Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Odom Murdered, Leave 3-Year-Old, 1 1/2-Year-Old Behind, May 21, 1926

An Awful Crime Committed

One of the most horrible crimes that has ever been committed in Warren County occurred near Arcola Sunday afternoon when William L. Ross, a white man of Hollister nearby, went to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Odom and shot them both to death. Ross then went to the home of Mr. Lewis Capps at Arcola and asked him to ride down the road with him. After getting a short distance he told Mr. Capps what he had done and asked Mr. Capps to take him to Warrenton, where he could surrender himself to the sheriff. This was done, but soon thereafter, the sheriff rushed Ross to the State’s prison, at Raleigh, to avoid a possibility of any trouble by the citizens of the outraged community in which the crime had been committed.

Ross returned to Warrenton Monday afternoon and was given a preliminary hearing before Justice John W. Allen Tuesday at noon. Mr. Allen sent the cases on to Superior court then in session and later on the case was set for trial yesterday (Thursday). The State is represented by Solicitor Parker, Williams and Banzet, Frank H. Gibbs and Stanley Winborne, while Ross has for his counsel Mr. Harold D. Cooley.

The facts in the case, as related, are about as follows:

The incident that led to the shooting was the fact that a sister of Mrs. Odom, whom Ross and his wife had adopted, had fled to the Odom’s residence because Ross had mistreated her.

It is reported that Ross went to the Odom home Sunday and tried to persuade the girl to return to his home, which she refused to do. He then drew his chair by Mr. Odom, who was sitting by the fireplace, and began talking of matters in general, and without a moment’s notice took his pistol from his pocket and shot Odom through the head, then turned the pistol on Mrs. Odom, shooting her in the face, a second shot taking effect in her throat. He then turned his pistol on the girl as she ran through the door, but she escaped to the home of her cousin, J.D. Odom. As she ran out a shot was fired at her but missed its mark.

Mrs. J.D. Odom ran over and found Sidney Odom sitting upright in a chair, his hands in his pockets and his cap on his knee, showing he had not made a struggle.

The body of Mrs. Odom was lying in a pool of her own blood, and her 18-months-old baby was sitting by its mother, its clothes stained with his mother’s blood.

Hundreds of people visited the scene yesterday. The funerals were held from the Methodist church of Arcola this afternoon and the interment was in the adjoining cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Odom leave two small children, one 18 months old, and another 3 years old.

From page 5 of the Norlina Headlight, May 21, 1926

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Klan Will Not Interfere With Debate, Will Simply Place 500 Klansmen at Debate, May 30, 1926

Klansmen Will Not Interfere in This Meet. . . Announce They Will Not Attempt to Break Up Debate at Charlotte

Charlotte, May 29—Mayor D.M. Abernethy early today wired Harry F. Ward of New York, chairman of the American Civil Liberty Union advising that the scheduled debate between representatives of the American Association for the Advancement of Atheism and the Anti-Evolution League next Monday and Tuesday night will take place outside this city, and therefore not within our “police jurisdiction.”

The telegram was in reply to one received from Mr. Ward saying “we are advised the Ku Klux Klan in your city have publicly threatened to prevent” the debate and urging proper protection be afforded” so that the constitutional rights of free speech and assemblance are maintained.”

Resolutions were adopted and made public by the local K.K.K. shortly after Dr. T.T. Martin of the anti-evolution league issued his challenge. The resolution put the klan on record as opposing any debate in which an atheist was to participate. Later a new story was published crediting an official of the klan would see to it no atheist should make a public address here, but this statement was later repudiated by an official of the klan.

The Charlotte Observer will say tomorrow that it was advised tonight by two officials of the klan that the organization stand ready to place 500 men at Lakewood Park on the occasion of the debate to see that order is maintained and that the speakers suffer no interference. Lakewood Park is just outside the city limits, it was explained.

The Observer will say that while the klan is on record as opposing the debate, it is ready to take action to maintain the constitutional right of free speech.

From the front page of The Goldsboro News, Sunday morning, May 30, 1926

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Mrs. Frank Morton Held on Manslaughter Charge After Striking 6-Year-Old With Her Car, May 30, 1926

Woman Bound Over for Manslaughter

Greensboro, May 29—Mrs. Frank Morton of this city was given a hearing in Municipal Court here today on a charge of manslaughter, as a result of striking 6-year-old William Hattaway, the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Hattaway, of this city, with her automobile. She was bound over to Guilford Superior Court. She was not required to give bond.

From page 5 of The Goldsboro News, Sunday morning, May 30, 1926

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Boney Harrell Dies in Hit-and-Run Accident, May 30, 1926

White Man Run Down by Unknown Negroes in Auto. . . Tragedy Occurred Two Miles on Highway No. 40—Driver of the Car Escapes After the Accident

According to information received by The News at an early hour this morning, one Boney Harrell, white man, was run down by a Ford touring car driven by one of four unknown negroes, occupants, and instantly killed.

