Appeal for Clemency for Jesse Wyatt, Who Killed Stephen Holt, March 30, 1926

Appeal for Clemency for Raleigh Detective

Raleigh, March 29—Attorneys here are arranging to go before Governor McLean the middle of next month with an appeal for clemency in behalf of Jesse Wyatt, former Raleigh police detective, who went to state prison March 15 under an eight to 18 months indeterminate sentence for slaying Stephen Holt, prominent Smithfield attorney. Wyatt was convicted of manslaughter in Wake Superior Court last November. He killed Holt when he mistook his car for a rum-runner and fired in an attempt to stop it.

Especial interest attaches to news of the forthcoming appeal in his behalf because of the investigation now underway at Charlotte into the shooting of an alleged rum runner by police of that city last week.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Record, March 30, 1926

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Serious Fire in Statesville Business Section, March 31, 1926

Statesville Fire Threatens Large Business Section. . . Blaze Started About 10:30 This Morning and Was Reported Burning at Furious Rate at Noon. . . Furniture Lies in Fire’s Path. . . Lumber of One Concern Already Burned and If Winds Shifts, Another Property May be Burned

Statesville, March 31 (AP)—Fire starting about 10:30 o’clock in the Diamond Hill section of this city has been burning at a furious rate. From the fertilizer house it spread to stacks of lumber nearby. A high wind has been blowing since the fire started, and more than a million feet of lumber and four industrial plants are in jeopardy should the wind shift its course toward these plants. All available fire fighting forces have been fighting hard since the fire started, but for lack of sufficient water facilities, little headway had been made toward extinguishing the flames.

So far only the lumber owned by Hutton & Bourbonnais is affected. The fire rages near a big pile owned by the Morrison Manufacturing Company. About $60,000 is the estimated value of the lumber already burned and that in danger.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, March 31, 1926

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Preliminary Trial of A.B. Medlin for Killing Mark Simpson, March 31, 296

The Medlin Hearing

Referring to the preliminary trial of A.B. Medlin for the slaying of Mark Simpson in Union County, the Monroe Journal says:

“A number of people from Concord appeared at the trial as character witnesses for the defendant. These included Rev. Ebenezer Myers, L.A. Talbirt, chief of police of Concord, Sheriff Caldwell of Cabarrus County, J.L. Hartsell, manager of the Hartsell Mill, and a number of others, all of whom gave him a good character.

“The defendant himself was not put on the stand, but the version of the killing which he gave to the Sheriff when surrendering was not greatly changed by the State’s witnesses, all of whom were relatives of the dead man. These were Mrs. Britton Helms, a sister of the deceased, and her husband, J.C. Simpson, father, and Henry Helms, nephew of the deceased.

“The story of the State’s witnesses is similar to the statement made by Medlin to Union County officers with the exception as to the manner of approach made by Simpson, and the black-jack scuffle. Medlin said that Simpson approached in an angry manner and cursing, and that he grabbed the black-jack and was holding on to it when he fired is pistol. The State witnesses say that he did not appear mad on approach and that he only reached for the black-jack.

“Dr. Richardson was called to the stand and corroborated the testimony of the witnesses as to the effect of the bullets.

“The State witnesses were gain called to the stand and questioned as to the knife found under Simpson when his body was being removed. None of them knew about the knife except Simpson’s father, who said that he saw the knife and that it was the property of the dead man. The presence of the knife was corroborated by Dr. Richardson.”

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, March 31, 1926

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Dr. Mandelos Suing W.C. Murphy for Alienation of His Wife's Affections, March 31, 1926

Is Under Bond in Alienation Case. . . W.C. Murphy Arrested on Complaint of Dr. Nicholas A. Mandelos, Who Has Filed Suit for $50,000

Asheville, March 30—W.C. Murphy, county superintendent of public instruction, who lives at 19 Furman Court, was arrested this afternoon by members of the sheriff’s department and held under $2,500 bond in arrest and bail proceedings, upon complaint of Dr. Nicholas A. Mandelos, 55 Ashland Avenue, who filed suit for $50,000 for alienation of his wife’s affections, alleging that Murphy debauched her, using his office to attain that end while she was a member of the teaching staff of Johnson school.

Murphy was taken into custody by Deputy Sheriff Dave Snelson and Deputy Constable T.R. Parker as he sat at his desk in the county court house annex. He was allowed, by direction of Sheriff E.M. Mitchell, a reasonable time in which to arrange bond. His attorney, J.W. Haynes, visited the home of the clerk of superior court and succeeded in having the bond of $25,000 asked in the complaint, reduced to $2,500, which was furnished.

Charging that while his 21-year-old wife was a member of the faculty of Johnson school, Murphy succeeded in winning her affection by maliciously planning and exerting an improper influence over her, Dr. Mandelos, who is a member of the staff at Oteen hospital, alleges that Murphy made promises to the wife of the plaintiff that he would use his influence to have Miss Ila Johnson, then supervisor of schools in Buncombe County, removed and that he further promised to give this position to the wife of the plaintiff, Elinora Griffiths Mandelos.

Dr. Mandelos further contents that the defendant in this action “contrived maliciously and wickedly to injure the plaintiff, and to wrongfully deprive him of the affection, comfort and society and aid of his wife, and maliciously planned and undertook to accomplish his purpose, acquiring an improper influence over her.”

The defendant in this action was elected head of the school system in Buncombe County in April, 1925,and took over the office which he was holding at the time of his arrest July 1, last year.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, March 31, 1926

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Mrs. Nash Recovering from Dose of Carbolic Acid, March 31, 1926

Takes Carbolic Acid; Will Likely Recover

Statesville, March 30—According to her physician, unless complications arise, Mrs. Anderson Nash will recover from the effects of carbolic acid, which she took Saturday night.

Mrs. Nash and others went on a long hike Saturday. That evening on her return she announced that she was tired and would retire. Soon after her husband left the room, she was heard to scream, and investigation disclosed that she had taken the carbolic acid. Doctors were quickly summoned and did what could be done to offset the effects of the poison. She was unconscious for some time. Her condition is better and prospects for her recovery are good. Whether the acid was taken through error or purposely has not been definitely established.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, March 31, 1926

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Frank Stansbury, 50, Dies Suddenly After Work March 29, 1926

Engineer Stansbury Drops Dead at Spencer

Spencer, March 29—Frank Stansbury, engineer for the Southern Railway system, dropped dead in the street here tonight while on the way to his home. He had been at work during the day and was apparently in his usual health. He is presumed to have suffered an attack of acute indigestion. He was 50 years of age.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Record, March 30, 1926

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Friends Shocked by Sudden Death of Mrs. Reeves March 30, 1926

Mrs. C.A. Reeves Dies at Albemarle

Albemarle, March 30—The many Albemarle and Stanly county friends of Mrs. Augusta Russell Reeves, wife of C.A. Reeves, were shocked this morning when the news of death, which occurred early this morning, was announced.

Mrs. Reeves was stricken about 9 o’clock yesterday morning with what is believed to have been paralysis, and became unconscious shortly after she was stricken. Up until the time of her sudden illness she was apparently in her usual good health. She was up at the usual hour Monday morning and ate a hearty breakfast.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, March 31, 1926

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