Testimony During John Gray's Murder Trial, March 1, 1926

Four Persons Are Given Hearing in The Watkins Case. . . . Carl Sweat, Mrs. Sweat, Tom Drake and John Gray Given Hearings During the Day. . . Drake Arrested in This City. . . It Is Charged That Watkins Was Killed and His Body Burned in an Old Barn Near Albemarle

Albemarle, March 1 (AP)—Three men and a woman today were being given preliminary hearings in connection with the alleged murder of “Dad” Watkins, aged man who disappeared several weeks ago and whose charred body was believed found in the ruins of a burned barn.

The body was found in the debris with the arms, legs and head cut off.

Gray was returned from Dillon, S.C., about 10 days ago, and placed in jail here while the other arrests followed later. Drake was arrested in Concord.

Deputy Sheriff Pussor testified today that he overheard Gray telling his wife that he knew all about “the murder, and would tell at the proper time.”

The deputy sheriff further testified that Gray and Carl Sweat and Drake took “Dad” Watkins up the Salisbury road on the night of the alleged slaying and got back about 10 o’clock without him. According to the story of the sheriff, he said he heard the torso of the man was placed first in the Gray home, but later removed.

Robbery has been the only motive advanced for the slaying of Watkins.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Monday, March 1, 1926

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Sons of W.R. Matthews, Mecklenburg Legislator, In Jail, March 1, 1926

Three Charlotte Men Are Held in Dallas. . . Sons of Legislator Said to Have Been Guilty of Mann Act Violations

Charlotte, Feb. 28—Two prominent Charlotte men, sons of W.R. Matthews, Mecklenburg legislator, are being held in Dallas, Texas, on Mann Act charges. It is expected that they will make their bonds of $1,000 each in the United States court at Dallas tomorrow.

The men are W.M. and P.D. Matthews, both of whom have wives here, who have sworn out warrants charging non-support and abandonment.

The two Matthews men, with J.P. Matthews, 19-year-old brother, disappeared on January 8th. J.P. Matthews was arrested, but subsequently was released in view of the fact that on the way to Texas he had married the woman whom he had accompanied away from Charlotte. The charges against him will not be pressed.

The women are Mrs. Florence Lipe Matthews, who married the younger brother, her daughter, Miss Lina Lipe, said to be 13 years old, and Mrs. Pearl Lambert, whose husband is now in Florida. Mrs. Florence Lipe was a widow before her marriage to the younger Matthews. The women were all of this city, Mrs. Lipe recently coming here from Columbia, S.C.

W.D. and P.M. Matthews have waived preliminary hearings in Dallas and their cases will be prosecuted in federal court there.

State warrants have been sworn out by the wives of W.M. and P.D. Matthews, charging abandonment and non-support, and a warrant charging W.M. Matthews with abduction has been sworn out by C.E. Lambert.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Monday, March 1, 1926

The original newspaper article names of the two older sons as W.D. and P.M. Matthews AND as W.M. and P.D. newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-03-01/ed-1/seq-1/

Troy Fitzgerald Kills Self in State Prison While Awaiting Trial, Feb. 28, 1926

Troy Fitzgerald Ends Life in State’s Prison. . . Alleged Efland Bank Robber Uses Sheet to Strangle Himself to Death

Raleigh, Feb. 28—Troy Fitzgerald, untried prisoner who was being held in the State penitentiary for safekeeping, hanged himself this afternoon in a death cell at the State’s prison and when found about 5 o’clock, he was dead.

Fitzgerald, who was captured with the recent gang of alleged Efland bank robbers, was thorough dope fiend whose suicidal mania had shown itself in other attempts. At Undertaker Fab Brown’s tonight it was said that Fitzgerald sought to kill himself when a prisoner in Durham jail. He was bought here six days ago and lodged in the prison for safety. He had not been tried. His testimony was that the other robbers framed him and caused him to be found with enough money to make a case against him. Dope, however, is credited with much of his story.

Fitzgerald slew himself this afternoon by use of the sheets which were furnished him in his cell. He made a crude rope and choked himself to death with it. He had been dead half an hour or more when he was discovered by prison people.

Fitzgerald was badly wanted, more for the testimony that he could give than for the actual part which he took in the robbery. The prisoner would have made almost sure the conviction of those with him, it was said, but officers were doubtful tonight whether the State could make a case without him.

