Robert Chaplin Kills Co-Worker in Dispute Over Clothing, Sept. 28, 1926

Negro Fatally Shot Saturday Night. . . Ernest Radford Dies in Hospital Here Sunday from Wounds Received in a Fracas Saturday Night

Two negroes who have been here with the street paving force got into a dispute early Saturday night over some clothes, and now one of them is dead, and the other is in jail charged with his murder.

Ernest Rodford is the negro who is dead, and the man who shot him gives his name as Robert Chaplin. The altercation took place on Market Street near the station, and in the course of the fuss Chaplin is said to have produced a .38 pistol, firing shots that passed through the lungs and liver of Rodford. Rodford, who was not killed instantly, was taken to the colored doctor, Dr. Furlong, and then to Johnston Conty Hospital, where he died Sunday morning about 11 o’clock.

Chaplin was arrested soon after the shooting took place and placed in jail to await the outcome of Rodford’s injuries.

Yesterday afternoon Chaplin was tried in mayor’s court and turned loose, the court having found no probable cause. In short time the chief of police had sworn out another warrant before the solicitor of recorder’s court and Chaplin was rearrested and remanded to jail where he now awaits trial in recorder’s court.

Editor’s Note: The newspaper headline spelled the victim’s last name as “Radford,” but it consistently spelled “Rodford” in the article. Also, what was called a trial in Recorder’s Court was actually a hearing to determine if there was sufficient evidence. There wasn’t at the time, so charges were dismissed. The Sheriff then filed a new warrant, Chaplin was arrested again and a new hearing will be held in Recorder’s Court to see if there is now sufficient evidence to hold Chaplin for killing Rodford.

From the front page of the Smithfield Herald, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 1926

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Paul Pruitt, Bruce Burgess, Willie Denby Found Guilty of Liquor Charges, Sept. 28, 1926

White Men Are Held Guilty on Liquor Charge. . . Arrest of Three on Nuisance Charge Leads to Liquor Raid and Destruction of big Still Near Sligo. . . On Poyner’s Road. . . There Was Home Paul Pruitt Where Defendants Were Arrested and From Which Path Led to Still

Currituck, Sept. 28—A “cussing party” at the home of Willie Banks on Poyner’s road last Wednesday night set in motion a train of events that landed Paul Pruitt, Bruce Burgess, and Willie Denby in the Currituck County Jail in the wee small hours of Sunday morning and brought them in recorder’s court Monday as defendants before County Judge Newbern on charges of creating a nuisance and of manufacturing liquor. All were found guilty of the liquor charge, but Pruitt only was found guilty on the nuisance charge. Though the court withheld judgment in the case of two of the defendants charged with making liquor, every defendant noted an appeal in each case in which he was found guilty and all the evidence is due to be sifted at the next criminal term of Superior Court in Currituck County, which convenes on the first Monday in March.

The arrest of these three defendants on a nuisance charge and the subsequent raiding of Paul Pruitt’s promises which resulted in the discovery of a small quantity of liquor in various containers about the house and of a still in the woods back of the premises seems to have been a sort of sequel to the theft of a Ford roadster, the property of R. T. Temple, from the yard of the home of Willie Banks of Sligo, on Monday night of last week. The automobile was later found in the woods north of Snowden station stripped of its front wheels and fires and burned to the chassis.

How It Started

No arrests were made in connection with the theft of the car, but a report current in the Sligo community linked the three defendants before the recorder Monday and Paul Pruitt’s brother, Frank Pruitt, with the alleged crime. The car was discovered on Wednesday morning and on Wednesday night Bruce Burgess and Willie Denby went with Frank and Paul Pruitt to the Willis Bank’s home, seemingly to have it out with Mr. Banks and other members of the household for spreading a report that the four had stolen and burned the car. Frank and Paul did all the talking and, according to the evidence, singled out for most of their abuse Mrs. Jennie Hughes, sister of Paul Pruitt’s wife, using most profane and indecent language in addressing her and keeping up a continual tirade of it for half an hour, more or less, though Temple, boarder at the home, and Burgess and Denby all tried to get them to hush up and leave the home.

