Drunk Man Kills Chief of Police H. L. Dellinger, Then Commits Suicide, Sept. 30, 1926

Old Man Shoots Policeman Dead, Then Slays Self. . . Dead Chief of Police Son of C.J. Dellinger of Eastwood in Moore County. . . Washington Was Scene

Chief of Police H. L. Dellinger of Washington, N.C., son of Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Dellinger of Eastwood, this county, was instantly killed Saturday by Filmre [Philmore?] Wright, aged white man who a few minutes after the murder turned the revolver on himself and took his own life. Wright is said to have been crazed by liquor.

The slain man was well-known in Moore county and was held in very high esteem.

A dispatch from Washington, telling of the killing, says:

The double tragedy occurred off East Second street and was witnessed by a number of spectators, the majority of them being women and children.

Seldom has Washington ben so stirred up and displayed such intense excitement as the town did when news of the shooting spread like wild fire throughout the community. Automobiles by the hundreds rushed down lateral streets at break-neck speed, converging at the point where the shooting had occurred. A huge crowd was on the scene five minutes after Wright had taken the life of the police chief.

Women and children screamed and cried helplessly. Not being able to see the second tragedy they were under the impression that Wright had shot someone else. Pandemonium reigned for several minutes before police officers and deputy sheriffs arrived and succeeded in quieting the crowds gathered immediately. The streets from the spot where Dellinger had been slain to Mayo’s house were completely blocked, the morbidly curious crowding and shoving in their efforts to get a glimpse of the dead man. An ambulance took the two bodies away.

Drunk for Days

“Wright, according to residents of the neighborhood, had been in an intoxicated condition for several days and had been making himself noisome to the people on East Second Street. This morning shortly after 11 o’clock someone telephoned the police station and asked that an officer be sent to take the man into custody. Chief Dellinger answered the summons himself, driving down East Second street in his car. He saw Wright and stopped the car, cutting off the switch and starting to get out.

“Wright slowly walked across the street and as the officer was stooping to get out of the automobile, the drunken man drew a revolver and fired. The shot took effect in the top of Dellinger’s head and he toppled to the sidewalk. Once again before he fell Wright took deliberate aim and fired.

“And then after Dellinger lay prostrate upon the pavement the murderer fired a third time, the bullet striking the officer in the body.

“Gazing for a moment at the dead man, Wright then turned around and calmly walked down the street, taking an occasional look behind him. He entered the yard of Gilbert Mayo nearby, and went to the back of the house, where he reloaded his pistol. Going up on the porch he pressed the muzzle against his temple and pulled the trigger. He died instantly.

From the front page of the Moore County News, Carthage, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 30, 1926

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Robert Fry, 17, Charged with Criminal Assault, Released on Bail, Sept. 30, 1926

Solicitor Grants Robert Fry Bail. . . Young Pinehurst Man Bound Over to Court on Charge of Criminal Assault

Although denied bail in the Moore county court, Robert Fry, 17-year-old Pinehurst boy, charged with criminal assault upon Miss Ina May Whilhoit, was released Wednesday under a $5,000 bond on the order of Don Phillips, solicitor f this district.

The young chap left Carthage late that afternoon in company with his father, who from the first has declared implicit belief in the innocence of his son. The paternal arm was thrown around the boy, and a joyful countenance betrayed the relief of the father over Robert’s release from the county jail.

The preliminary hearing, which was held before Recorder George H. Humber on Monday and Tuesday, was behind closed doors, everybody being excluded from the court room except witnesses, attorneys and court officials.

Miss Wilhoit, the prosecutrix, charged young Fry assaulted her on the night of Thursday, September 19, while they were in the defendant’s car near the Carthage high school building. Young Fr, when he took the stand, denied the assault.

Attorneys for the defendant made much of the failure of the prosecutrix to report the alleged offense until the following Tuesday. Her defense, it was stated, was that she kept silent from fear of young Fry until her cousin, in whom she had confided, advised her to inform her parents of the incident.

From the front page of the Moore County News, Carthage, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 30, 1926

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Sandy Jackson, 44-Year Employee of Tyson Jones Buggy Company, Dies as Result of Stroke Suffered on Way to Work, Sept. 30, 1926

Veteran Tyson and Jones Employee Dead

Sandy Jackson, a worthy and honorable colored man of this section, passed away last week. He held the rather remarkable record of holding one job for 44 consecutive years. As a boy he went to work for the Tyson Jones Buggy Company and stayed there until a few days ago when he was stricken with paralysis while on his way to work.

By his industry and sobriety, he managed to acquire a neat little home with several acres of land and educate his children. He was a good Christian and an example to his race. He had many good friends among the white people who visited him in his last sickness and attended his funeral.

From the front page of the Moore County News, Carthage, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 30, 1926

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Detective Byers Dies of Injuries in Car Wreck, Sept. 30, 1926

Detective Byers Second Charlotte Officer to Die of Injuries Received in Wreck of the Car at China Grove. . . Detective Chief Orr Also Dead. . . Officers Were Answering “Test Riot” Call from High Point When Car Was Wrecked

Salisbury, Sept. 30 (AP)—Detective John M. Myers of the Charlotte police force, one of the officers injured in the automobile wreck near here Tuesday afternoon when the car in which they we remaking a riot test run to High Point turned over three times, died in a local hospital shortly after 9 o’clock this morning. His remains will be taken to Charlotte.

