Mr. Thomas FINCH, who lives in Randolph County not far from Thomasville, shot a negro man Monday morning. The negro was a county convict hired to FINCH by the authorities of Randolph. As he showed a disposition to shirk work, Mr. FINCH declared his intention to take him back to jail and said that he intended to tie him. The negro refused to be tied, and while they were parleying, Mr. James PERRY called at FINCH’s house, and found them facing each other, FINCH with a drawn pistol and the negro with an open knife. FINCH explained the situation to PERRY and asked him to tie the negro while he kept guard, PERRY consented to do so, and stooped down to pick up the rope which was on the floor between FINCH and the negro; and while he was stooping, FINCH fired. The negro clasped his hands to his abdomen and ran out of the house, neither of the white men following him, PERRY went at once to Thomasville, where he related the occurrence to our informant.
Source: Davidson Times-Dispatch, 15 January 1890. Paper available at Google News Archive.