Armed with a warrant sworn out by Willie Banks for the arrest of the two Pruitts and of Denby and Burgess on the nuisance charge, Sheriff Bob Flora went to the home of Paul Pruitt shortly after midnight Saturday night and placed Paul Pruitt, Burgess and Denby under arrest. Puritt and Denby were in the house, and Burgess had a bunk in the barn. Frank Pruitt was not to be found and has not yet been arrested. With the sheriff when he made the arrest were his sons, W. C. Flora, D. I. Flora and B. B. Flora. Two of the party went to the back door when the sheriff knocked at the front and observed the strong odor of corn whiskey about the premises and four sacks of sugar and one of meal on the kitchen floor. After the arrests had been made and the three prisoners, unable to arrange bond, had been lodged in jail, Deputy Will Flora told his father of the evidence of liquor on the premises and the party, accompanied by two more deputies, returned to the house to investigate.

The Raid for Liquor

They discovered two five-gallon bottles containing small quantities of liquor about the premises and a pint bottle nearly full under the seat of Paul Pruitt’s motor truck. Surmising that Frank Pruitt’s absence was due to a trip to Norfolk or some other paint to dispose of the last run from a still, the sheriff’s party waited for dawn and then, following a well defined path through the woods, they came upon and destroyed a large still, with a quantity of mash. Evidence about the still indicated that the last run had been made two or three days earlier, also the fittings of the still corresponded with pieces of pipe found about the Pruitt house. They discovered two five-gallon bottles containing small quantities of liquor about the premises and a pint bottle nearly full under the seat of Paul Pruitt’s motor truck. Surmising that Frank Pruitt’s absence was due to a trip to Norfolk or some other paint to dispose of the last run from a still, the sheriff’s party waited for dawn and then, following a well defined path through the woods, they came upon and destroyed a large still, with a quantity of mash. Evidence about the still indicated that the last run had been made two or three days earlier, also the fittings of the still corresponded with pieces of pipe found about the Pruitt house.

Accordingly, when the three prisoners were brought into court Monday morning to answer to the nuisance charge, Sheriff Flora swore out another warrant charging them with ownership and operation of the still. The liquor case was tried first.

Sentence in the case of Paul Pruitt and Bruce Burgess on the liquor charge was withheld because, it being their second offense, Dr. Newbern was in some doubt as to whether his court had jurisdiction in the matter. He announced, therefore, that he would pass sentence next Monday after he had had time to consult Solicitor Small. Through counsel, Robert B. Lowry, both defendants gave notice, whatever the court’s sentence, of an appeal, and appeal bond was fixed at $500 each.

In the case of Willie Denby, there was not question in Dr. Newbern’s mind at to his court’s jurisdiction, and this defendant was fined $100 and one-third of the costs, and was required to give bond in sum of $200 for surety that he would not again violate the Turlington Act. Appeal bond in Denby’s case was fixed at $300.

In Sheriff Flora’s opinion, Denby was the most dangerous of the three; and the sheriff sprung a sensation in the court room and had young Robert Lowry, counsel for the defendants, almost speechless with consternation when he made an emphatic statement to this effect from the witness stand.

Denby a Terror

“It is the first time I have ever been able to get anything on him, but it’s only because he has been too smart for me,” declared the sheriff. “I regard him as a dangerous man. I’m not afraid of him, but he has the people where he operates terrorized and they are afraid to inform on him. Things have a way of happening to the property of people he has trouble with. He has openly stated that he is making liquor and going to keep making it, but this is the first time I have evern been able to get anybody who heard him say so on the witness stand.”

The sheriff had got most of the foregoing statement off his chest before the surprised young lawyer could get his voice to say “I object.” He then asked the court to strike out the sheriff’s testimony, but was over-ruled. The lawyer had fully recovered his voice by this time, however, and during the remainder of the sheriff’s testimony there were a number of sharp tilts between lawyer and witness, one of which was so heated as to draw forth a warning from the court.

The witness who testified on the stand, manifestly with some reluctance, that Denby had told him he was running as still, was R. J. Temple. Temple also testified that, on the night of the cussing party, Paul Pruitt said: “Don’t try to put stealing that Ford off on me. I was at the still that night.” Temple was corroborated as to Pruitt’s statement by Mrs. Hughes.

It was nearly 5 o’clock when the court, having taken as usual no recess for lunch, concluded the second case against Pruitt. Denby and Burgess; and it was dark enough for a light when G. C. Waterman of Knotts Island, the only other defendant tried, had been fined $50 and costs for operating an automobile while under the influence of liquor. Waterman was first let off with a fine for $5 for operating his car without lights; but when he noted an appeal the recorder decided to give him something to appeal from. [The newspaper article ended here, leaving us to wonder about the sentence Waterman was given for operating an automobile while under the influence of liquor.]

