Richard Rising Held for Murder of J.W. Bell, April 1, 1926

Wilmington Man Is Held for Murder. . . Richard Rising, Sheet Metal Worker, Placed Under Arrest Yesterday on Charge of Having Fired the Shot Which Ended the life of J.W. Bell, Whiskey Still Raider—Arrest Causes Sensation

Wilmington, April 1—Richard Rising, a sheet metal worker, was today in the New Hanover County Jail held for the death of J.W. Bell, whiskey still raider who died yesterday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock at the James Walker Memorial Hospital from wounds received when he was shot Monday afternoon in a savannah south of Oleander and Audubon.

Rising was placed under arrest yesterday afternoon following clues which Sheriff Jackson deputies and police officers obtained. He is said to have made a partial confession but authorities would not divulge the information which they have. They were today in search of other witnesses in the case but it was said that they already have sufficient evidence if they are not successful in securing any additional.

The Results

Sheriff Jackson today expressed satisfaction with the results obtained in what has been one of the most gruesome slayings in the history of New Hanover County law enforcement. The trails which were followed were described as at “first very dim.” But the trails led on and became warmer as the sheriff and his assistants tightly bound the net around Rising and his activities immediately before and after the shooting of Bell.

Rising is said to have admitted ownership of a still which was found nearby and which the authorities took in charge yesterday afternoon.

Coroner Asa Allen has selected a jury and the body was observed by this jury today. The jury was to convene this afternoon at 3 o’clock for the purpose of hearing a report of the autopsy by Dr. Elliott, assistant county health officer.

The Autopsy

Although nothing official as given out to the effect, it was generally believed that the evidence of Dr. Elliott would be all which would be heard this afternoon. The jury was expected to convene again tomorrow morning. Funeral services for the deceased raider will be held this afternoon at 3 o’clock from the Bell home at Fourth and Castle streets. Interment will be made in the old burial ground at Wrightsville sound.

Bell was shot some time Monday afternoon when he was entering a savannah in which he believed to be a whiskey still. He was almost face to face with the person who shot him, and the two were believed to have been within 15 feet of one another at the time. Gunwadding was found in the wounded man’s mouth and number six gun shot pierced his face and head two of these having been taken from a section of his head near the brain. Both eyes were shot out.

Laid in Blood

Bell was laid at this point in his own blood from that time until about 3 o’clock the following Tuesday, afternoon, when Sheriff Jackson and his party, with the assistance of a youth named John Reeves, found him. Bell was then unconscious and remained so until his death. He was said never to have spoken an audible word from the time he was recovered util his death at the hospital yesterday.

It was described as one of the most horrible attacks ever to occur in this county or section, and the authorities exerted every effort and every energy in attempt to take into custody the person guilty of the shooting. Sheriff Jackson and his deputies have spent practically every hour in an effort to locate Bell and upon finding him, turning their efforts to perfect an arrest. They were given the assistance of the police plainclothes squad.

The shooting, death and subsequent activities of the sheriff’s forces have created perhaps more interest in the city than any other case in New Hanover County enforcement annals with the possible exception of the shooting of officers Lilly and George some months ago. The latter two officers were killed in much the same way as was Bell.

Rising, who is now held in the county jail, is a sheet metal worker by trade, although the authorities say that he has not engaged in his occupation recently. He was said to be well known in the southern section of the city.

From the front page of the Goldsboro News, Friday morning, April 2, 1926

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Trial of John Gray for Killing, Dismembering, Burning Corpse of "Dad" Watkins, April 2, 1926

John Gray Is Placed on Trial for His Life. . . Testimony Regarding His Admission of Killing “Dad” Watkins Is Heard

Albemarle, April 1—John Gray, one of the four alleged murderers of “Dad” Watkins on the night of October 30, was placed in trial for his life in Superior court here this morning. It will be remembered that on the night of October 31 the mutilated and charred body of a man was found in a burning barn about a mile north of Albemarle, that later John Gray confessed to the murder, implicating his brother, Theodore Gray, Mack Lawrence and Carl Sweat. Gray’s confession was made before J.A. Little, clerk of the Superior court.

Most of the day was taken up with the selection of a jury, only three or four witnesses having testified this afternoon after the jury had been selected. Clerk of Court Little testified regarding John Gray’s confession, reading two separate statements made by Gray. One of these statements was to the effect that on Friday night, October 30, Carl Sweat called him over to Sweat’s home; that “Dad” Watkins was there; that Carl struck “Dad” with a hatchet and killed him, after which Sweat took a saw and a knife and cut off both arms, legs and the head and that these members were packed in a sack and thrown into a closet in Sweat’s house; Sweat forced John Gray to assist him to carry the body to the old barn, according to the testimony, and the next night, October 31, both he, John Gray and Carl Sweat went to the old barn and that Sweat set fire to the straw.