This is the second death as a result of the accident, Chief of Detectives Orr of Charlotte, dying Wednesday afternoon. Detective H. M. Joyner, also of Charlotte, who sustained a badly injured back, was said this morning to be getting along fairly well.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Record, Sept. 30, 1926

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Head of Detective Bureau Dies As Result of Car Accident, Sept. 30, 1926

Chief Joseph E. Orr Dies of His Injuries. . . Head of Charlotte Detective Bureau Succumbs in Charlotte Hospital

Charlotte, Sept. 29—Joe Eckles Orr, chief of detectives of the Charlotte police force, died this afternoon at a Salisbury hospital. His death was caused by internal injuries received yesterday when a high powered police car answering a “riot call” to High Point in connection with the police convention there, overturned near China Grove.

Little hope was being entertained by hospital attaches at Salisbury late tonight for the recovery of J. M. Bhyers, another Charlotte policeman, who was seriously injured in Tuesday’s tragedy. Byers was reported as being “very low” and his chances for recovery were said to be slim. He has a fractured skull.

H. M. Joyner, the third Charlotte officer injured in the crash, was reported as being “about the same.” Joyner is suffering from an injury to his back. He is not believed to be fatally hurt.

Chief Orr was conscious until the end. He died while hospital attaches were preparing to turn him over on his back to relieve an intense chest pain the chief had complained of sinc the tragedy.

Unfortunate circumstances prevented Mrs. Orr, the widow, from being at the bedside of her husband when he died. She was in Salisbury yesterday morning, but returned about noon when she was informed that Chief Orr was “practically out of danger.”

She was in Charlotte when the death of Chief Orr occurred at 3 p.m., but immediately returned to Salisbury. Other members of Chief Orr’s family were in Charlotte wiehn he died it was said.

The body of the dead chief arrived in Charlotte tonight.

Chief Orr was the son of the late Joe L. Orr, for 40 years a member of the Charlotte police department, and at the time of his death in 1906, its chief.

Editor’s Note: The newspaper headline said he died in a Charlotte hospital, but the article said he was in a Salisbury hospital.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Record, Sept. 30, 1926

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Moore County Bar Praises Alton McIver, Retiring Clerk of Court, Sept. 30, 1926

Tribute Paid to Retiring Clerk of Court McIver. . . He Is Praised. . . Moore County Bar Speaks Highly of His Long Service to the Court. . . Considered Among the Best

A fine tribute was paid Mr. J. Alton McIver, retiring clerk of court, during the closing hours of the August term of Moore County court here Saturday, in a resolution presented by the bar association.

The resolution was adopted unanimously and Judge T. B. Finley, who presided, ordered it spread upon the minutes of the court, where it will be a lasting memorial to the service of Mr. McIver.

The retiring clerk, who relinquishes his office on the first Monday in December, was commended for the efficient manner in which he has kept the records of his office and the deep appreciation of the lawyers for his uniform courtesy was expressed.

The resolution reads, in full, as follows:

The Resolution

“Whereas the term of office of Mr. J. Alton McIvey, clerk of the superior court of Moore county, will expire before the next term of the court and whereas, owing to the condition of his health he has declined to be a candidate for re-election after a conspicuous service of 20 years in office:

Be it resolved by the Moore county bar:

1. That we express our affectionate regard for Mr. McIver, and our regret that the threatened failure of his health makes it apparently necessary for him to relinquish his active work for the present; and we hope for him that the needed rest will speedily restore is strength and prove that the menace has been in fact unreal;

2. That we declare our deep appreciation of the uniform courtesy shown to each of us by Mr. McIver of all time sin our contact with him in the years since he became clerk; and we testify to the efficient manner in which he has kept the records of his office and discharged the duties thereof; and we particularly commend him for his close application to the details of his office work and his long hours at his desk affording to all opportunity for the transaction of business with the court. We doubt if any record in this state has ever approached that of Mr. McIver for actual hours spent in his office.”

From the front page of the Moore County News, Carthage, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 30, 1926

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T.F. Limerick Escapes Union County Road Crew, Sept. 30, 1925

Prisoner Pardons Himself

Raleigh, Sept. 30—Here is one case where the good offices of neither Governor A. W. McLean nor Pardons Commissioner H. Hoyle sink were needed, for in the words of the prisoner’s lawyers, the prisoner “pardoned himself yesterday afternoon and left no address.” So Sink found himself with one less application for parole to hear.

It came about this way: A few days ago the commissioner of pardons received a letter from T. F. Limerick of Monroe, stating that he wished to make application for a parole for is client, one Rubin Johnson, who had been sentenced to 10 years on the Union county roads some four years ago for second degree murder. He stated that Johnson had made a good prisoner, and recited the usual formula incident to the obtaining of a hearing. He was notified by Mr. Sink that he would be given a hearing yesterday. But alas and alack, his services were no longer needed, as aforementioned Rubin had taken to his heels while employed with the chain gang and departed without leaving an address!

So instead of appearing in behalf of his client, Mr. Limerick wired Mr. Sink that “Rubin Johnson has pardoned himself.”

Whether this forecasts the eventual abolition of the office of commissioner of pardons remains to be seen. However, it does inspire te following limerick apropos to the occasion:

There was a bold convict named Rubin

Who said “I think I better be movin’

So he took to his heels,

Disdaining appeals

Leaving Limerick and Sink disillusioned.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Record, Sept. 30, 1926

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