From the front page of the Daily Advance, Elizabeth City, N.C., Tuesday evening, Sept. 28, 1926

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Willie Creekmore, James Powers Sentenced to Roads for Breaking into Smokehouse, Sept. 28, 1926

Youth Sentenced to Terms on Roads

Camden, Sept. 28—Willie Creekmore and James Powers, youths who pleaded guilty in Superior Court yesterday afternoon to a charge of having broken into the smokehouse of J. Logan Shawyer, prosperous farmer living in South Mills township, and to having stolen a quantity of meat valued at $75, were sentenced to four months in jail each, to be worked on the roads.

Evidence in the case was that Creekmore and Powers took the meat to Norfolk and sold it. Suspecting what had become of it, Mr. Sawyer traced the meat to Norfolk and subsequently procured warrants against the pair.

Ab. Sanderlin, colored, convicted on a charge of reckless driving, was fined $25 and costs and was required to pay a bill of $32 for repairs to another car figuring in the accident which resulted in his arrest.

A divorce was granted one colored couple in an action brought by Joe Simmons against Lovie Simmons, on statutory grounds.

Arguments were concluded in the afternoon in a case in which Willie Harris and ?? Williams, both colored, were charged with having broken into the garage of James Meggs in Belcross, and with having stolen four automobile tires.

Harris was found guilty and was sentenced today to four months on the roads. Williams was acquitted. This case was the last on the criminal docket.

The first civil case tried was an action in which W. S. Berry, Belcross merchant, sued Herman Newbern, prominent Camden County farmer, for $140 alleged to be due on a store account incurred in the operation of a farm jointly by Mr. Newbern and Ike Fisher. Mr. Newbern contended that the bill was incurred by Mr. Fisher, who is said to be out of the State at present.

From the front page of the Daily Advance, Elizabeth City, N.C., Tuesday evening, Sept. 28, 1926

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Police Given Names, Now Looking for Bootleggers, Sept. 28, 1926

Alleged Purveyors of Liquor Sought by City Police

A police campaign against negro bootleggers operating on the outskirts of the city was launched Tuesday morning as the outcome of a hearing in recorder’s court in which Manley Spellman colored, was fined $5 and costs for participation in an allege affray.

James Burnett, also colored, the other participant in the encounter, was let off upon payment of the court costs, it appearing that Spellman had been the aggressor.

Burnett admitted freely that he had become very drunk before the fracas began. Called to the stand under the prohibition statute, he told in response to questioning by Prosecuting Attorney Leroy that he had obtained his liquor from a small store operated by one Murray, having bought two pints from a girl named Sarah, who worked in the store. He testified that he had bought liquor also from Murray himself, about two weeks before.

A colored girl, who also had been arrested on the charge of being drunk, but who was dismissed by Trial Justice Sawyer on the basis of evidence that she had not been out of doors while in that condition, told under threat of jail that she had bought liquor form one Alphonso Small, grandson of “Aunt” Cynthia Smith, who is employed as scrubwoman in many downtown stores and offices.

Thus it was that police went out after court, bent on arresting Murray, the girl Sarah, Small and other bootlegging suspects.

From the front page of the Daily Advance, Elizabeth City, N.C., Tuesday evening, Sept. 28, 1926

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Mrs. E. F. Corbell's Address to Federation Club Members, Sept. 28, 1926

Women of 16th Club District Holding Annual Meeting at Ahoskie Today. . . Large Attendance from All Parts of District as Visitors Glad to Visit This Progressive Town. . . President’s Message. . . Mrs. E. F. Corbell of Sunbury Sums Up in Understanding Manner the Work of Past Year

Ahoskie, Sept. 28—Members of the Woman’s Clubs of the 16th District of the North Carolina Federation turned their faces toward Ahoskie this morning and at 10 o'clock the fifth annual District Meeting was under way.

Attendance was excellent, for many of those coming had long been anxious to visit the progressive town of Ahoskie and were doubly glad of today’s opportunity.

Mrs. E. F. Corbell, District president, of Sunbury, welcomed the honored guests and members of the club in the following message:

“Another year has passed. Have we as club women reached the goal that was set before us?

“When re-elected to office last year I felt that the responsibility was too great, but in serving the district I have served myself. I have gained a deeper and broader knowledge of the work and a finer appreciation of the responsibility of being a club woman.

