Alvester Ayers Killed Bride and Her Father, Aug. 27, 1926

Wilson Man Kills Wife and Father In Law

Alvester Ayers killed his 30-year-old wife, Bertha Ayers, and her father, William D. Starling, early Tuesday morning in Wilson. Ayers had had much trouble with his bride of but six months and claimed his only reason for committing the deed was because he thought his wife was better off dead than to be living in sin; and he further claims he killed her father who was trying to kill him.

Ayers had been making threats during the day, and his 14-year-old daughter had hidden his gun. That night he and his wife were at the Starling home. Ayers got up during the night and went to his own home, got his gun and returned, slaying his wife and father-in-law. He then went to police headquarters and surrendered, and is now in jail.

From the front page of the Enterprise, Williamston, Martin County, N.C, Friday, August 27, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073995/1926-08-27/ed-1/seq-1/

Ernest Walker Facing Murder, Burglary, Rape Charges, Aug. 27, 1926

Negro Is Indicted for Three Capital Crimes

Durham, Aug. 24—Ernest P. Walker, in whose veins runs white, colored and Indian blood, waived preliminary examination in Recorder’s court Friday and was held without bond for the October 11 term of Durham County Superior Court on three of the four capital offenses in North Carolina courts: Murder, burglary, and rape (criminal assault).

Walker confessed to police that he entered the home of James Cassidy, negro, on Sunday night, July 25, while Cassidy and his wife were sleeping; struck Cassidy with an axe, from which he died a few days later, and assaulted his wife. Police said they have never before ehrd of such a group of crimes in this State. Arson is the only other capital offiense.

From the front page of the Enterprise, Williamston, Martin County, N.C, Friday, August 27, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073995/1926-08-27/ed-1/seq-1/

Sheriff A.C. Jackson to Face Embezzlement and Other Charges, Aug. 27,1926

Sheriff A. C. Jackson Returns to Greenville

Sheriff A. C. Jackson, who fled from Pitt County recently, apparently to dodge charges of embezzlement preferred by the Board of County Commissioners of that county, has returned to his home in Greenville. Since his departure he has lost the office of sheriff which was first declared vacant by Judge R. A. Newman on account of failure to perform the duties of the office. Judge Nunn’s order for removal was only temporary, however, and another hearing was held last week when the judge, N. A. Sinclair, confirmed the order of removal, making it permanent.

The alleged shortage of Jackson was placed at $30,000. There were other charges also against him, among them failure to perform duty, drunkenness and immorality.

Friends of the sheriff express the opinion that he was the victim of temptations rather than of deliberations.

From the front page of the Enterprise, Williamston, Martin County, N.C, Friday, August 27, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073995/1926-08-27/ed-1/seq-1/

Officers Seize Stills in Free Union, Leggetts Mill Section, Aug. 27, 1926

Officers Seize 9 Stills in Hunt Lasting 2 Days. . . Get 3 in Free Union and 6 in Leggetts Mill Section

Federal agent Thomas W. Snell and Sheriff Roberson raided Free Union, or Gawk, Tuesday and found three stills, each of about 50 gallons capasity. All were cold and no sign of life about them.

The officers found at the stills about 2,100 gallons of sugar and meal bear, all of which was destroyed.

Evidence was insufficient to justify prosecutions.

Wednesday the officers went to the Leggetts Mill section in Bear Grass township, where an invitation had been extended to them. There they found six fully equipped stills, about 8,500 gallons of beer, many kegs, jugs and other equipment used in the manufacture of liquor.

Two of these six stills had been run during the previous night and were warm when the officers reached them. All the liquor was removed before the arrival of the agents. Much of the beer found at the plants had fermented and most ready to be run. No one was seen near the stills. All the equipment was destroyed.

Mr. Snell says one of the plants was very near the residence of his old friend Hickory Ben Daubbs, and there was a path leading in that direction, but his old friend was not in sight.

From the front page of the Enterprise, Williamston, Martin County, N.C, Friday, August 27, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073995/1926-08-27/ed-1/seq-1/

Gustof Swenson,17, Killed by Bull at Caswell Training School, Aug. 27, 1926

Inmate Killed by Bull at Caswell Training School

Gustof Swenson, a 17-year-old inmate of the Caswell Training school for the feeble minded at Kinston was killed Wednesday by a bull of the school dairy herd.

Young Swenson, who took great interest in assisting around the dairy had been warned to keep out of the lot where the animal was kept, but on this occasion he went in alone and was stamped and pawed to death before he could be rescued.

The boy’s father, a Norwegian, last heard of in Asheville, and his mother, last heard of in Florida, could not be located to inform them of the death of their son.

From the front page of the Enterprise, Williamston, Martin County, N.C, Friday, August 27, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073995/1926-08-27/ed-1/seq-1/

County's Policy of Not Allowing Circus Before Fair Should Be Honored, Aug. 27, 1926

The Circus and the Fair

The circus is coming in spite of the fact that the board of county commissioners have said the should not show in the county between the dates of August 26 and October 2. Gentry Brothers are advertising the advent of their show here on Wednesday, September 22, just five days before the Roanoke Fair begins on Monday, September 27.

It is the custom in counties where agricultural fairs are held not to permit circuses to show within the county at a date which would injure the fair. Our commissioners have already passed such an order for the county, yet it is being ignored by Gentry Brothers, who say they will be here with big elephants, humpbacked camels, fat horses, big show wagons and pretty girls. They fail to state whether they will have red lemonade and the greasy pig; but it is a safe guess that they will make more on gambling games than on door receipts.

It is the duty of county officials to enforce the commissioners’ order and not allow the show to enter the county.

It may be that a fair is not always what it should be; it may have numerous objectionable features; but it does have many good ones. Its purpose is to help folks rather than to “Barnumize” them. On the other hand, the small circus is a gouging game from start to finish. It may offer the opportunity to see a few strange animals and some acrobatic stunts that could not otherwise be seen by some people.

We understand the town has already granted a license for the circus, which, however, does not interfere with the county’s rights; because the town is withincounty and not the county within the town, giving the county the larger jurisdiction.

From the front page of the Enterprise, Williamston, Martin County, N.C, Friday, August 27, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073995/1926-08-27/ed-1/seq-1/

Frank Fagan Heads Rocky Mount Bank, Aug. 27, 1926

Frank Fagan Heads Rocky Mount Bank

Frank F. Fagan, who was the first cashier of the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Williamston, going from here to Rocky Mount and then to Richmond, where he spent some time, but later returned to Rocky Mount, where he has held the position of cashier and vice president and then president of the First National Bank of Rocky Mount, succeeding Mr. Thomas H. Battle, who has been president of that institution since it was organized. Mr. Battle becomes chairman of the board of directors.

From the front page of the Enterprise, Williamston, Martin County, N.C, Friday, August 27, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073995/1926-08-27/ed-1/seq-1/