The tragedy occurred on Highway No. 40, two miles from Wilmington.

The details of the affair were meagre, but it was stated by the informant that the driver of the car was heard by a white man to say, “Take the car—I’m gone,” and “sold out” for parts unknown.

Police of nearby towns have been notified to be on the lookout for the negro and an arrest is expected soon.

From the front page of The Goldsboro News, Sunday morning, May 30, 1926

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Greensboro Woman to Face Jury After Marriage Scam, May 30, 1926

Woman Wanted for Frauding. . . And It is Alleged That She Used the Mails to Do the Job

Greensboro, May 29—After capias for her arrest had been returned not executed, this for the second time, it is learned that Maude Jackson, alias Mamie Wilson, alias Maude Wilcie, wanted on charges of defrauding gullible males, matrimonially inclined, is probably in Danville, Va., and it is expected that she will be brought here to explain to a federal court and jury why she promised to marry four but failed to marry even one.

The woman, under indictment in Federal District court here on charge of using the mails to defraud, is said to have advertised in magazines carrying matrimonial ads, and when she received replies would inform her correspondents that if they would pay her way to a certain place, she would marry them.

M. Morris, of Center, O.; James de Palma of New York City; J.W. Dodson of Winfield, Ala.; and Grover C. Montgomery of Kayce, Wyo., are four named in the documents in the office of the clerk of court as having been victimized by the woman. She would receive money for railroad fare from these trusting males, and that would be the last of it, is the allegation. She is said to have operated from Thomasville, Ga., and railroad fare was a sizeable sum in some cases, especially from there to Wyoming.

Capias was issued for her, and she could not be found, and capias returned not executed. Again it was issued, and while she was not placed under arrest, a deputy marshal thinking that she is in Danville, Va. Her case is scheduled for the June term in United States District Court here, beginning the first Monday.

From page 10 of The Goldsboro News, Sunday morning, May 30, 1926

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Kinston Woman Just Couldn't Shoot Man, Not Arrested, May 30, 1926

Kinston Man Is Elusive Target as Woman Shoots

Kinston, May 29—A wild woman shot five times at a man during a row on the outskirts of Kinston on a recent night, and though the target was only two or three feet from her, failed to score a hit. Authorities apparently failed to get a report on the incident, and persons acquainted with the facts took pain to conceal names and motives.

The first shot whirled harmlessly past the man. The second and third passed near enough to make him jump in his tracks. He was afraid to run. The fourth missed him by several feet. Then the angry woman clenched her teeth and grasped her pistol with both hands. She drew a bead and banged away. The bullet struck something seven feet to one side of the man.

Then the gunwoman collapsed in a fit of hysteria.

From page 3 of The Goldsboro News, Sunday morning, May 30, 1926

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Commencement at Mount Olive High School, May 29, 1926

Commencement at Mount Olive. . . Graduating Exercises at High School Were a Success

Mount Olive, May 29—Thursday night marked the class exercises of the annual commencement exercises of the graduating class. Ben Thigpen, president of the class of 1926, and Ernestine Flowers, secretary of the class, were in charge of the program which was decidedly superior to any presented in the high school in the past several years, according to the opinion of many.

First on the evening’s program was the address of welcome to the audience by Ben Thigpen president of the class. Julia Grimes presented the class history, which gave everyone a backward glance at the four year high school career of the class of ’26. The class poem was written and read by Marie Lewis.

The Class Grumbler was read by Mollie Mae Britt. This entertained the audience very much, showing how many people of this world always look on the dark side of life. Roslyn Southerland, the winner of the essay medal, read her essay on “The Cherokee Indians in North Carolina.”

Lillian Summerlin, the class prophet, read the prophecy, which gave us a look into the future of each member of the class.

The class will was read by Walter Cherry, the draughtsman of the will. Mixed with the humor was enough of the serious to make the feature very interesting.

Julia Marr, the giftorian, furnishes the audiences with numbers of good laughs, when gifts were presented to the various members of the class. Many humorous, most of them appropriate, with personal touches for each, the gifts proved a delightful feature. The giftorian presented Mr. J.O. Bowman with a check for $85 from the Senior class to be used for the stage curtain. Last she presented Miss Goff, the Senior class teacher, with a beautiful wrist watch, as a parting gift from the class.

Written by Roselyn Southerland, the class song was the next song, and the Seniors filed from the platform to mingle with the audience, and figuratively, with the world.

From page 6 of The Goldsboro News, Sunday morning, May 30, 1926

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