Clyde Broughton In Jail for Murder of William Teachy, July 14, 1926

Lenoir County Man Held on Murder Charge. . . Clyde Broughton Charged with Having Caused the Death of William Teachy. . . Coroner’s Jury to Order Broughton Held Without Bond

Clyde Broughton, young white man whose home is in the seven Springs section of Lenor county, is being held in the Wayne County jail in default of bond in connection with the death of William Teachey, another young white man, who died in the Goldsboro Hospital Sunday morning as the result of a skull fracture which he received when struck on the head last Thursday night at a store on the Goldsboro-Seven Springs highway.

Broughton was the man whom Teachey told officers struck him with the bottle, this statement being made shortly after they had found him following the affair. On the strength of this antemortem statement and other evidence which authorities have but which they have not disclosed, he was ordered held by the coroner’s jury which held an inquest over the body.

It is said that the affair was the result of an argument and an affray which occurred at the store in question and is a section which has been noted for its blockading and bootlegging activities.

The body of the dead man was carried to his former home on Sunday and was interred near that place later. He was held in high esteem in his home community, and his untimely death is generally regretted by a large circle of friends.

From the front page of the Goldsboro News, Wednesday morning, July 14, 1926

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Nellie Freeman Goes on Trial for Slashing Throat of Husband, July 14, 1926

Charlotte Woman Goes on Trial for Life. . . Fate of Nellie Freeman Will Soon Rest in Hands of Jury Hearing the Case. . . Young Bride Who in a Fit of Jealousy Slashed the Throat of Her Husband, Sits in Charlotte Court Room a Dejected Figure, While Witnesses Tell of Her Tragic Deed—Dead Man’s Mother Star Witness

Charlotte, July 14—Nellie Freeman, charged with slaying her husband, Alton Freeman, by slashing his throat with a razor, went on trial for her life here today.

The entire morning session as devoted to selection of a jury, after which relatives and friends of the dead man were place on the witness stand.

Eight witnesses testified for the state during the afternoon session and repeated the lurid story of the crime while the youthful prisoner sat between attorneys and her mother and listened in apparent nonchalance.

Mrs. Nannine Freeman, mother of the victim, was the first to take the witness stand. She recited details of the married life of her son and described the killing in a strong, straightforward tone. The witness said that on the night her son died she went to his room and found him packing his clothes. She said she asked him if he was “mad at Nellie.”

“Mama, I told you the first time she cussed me I was going to leave her,” the witness quoted her son as saying.

Turning to the events of her son’s death, Mrs. Freeman said she heard him walking rapidly and then he whirled around. Blood was running from his mouth, she testified. She said she got both of her hands to his jaw and asked him if his wife had hit him in the mouth.

“No, mama, she cut me,” she said her son replied.

“With what?” she said she asked him.

“With a razor,” she testified he said.

“I held him until he went down,” she continued. “He was dead in less than 10 minutes.”

Mrs. Freeman stated that Hellie came in about 30 minutes later with Luther, her husband’s brother, holding her. Nellie said that Luther need not hold her, that she would not run off, the witness aid. “Nellie just sat there, never shed a tear, and send she wanted to be punished,” Mrs. Freeman told the court.

Chief Fesperman of the rural police force declared he found the dead man . . . slashed from ear to ear. Testimony will be resumed tomorrow.

From the front page of the Goldsboro News, Thursday morning, July 15, 1926

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Crowd Attending Trial of Nellie Freeman for Killing Husband, July 15, 1926

Freeman Trial Is Mecca for Scores Again During Day. . . Many Persons Went to the Courthouse in Mecklenburg at Daybreak in Order to Get Seat. . . Characters of Family Praised. . . During Morning Several Witnesses Testified as to Character of Principals in the Case

Charlotte, July 15 (AP)—Character witnesses for the Freeman family were the first presented to the court today in the trial of Mrs. Nellie Freeman, “razor girl,” charged with slaying her husband on the night of May 22, while she embraced him.

The father and mother of the slain youth testified yesterday and both told the jury that their son was killed by his young wife after he had told them that he would “desert her if she cursed him” again. The Rev. J. A. Smith pastor of Big Springs Methodist Church, near here, was the first witness to take the stand this morning. He said that the character of Mrs. Adolphus Freeman was good. He also testified as to observing the good character of the defendant.

Several other witnesses also testified for the good name of the Freemans.

The court room was jammed to the door long before the trial began. Two additional deputies were sworn in to preserve order.