In that statement nothing was said about what finally became of the legs, arms and head left in the closet at Carl Sweat’s house.

The other statement of John Gray, read by Mr. Little, was somewhat contradictory to the first. In that statement John Gray stated in substance that on Friday night, October 20, he and Mack Lawrence were passing the old barn that was burned the following night, and that as they were passing, they heard someone laughing and talking in the barn; that they stopped their car and went in a found “Dad” Watkins there alone and that “Dad” was drunk; that Mack Lawrence struck “Dad” and he fell over and that he, Gray, said, “You have killed ‘Dad’, “ whereupon Lawrence said “We haven’t half killed him yet.” Gray then struck “Dad” several times with a stick. Then they, according to the statement, cut off Watkins legs, head and arms and buried the members in a rock heap nearby, leaving the body in the barn.

The next night they burned the barn and some time later, he, John, went to the rock heap, got the head and legs and carried them to the basement of the Wiscassett school where his brother, Theodore, was janitor and burned them in the school furnace. He said he threw the members in the furnace and stirred up the coals. He then called his brother, Theodore, who was upstairs in the school building, and he came down and saw what had been done.

County Coroner Finch Morgan, who held an inquest over the body after it had been taken from the ashes of the burned barn, testified as to the condition of the body, as did Policeman Henry Troutman, who saw the body at the undertaker’s funeral parlor. John Gray is represented by Attorney W.L. Mann, Mr. Mann having been appointed by the court under the statute. It is expected that the case will take up most or all of tomorrow’s session of court.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, April 2, 1926

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Fred Allen, Shot Will Stealing Watermelon, Gets 6 Months in Jail, April 2, 1926

Gets Six Months Jail Term for Stealing a Watermelon

Danville, April 1—Fred Allen, who last August 26 was shot and wounded by A.W. Burnett, Caswell County farmer, while in the alleged act of stealing a watermelon, was sentenced to 6 months in jail. The man who shot him was fined $25 and was told by the court that the next time he loaded his gun for such a purpose to use peas. Allen denied that he stole the watermelon but insisted he bought it from a negro and was seated with friends at the roadside eating it. Burnett claimed he caught Allen in the act and shot to frighten him but sent part of the load of shots into his body.

From page 2 of The Goldsboro News, Friday morning, April 2, 1926

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State Rests in Murder Case Against John Gray, April 2, 1926

State Rests in Case Against Gray

Albemarle, N.C., April 2 (AP)—The state rested its case today against John Gray, alleged slayer of “Dad” Watkins, aged man, whose charred body was found in the debris of a burned barn recently.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, April 2, 1926

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Murder Case Against N.C. Cranford "Closed Issue" in Stanly County, April 2, 1926

Cranford Case Seems Closed for the Present. . . Not Believed It Will Come Up Again at Present Term of Stanly Court

Albemarle, April 2 (AP)—Attorneys for both sides today considered the case of N.C. Cranford, charged with first degree murder in connection with the deaths of two negro convicts in 1918 while he was Standly county convict superintendent, as a closed issue for the present term of Superior Court.

Motions to quash and another to transfer the trial to another county are still before the court.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, April 2, 1926

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While J.W. Bryson Moved Away from Macon County in 1899, He Still Enjoys Reading Hometown Newspaper, April 2, 1926

Letter from J.W. Bryson

Dear Mr. Harris:

Many thanks for starting my Press. I have felt lost without seeing my home town paper. Just at the time my subscription expired many activities were in process, consequently, am far behind as to present activities.

I can’t help but feel that Western North Carolina is coming into its own. Franklin and Macon County has many natural advantages aside from the wonderful streams and lofty mountains. While I have been away from Macon since 1899, I make it a point to get back at least once a year to see the family and friends as well as get a breath of good fresh air.

Should my subscription expire without my personal renewal, you might call on any of the following, who I believe would trust me to the extent of one-fifty:

John Trotter, Fred Higdon, Will Franks, Tom Angel, Will Higdon and a dozen others I could name. I started to say John Moore, but I don’t guess he would care to take any chances.

Will see you this summer and perhaps go fishing.

Yours truly,

J.W. Bryson

From the front page of The Franklin Press, Friday, April 2, 1926

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Arrendale Encouraging Farmers to Sell Veal Calves, April 2, 1926

Ship Veal Calves

County Agent Arrendale is asking for freight rates on veal calves and lambs to several cities of the Southeast. He realizes that there will be a good number of veals for sale within the next few weeks. He also believes that there will be a good number that will be sold as year-olds that would bring the farmer more money if sold as veals with a great saving of feed and trouble.

This is no new plan. Veals were shipped in car loads from Clay and Cherokee two years ago.

If interested, write County Agent Arrendale the age and estimated weight of the calves that you will want to sell. If enough are interested he will notify you of the date of the loading.

From page 3 of The Franklin Press, Friday, April 2, 1926

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