The dead man will be sent to High Point tomorrow for burial. He was married, but his wife, Mabel Perdue Fitzgerald, is said to have left him. He had no children but his adopted son’s picture, found on the clothes of the prisoner, proclaimed his affection for the boy.

The marks of the dope habit are written all over the body of this cripple man, whose age is given as 37.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Monday, March 1, 1926

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Family Still Waiting for Word About George Melchor, March 1, 1926

No Trace Found of George Melchor. . . Salisbury Brother of Missing Man Is Puzzled Over Sudden Disappearance

Salisbury, Feb. 28—Ray Melchor, an employe of the North Carolina Public Service Company in this city, whose brother, George Melchor, mysteriously disappeared from this city about two months ago stated Yesterday afternoon that no word has yet been heard of him or his whereabouts. The missing man was employed as a plumber by beaver Brothers, of this city, and boarded on East Thomas Street. He left his watch in his room at his boarding house and also his outfit of work clothes.

Ray Melchor is very much concerned over the sudden leaving of his brother but has an idea that he may possible be working at his trade, that of a plumber, in some nearby city or town, but why he would leave so mysteriously, without telling relatives or friends of his intention, is not known.

It was thought by some that probably he had taken a sudden notion to go to Florida, but he brother does not believe he went there, and even if he did is at a loss to understand the manner of his leaving, for which no reason can be assigned by anyone.

The mother of the missing man lives in Cabarrus County and she is very much distressed over the affair.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Monday, March 1, 1926

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Police Say Brown Ketner Died from Gas Poisoning, March 1, 1926

Brown Ketner Died from Gas Poisoning. . . Rowan County Man Found Dead in Bed in Cincinnati Friday—Body Sent to This State

Salisbury, Feb. 28—The death of Brown Ketner, Rowan County man, in Cincinnati Thursday night was caused by gas, according to a message received this afternoon by Chief Cauble of the Salisbury police force, in answer to an inquiry sent the chief of police in Cincinnati.

Mr. Ketner was found dead in his bed Friday morning. News of his death was received here by his parents and brothers but no particulars were obtainable. The body had been ordered sent to Salisbury for burial and interment will be made at Ebenezer Church in the county. Mr. Ketner has a wife and one child, he having married since leaving Salisbury some years ago. Mrs. Ketner was not in Cincinnati when her husband died.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Monday, March 1, 1926

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Mrs. Ida Moore Young, 75, Has Died, March 1, 1926

Mrs. Ida Moore Young Is Dead in Charlotte

Charlotte, Feb. 27—Mrs. Ida Moore Young, wife of the late Joseph H. Young, died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. L.A. Dodsworth, the latter, her daughter, after an illness of several months. She was nearly 76 years of age, having been born April 13, 1850. The funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at the Dodsworth home. Dr. Albert Sidney Johnson, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, of which Mrs. Young had been a devoted member, will conduct the service.

Mrs. Young was a daughter of the late Samuel Moore and Mary Ann Bethel Moore of Caswell County. She was married to Mr. Young in 1872. Five children were born to this union, of whom four survive. They are Robert B. Young of Savannah, Ga.; Mrs. Gillespie Sadler of Atlanta, Ga.; Mrs. L.A. Dodsworth and Mrs. Dolph M. Young of Charlotte. Mrs. Young and her husband moved to Charlotte from Concord in 1885.

Mrs. Young was a sister-in-law of the late Col. Thomas Holt, governor of Norh Carolina.

(Mrs. Young’s husband was a rother of the late Alfred B. Young and Dr. Robert S. Young of Concord.—Ed.).

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Monday, March 1, 1926

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Rev. H.M. Pressly Died in Charlotte, N.C., March 1, 1926

Rev. H.M. Pressly Dies in Charlotte

Charlotte, Feb. 28—Rev. Harvey M. Pressly, a prominent minister of the Presbyterian Church, died at his home in this city this morning after an illness of 10 days. Mr. Pressly was born in Illinois September 29, 1845. His mother was a South Carolinian and his father a Kentuckian. He was educated at Monmouth College, Illinois, and studied for the ministry at Xenia Seminary, Ohio.

He had resided in Charlotte for 10 years or more, being the first pastor of the West Avenue Presbyterian Church, and afterward supply pastor. He was universally beloved in city and county. He was a man of wide learning and beloved throughout Mecklenburg County.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Monday, March 1, 1926

The original paper said he was born in 1945, which couldn’t be true. I changed it to 1845, but I’m not sure that’s accurate either.

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