday we learn that the report recently received there relative to the death of J.W. Stephens, president of the Senate, from Caswell County, was really true. The last time he was seen alive was int he courthouse at Yanceyville last Saturday, on the occasion of a Democratic meeting, which place he left in company with a friend. He was not discovered until next morning, when he was discovered in the office of clerk and master in equity, with a rope around his neck, his throat cut in two places, and a knife wound int he body. The affair is shrouded in great mystery, as no facts were elicited at the examination before the jury of inquest tending to convict any one. Governor Holden has issued a proclamation offering $500 reward for the murderer.
(Source: The Charleston Daily News, May 28, 1870)
