Junius Powell, H.L. Stevens Sr. Found Guilty of Forgery, Oct. 10, 1926

Withholds Sentence Against Stevens Yesterday. . . Allowed Time to Make Notes on Warsaw Good; Powell Given Term in Penitentiary. . . Disposition of the Case by Judge Devin Came After Several Conferences with Attorneys. . . Powell to Serve from 5 to 7 Years in State’s Prison

Kenansville, Oct. 9 (AP)—A continuation of prayer for judgment until the January term of court in the case of the state against H. L. Stevens Sr. of Warsaw and a sentence of from 5 to 7 years in state prison in the case of Junius K. Powell of Warsaw marked the completion of the trial of the two men in Duplin County Superior Court here this afternoon. Sentence was pronounced by Judge Devin after several conferences during the day between attorneys for both sides and Judge Devin.

The men were found guilty last night of forgery in connection with the issuance of $35,000 in spurious notes on the town of Warsaw. During the trial, however, approximately $100,000 in similar notes were introduced in the trial as corroborative evidence.

In the case of Stevens, prayer for judgment and a motion to set aside the verdict were continued until the January term of court. During the interim, it was stipulated that Stevens will be allowed to make good approximately $100,000 in spurious notes which figures in the case. The assumption is that should the notes be made good, Stevens will not be sentenced to prison.

Powell was given a sentence of 5 to 7 years in state’s prison. Counsel noted an appeal from the verdict.

The men were tried and found guilty following the failure of the Bank of Warsaw in which both were officers. They were charged with forging notes against the town of Warsaw in order to get money to bolster the credit of the bank. Stevens admitted signing the notes but said he had not realized a cent from the deal but took the word of “Happy” Waters, the town clerk, who in June, that they had been properly authorized by the town authorities.

Powell did not submit any evidence, his counsel taking the stand that the state had failed to make a case of forgery against him.

From the front page of the Goldsboro News, Sunday morning, Oct. 10, 1926

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Coroner's Inquest Says Police Killed Dewey Hobbs in Line of Duty, Oct. 10, 1926

Mount Olive Officer Cleared in Death of Negro

That Chief of Police C. H. Griffin of Mount Olive acted in self defense and in discharge of his duty as an officer of the law in the death of Dewey Hobbs, colored, was the verdict brought in by a coroner’s jury empaneled yesterday afternoon. Stevens shot by Coroner F. R. Robinson yesterday (line obscured) afternoon and he died about 4:30. Coroner Robinson called an inquest a short time afterwards.

Chief Stevens and Officer Bowden had just arrested Leslie Troublefield, colored, on a whiskey charge, witnesses testified, and had started to bring the prisoner to the lockup. Hobbs and four or five other negroes were described as having followed them.

Chief Stevens was quoted as having told the crowd not to press too closely and having ordered Hobbs to take his hand out of his pocket. It was testified at the coroner’s inquest that Hobbs refused to do this, whereupon chief Stevens made an effort to search him.

Hobbs resisted the officer, it was d eclared, and they clinched. In the tussle that followed, Hobbs was shot three times, two bullets b??? his arm and another piercing his abdomen.

A knife which was identified as belonging to Hobbs was described as having fallen [next lines obscured].

The negroes had started following Chief Stevens and Officer D. E. Bowden when they had raided the home of Leslie Troublefield. A half gallon of whiskey had been seized by the officers in the raid.

Hobbs was declared to have borne a bad reputation. He came to Mount Olive from Duplin County a short time ago.

Witnesses testifying before Coroner Robinson and his jury were Officer Bowden, Leslie Troublefield and Mattie White. They told practically the same story.

Members of the jury were A. R. Pickett, S. L. Warren, F. F. Butts, D. G. Rhodes, J. R. Flowers and Tom McGee.

Editor’s Note: First line in the newspaper story identified the Chief of Police as C. H. Griffin and the rest of the story referred to him as Stevens.