Many were in their seats before daybreak this morning, eager to hear the taking of testimony.

From front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, July 15, 1926

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State Rests in Case Against Nellie Freeman, on Trial for Murdering Husband, July 15, 1926

State Rests

Charlotte, July 15 (AP)—The State rested its case against Mrs. Nellie Freeman, charged with murder at 10:55 o’clock this morning.

From front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, July 15, 1926

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David Smith, In Jail Since Killing of His Son-in-Law, Doesn't Appear to Take Charge Seriously, July 15, 1926

Slayer Appears Unconcerned. . . David Smith, Negro Held in Jail on Murder Charge, Doesn’t Realize Gravity

David Smith, colored, aged about 60 years, and who a few weeks ago made a murderous attack upon Norman Rose, aged about 45 years, his son-in-law in the Saulston section and who has been in the Wayne County jail since that time, is facing the serious charge of having killed his victim with no real thought of the gravity of his situation.

The old man told a News representative yesterday that he “didn’t see how” they were going to try him on a murder charge with Rose had taken a shot at him with his pistol the ball entering his (Smith’s) body.

However, when the coroner investigated the affair, he learned that Smith had gone home and secured his shotgun and walked more than a . . . (line of type obscured). Both barrels of his gun into the latter’s body, struck him over the head and fractured his skull.

Thus far, Smith has not secured legal counsel and seems to be taking the matter more or less philosophically.

From the front page of the Goldsboro News, Thursday morning, July 15, 1926

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Myrtle Fisher Killed by Car As She Steps from Street Car, July 14, 1926

Miss Myrtle Fisher Killed by Automobile. . . Hit as She Steps from Street Car—Mrs. A.T. Black Is Jailed After Accident

Charlotte, July 14—Miss Myrtle Fisher, 19, of charlotte, was fatally injured here tonight when struck by an automobile alleged to have been driven by Mrs. Allen T. Black of Waynesville. Mrs. Black was placed in jail without bond in connection with the accident.

Miss Fisher died at a local hospital where she was taken after being hit by the automobile as she stepped from a street car.

In the large coupe with Mrs. Black was her sister, Miss Eva Holsenback of Charlotte. Riding on the left fender was Miss Cleo Adas and on the right fender was her sister, Miss Jessie Adams, both of Charlotte. “I didn’t know the street car was going to stop,” Mrs. Black pleaded tonight at the police station. “It stopped so suddenly. As soon as I knew the girl had been hit, I brought the car to a stop.”

Mrs. Black said she was driving at a very moderate speed.

“It all happened so suddenly,” she said, “I didn’t know I had hit anyone until Cleo screamed.”

Miss Cleo Adams, who was riding on the left fender, said that as the car struck the young woman, she threw up her hand in an attempt to keep from going under the automobile.

“I grabbed her hand,” Miss Adams said, “but she went under anyhow.”

Attempts to arrange bond for Mrs. Black proved futile as Coroner Frank Hovis, said by police to be the only person empowered to set bond in such a case, was out of the city.

Mrs. Black was placed in the same cell with Nellie Freeman, on trial in Superior Court for the death of her husband.

Mrs. Black’s husband is said to be overseer at Brookford orchards, Waynesville.

From front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, July 15, 1926

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Dr. Anderson Denies Cruel Treatment of Alice Coltrain Who Committed Suicide, July 13, 1926

Dr. Anderson Denies Cruel Treatment of Insane. . . Report of Cruelty Made by Wake County Coroner Denied. . . Dr Albert Anderson Superintendent of the Hospital for Insane, Asks for Complete Investigation into the Death of Alice Coltrain at that Institution a Few Days Ago—Coroner Charged Cruelty

Raleigh, July 13 (AP)—Cruel treatment proceeding the suicide of Alice Coltrain, an inmate at the state hospital for the insane, who hanged herself with one of her stockings last Friday night, was responsible for her death, L. ? Wiering(?), Wake county coroner, charged in his report to the clerk of court.

But tonight Dr. Anderson, superintendent of the hospital for the insane, ?? a letter to Dr. G.M. Cooper, to whom complaint was made by the coroner, welcoming his investigation of the conditions under which the patient killed herself. In this letter the superintendent pointed out that the woman was violent and that so many as six attendants were necessary to place her in her room. He declared that she was placed in a room with few windows and without furniture only because she was violent.

Under the law, Dr. Cooper said tonight, the State Board of Health will make an investigation.

From the front page of the Goldsboro News, Wednesday morning, July 14, 1926

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