“The clubs of this district show achievement along all lines, from the planting of a flower to the building of club homes, from sending funds to mine sufferers to equipping school buildings, from raising poultry to putting on a campaign for the eradication of tuberculosis, from working for an election for a high school to raising money for school buildings, from weighing babies and planning their nourishment to making application to the Orthopedic Hospital for a child, from studying modern day literature to sponsoring lyceum courses, from putting on music memory contests to observing National Music Week, and I might mention many other activities of the clubs of this district.

“The clubs I have visited have inspired me with a belief that great things are possible in the Sixteenth District because I find women with vision, zeal, and energy, who are willing to give of their time and of themselves.

“The rural part of the district in Chowan, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Currituck and Hertford counties, is being taken care of by the Home Bureaus. They are developing the American Home Department in a very wonderful manner. In establishing this department, Mrs. Sherman, our General Federation Director’s object was to turn Americans aside from their mad flight of irresponsible pleasure to the lasting satisfaction found in the peace and joy of ideal family life.

“The Home Equipment Survey as ordered by Mrs. Sherman has occupied more than a year of time, has been carried on by various departments, and has awakened and intensified in the hearts of countless men and women a degree of respect for woman’s clubs never known before.

“During the year our membership has increased. Two clubs have been lost, I do not mean lost, but have affiliated with State organizations, Parent-Teachers, and two new clubs have been organized.

“Several clubs have contributed to the Sallie Southall Cotten Loan fund and I hope that every club will make some contribution to the fund the coming year. Loans were granted to 14 girls for the past year and in addition five girls were sent to summer school, making a total of 19 girls receiving aid. It is a source of gratification to know that there are a number of girls who, but for the timely aid given them through this fund, would have been denied the privilege of a college education.

“A study of citizenship in each club was the request of your president, and many clubs have put on these programs. In what way can we better prove our loyalty to our homes than by the use of the ballot? We are being urged by our state president to use the ballot, ‘that it is a sacred trust which must neither be neglected nor abused but which must be used for the glory and advancement of our State.’

“Several copies of the History of the Federation have been sold. I wish that this history might be placed in every club woman’s home. Mrs. Cotten has put into it her best self, her wit and humor, and most of all, her keen sense of fairness, her delightful love and untiring labor of a cause that lies close to her heart, and I call on you to evince your loyalty by placing this book among your treasured ones for your benefit and for those who come after you.

“Now, in closing, I want to say that every club woman with whom I have come in contact has given to her district her loyal service and to me her wholehearted support. This fact has brought me happiness in my work and, my friends, my heart is yours in gratitude, and I beg of you to let your hearts inspire what your hands execute, for no truer words have been spoken than that the hands can never reach higher than the heart. Whatever is yours, put your ideals into it.

“Lofty ideals, hard work, and rigid honesty have never known failure.”

From the front page of the Daily Advance, Elizabeth City, N.C., Tuesday evening, Sept. 28, 1926

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Miss Cox Is Bride of Charles Felton White, Sept. 28, 1926

White-Cox

Miss Marjorie Lucile Cox, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Evan W. Cox of Pasquotank County, and Charles Felton White of Currituck County were married Sunday morning at 10:30 o’clock by the Rev. E. F. Sawyer at his home on Pearl Street. The witnesses were S. E. White of Moyock and Howard Anderson and Mrs. Louise Sawyer, both of Elizabeth City.

From page 2 of the Daily Advance, Elizabeth City, N.C., Tuesday evening, Sept. 28, 1926

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Mr. and Mrs. Dartt Take Group on Hay Ride, Sept. 28, 1926

Hay-Ride Is Enjoyed

A very delightful hay ride was enjoyed Friday evening when a number of the young folks motored to Hertford, Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Dartt chaperoning the party. Among those going were Misses Elizabeth Creecy, Emily Davis, Isabell Munden, Katherine Mann, Virgilia Banks, Lydia Cohoon, Monterey Lomax, Billie Melick, Gertrude Glover, Shirley Fearing and Margaret Connery, Frank Wilson, Jack Perry Randolph Dozlor, Hugh Sawyer, Brent Wright, Tyre Sawyer, Bill Anderson, Horace Wise, Frank Horner, Tom Weeks and Jim Moran.

From page 2 of the Daily Advance, Elizabeth City, N.C., Tuesday evening, Sept. 28, 1926

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