From the front page of the Goldsboro News, Sunday morning, Oct. 10, 1926

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Truck's Steering Gear Fails, It Strikes Ford Near Faison, Oct. 10, 1926

Truck and Ford Collide Near Faison Yesterday

A boy suffered minor cuts about the face when a heavy truck driven by Herman Merritt collided with a Ford driven by Small Warren near Faison yesterday. The truck knocked the little car off the road and is said to have badly damaged it. The accident was caused by the steering gear on the truck breaking, it was said.

From page 6 of the Goldsboro News, Sunday morning, Oct. 10, 1926

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Watts Held on Charges of Assault with Pistol, Driving While Intoxicated, Oct. 10, 1926

Watts Bound to County Court

C.O. Watts was yesterday bound to county court under two counts—assault with a deadly weapon, to wit a pistol, and operating a car while under the influence of whiskey. The cases were heard before Mayor Porter. Mr. Watts was held to county court on a charge of having shot at Herbert Pollock on September 28.

From page 6 of the Goldsboro News, Sunday morning, Oct. 10, 1926

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Robbers Borrowed Company's Truck to Steal 3,000 Pounds Fat-Back, Oct. 10, 1926

Robbers Get 3,000 Pounds of Pork

Salisbury, Oct. 9 (AP)—Robbers last night raided the wholesale place of Swift and Company in this city, hauling away about 3,000 pounds of fat-back meat. They made an entrance through a rear door. One of the company’s trucks was used hall the loot away, the robbers returning the truck and placing it in the company’s garage.

From page 6 of the Goldsboro News, Sunday morning, Oct. 10, 1926

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Ether Kills Harry Austin Before Tonsil Operation, Oct. 10, 1926

Harry Austin Dies Suddenly. . . Death Caused from Ether Administered Before Tonsil Operation

Harry A. Austin, wood superintendent of the Virginia Box and Lumber Company, died in Petersburg about noon yesterday from the effects of ether administered prior to an operation for the removal of tonsils. News of the untimely death of the young man came as a distinct shock to the city.

Mr. Austin was a native of Virginia but for several years had made Goldsboro his home and had a wide circle of friends here. He is survived by his father, several brothers and his wife, nee Evelyn Herring of Clarkedale, Miss.

Mrs. Austin was in Petersburg with her husband at the time of his death. Funeral arrangements had not been made last evening but were being deferred pending the arrival of Mrs. Austin’s parents from Mississippi.

Mr. Austin came to Goldsboro in August 1926 and had occupied a room at the home of Mrs. L. M. Michaux until August 1926, when he was married and took his bride to live with Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Smith.

He was a member of the American Legion, B.P.O.E., Elks and Masonic Fraternity. His brother-in-law, Mr. Hudgins, is commandant of Fishburne Military Academy, of which Mr. Austin was an alumnus. His father is a practicing physician in Waynesboro, Va.

The following Goldsboro people went by auto yesterday afternoon to be with Mrs. Austin in her grief and to await the funeral service: F. H. Foy, Mary Michaux, Mrs. W. A. Smith, A. H. Howell and Miss Boton McGinnis.

Editor’s Note: Article is unclear. It states that Austin had moved to Goldsboro several years ago in the second paragraph. But then in the fourth paragraph, it states that Austin moved to Goldsboro in August 1926 and then occupied a room with Mrs. Michaux until August 1926 when he married. I don’t know the correct dates but it looks like there is an error in the original story.

From the front page of the Goldsboro News, Sunday morning, Oct. 10, 1926

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Aaron Peele Places 4th, Wins $7 at Kinston Fair, Oct. 10, 1926

Wayne Boy Places in Judging Contest

Aaron Peele, young son of G. F. Peele of Nahunta township, won fourth prize in the individual crop judging contest at the Kinston Fair, it was learned yesterday. This carried with it an award of $7. Peele is a student at Pikeville school.

From page 6 of the Goldsboro News, Sunday morning, Oct. 10, 1926

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