Trial of Wade Bowman for Attack on 12-Year-Old Girl Begins, Feb. 4, 1926

Complete Jury in the Bowman Case; Witnessed Called. . . Second Special Venire Had to be Called Before Jury Could be Completed at Newton. . . 149 Names Had to be Called. . . Former National Guard Officer Is Charged with Attack on 12-Year-Old Girl

Newton, N.C., Feb. 4—The second edition of the special venire in the case against Major Wade V. Bowman for an alleged attack on a 12-year-old girl in Hickory last July came into Catawba County court at 9:30 a.m. today. The first venire of 100 men was exhausted early yesterday afternoon with two men lacking in the jury box. Judge Webb ordered an additional venire of 45 men summoned immediately and returnable this morning.

The Bowman jury was completed at 10:30 after 149 names had been drawn. Court launched immediately into the trial of the former major of North Carolina national guard for the alleged attack on the 12-year-old girl.

Girl Tells Her Story

Newton, Feb. 4 (AP)—Taking of testimony began today in the trial of Wade V. Bowman, former national guard major, charged with attacking a 12-year-oild Hickory girl last July. The jury was completed at 10:30 this morning and the court launched immediately into the hearing.

The defense used 10 peremptory challenges and the state used two. There was only one name left in the hat, and the last juror is A.B. Young. Eleven out of the 39 examined this morning were opposed to capital punishment. The percentage from the entire venire which expressed opposition to the death penalty is over 35 per cent. After the jury was empaneled Judge Webb ordered a short recess for counsel to confer.

Taking of evidence began at 11:05 this morning. The prosecutrix, her mother and father, dr. H.C. Menzies and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur, all of Kentucky, were the first sworn by the state.

The prosecutrix was the first to take the stand. She will be 13 years old on June 10. Her home is two lots from Major Bowman’s house in Hickory. In a low voice, hardly audible at times, she began telling the story of the alleged attack by the former army major in his then incompleted house in Hickory. She said that on July 28 last year she passed by the Bowman new house on her wheel. He was standing in the back hall, said the child, and called to her. She began crying and Judge Webb had the witness chair moved closer to the jury box. She said Bowman induced her into the house and attacked her.

A.A. Whitener conduced the direct examination. The witness said Bowman told her not to tell anyone what had happened and then asked her to come back next afternoon.

The court room was packed beyond its capacity during the testimony of the child. W.A. Self, for the defense staff, took the child over for cross examination. She regained her composure and answered the questions in a louder voice.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Thursday, Feb. 4, 1926

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Sink in Asheville to Study Clemency, Feb. 4, 1926

H. Hoyle Sink at Asheville

Asheville, Feb. 4 (AP)—H. Hoyle Sink, commissioner of pardons, here to investigate a number of applications for executive clemency, will have presented to him the appeals of a number of the men convicted of participation in the mob which stormed the Buncombe County jail last September in an effort to get Alivn Mansel, negro.

Mansel was later convicted of an attack upon a white woman, and sentenced to die. He now has an appeal before the Supreme Court. His case also is being investigated by the pardon commissioner.

When Mr. Sink reached Asheville, the families of 15 of the 20 men convicted of participation in the mob were ready to present personal appeals to him. And in two cases, petitions, said to bear the signatures of a large number of persons, had been prepared.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Thursday, Feb. 4, 1926

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N.C. Considers Marking Fatal Accidents With Large White Crosses, Feb. 4, 1926

System Works Well in Ohio

Gastonia, Feb. 4 (AP)—The erection of large white wooden crosses at spots on North Carolina highways where a person has been killed, as a striking reminder to passing motorists that they should be careful, is being advocated in North Carolina by C.M. McDonald, a Long Island, N.Y., attorney, who is in this state on business.

The system in use in the state of Ohio is working well in that state, Mr. McDonald declares. Former Governor Carmeron Morrison favors the plan, he stated, and has suggested that he bring the suggestion to the attention of Governor McLean and Frank Page, chairman of the State Highway Commission.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Thursday, Feb. 4, 1926

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J.R. Leigh Succeeding Norman Black, Feb. 4, 1926

Succeeds Norman Black Here

Charlotte, Feb. 4 (AP)—J.R. Leigh, formerly of the Shelby district of the North Carolina Co-operative Marketing Association, has been named to succeed Norman Black of Cabarrus County as field representative of the Fourth District, and will have headquarters in Charlotte. Mr. Black has been transferred to Monroe.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Thursday, Feb. 4, 1926

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University President Considering Job in Oregon, Feb. 4, 1926

University of Oregon Wants Dr. H.W. Chase. . . President of University of North Carolina Goes to Pacific Coast to Conference

Raleigh, Feb. 4 (AP)—Dr. Harry Woodburn Chase, president of the University of North Carolina, is en route to the Pacific coast where he will consider a proposal that he become president of the University of Oregon.

The offer of the western institution which has 4,000 students and is considerably larger than the North Carolina University, was made to Dr. Chase last summer, but he is understood not to have considered it at that time. But the Oregon institution has urged Dr. Chase to come to the coast for a conference, and he recently agreed.

The matter has been discussed between President Chase and Governor McLean, it was stated at the governor’s office today, and Dr. Chase told Mr. McLean that the matter was tentative both on his part and that of the University of Oregon. The matter also came up at the trustee’s meeting while Mr. McLean was out of town, it was said.

Dr. Chase is expected to be gone about a month. He succeeded the late Dr. Edward Kidder Graham as president.

Dr. Chase is understood to be the first choice by the Oregon University for the post among a number of men it has had under consideration.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Thursday, Feb. 4, 1926

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Babe Ascher to Undergo Surgery to Try to Save His Sight, Feb. 4, 1926

Losing Sight

Babe Ascher, A.E.F. bantamweight champion and pugilistic idol of many an army corps, will shortly undergo an operation to save his eyesight. Not only has the little fellow’s ring career been blasted but he’s threatened with complete blindness. His case is similar to that of Pete Herman, former bantam king.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Thursday, Feb. 4, 1926

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John McElwee, 91, Will be Buried Feb. 5, 1926

John H. McElwee Dead

Statesville, Feb. 4 (AP)—John Harvey McElwee, 91, tobacco manufacturer here for more than 50 years, died at his home today. Funeral services and interment will be tomorrow morning at 11 o’clock.

He is survived by five children.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Thursday, Feb. 4, 1926

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