Cranford Facing Second Trial for Assault on Henry Wooten, July 31, 1926

Cranford Will be Tried Again Soon, Solicitor States. . . Solicitor Don Phillips Says Former Convict Boss Will Go on Trial in September. . . Assault Charge Ready for Him. . . He Will be Charged in the Stanly Court with Assault on Henry Wooten, Convict

Raleigh, N.C., July 31 (AP)—Nevin C. Cranford, former convict boss of Stanly County, acquitted this week on a double charge of murder, will be placed on trial at the September term of court in Stanly county on a charge of assault upon Henry Wooten, a convict.

This statement was made over long distance today to the Associated Press by Solicitor Don M. Phillips, at Rockingham. Mr. Phillips added that many persons were asking why had Cranford not been tried for other acts of cruelty which were alleged during the trial this week. He answered the question with the declaration that while the alleged attack upon Wooten, which was in 1925, and the murder charges were felonies, the cruelty charges were misdemeanors and were barred by the statute of limitations.

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Came as Surprise

Albemarle, July 31 (AP)—Surprise was expressed by R.L. Brown, one of the defense attorneys in the recent trial of N.C. Cranford when told today that Solicitor Phillips intended to press an assault charge against the former convict boss. Mr. Brown said it was the understanding of defense counsel when Mr. Phillips left Albemarle that the charge of assault with a deadly weapon upon Henry Wooten, negro, would be dropped.

“We will be ready, though,” Mr. Brown declared.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Saturday, July 31, 1926

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Raymond Glenn Shot John Nance for His Attention to Glenn's Wife, July 30, 1926

Sensational Shooting in Sylva Yesterday. . . Jeweler Severely Wounds Man for Alleged Attentions to Wife

Asheville, July 30—John S. Nance, construction engineer, is in the Bryson City hospital in a critical condition as a result of a shooting affair in Sylva early today, and Raymond Glenn, young Sylva jeweler, is lodged in the Jackson county jail.

The affair, which happened while Nance was seated in a car on the Main street of Sylva, is said to have grown out of trouble between the two men as a result of alleged attention paid to Mrs. Glenn, wife of the prisoner, by Nance.

Four bullets took effect, one in the face and three in the lungs, an examination disclosed.

Glenn is said to have approached the car where his enemy was sitting and then to have taken deliberate aim at the engineer with his revolver leveled in both hands.

Mrs. Glenn, who was before her marriage Miss Rebecca Blythe of Brevard, is in Brevard with her two small children. She was taken there a short time ago by her husband after trouble about Nance, it is said. He has instituted divorce proceedings.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Saturday, July 31, 1926

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Youths Say They Had Nothing to Do with Ellis Hollis Death, July 31, 1926

Youths Deny That Hollis Was Slain by Them Saturday. . . Five Boys Held in Connection with Death of Ellis Hollis, Whose Body Was in New River. . . Ready to Take Case to Court. . . If Solicitor Refuses Them Bail, They Will Institute Habeas Corpus Proceedings at Once

Jacksonville, N.C., July 31 (AP)—Five youths held in the Onslow county jail here in connection with the death of Ellis Hollis, 17-year-old farm lad of Holly Ridge, this county, whose body was found in New River last Monday, were awaiting a decision today from Solicitor Powers as to allowing bail.

At a hearing of the coroner’s jury yesterday, two of the seven who had been held for the slaying were released. These were Roy Hudson and Richard Koonce, the latter a Jacksonville negro. Hudson was a member of the party of six in which Hollis was included.

The verdict of the coroner’s body was that Hollis came to his death at the hands of “parties unknown” to the jury, but recommended that Lonnie, Arthur and Jady Howard, brothers, and Leon and Leonard Edens be held for further questioning. The Edens are also brothers.

Solicitor Powers, who directed the hearings yesterday, advised the youths today whether he will oppose fixing bonds. Counsel for the boys indicated that if he did not, they would institute habeas corpus proceedings.

The body of Hollis was found in New River Monday by Dr. J.H. Rawlings of Lynchburg, physician who was fishing there. Dr. Rawlings testified to the coroner’s jury yesterday that the boy’s throat was cut and that the jugular vein had been stabbed. He expressed the belief that the boy had been killed and the thrown into the river.

The six boys left their home Saturday to attend a country picnic. They were later alleged to have become intoxicated and to have separated. Companions of Hollis say they know nothing more of his actions after leaving them until his body was found.

Editor’s Note: A non-lawyer’s understanding of this habeas corpus would be a legal action demanding that authorities justify holding someone in custody. It’s a protection against unlawful imprisonment. When someone files a habeas corpus petition, they are saying: “Bring the detained person before a judge and show legal cause for holding them.”

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Saturday, July 31, 1926

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Solicitor Refuses to Fix Bonds for Suspected Killers of Ellis Hollis, July 31, 1926

Does Not Agree to Bond

Jacksonville, N.C., July 31 (AP)—Solicitor J.A. Powers, who yesterday directed the coroner’s jury probe into the death of Ellis Hollis, Hilly Ridge youth, was this afternoon en route to his home at Kinston after refusing to agree to fixing bonds for the five youths ordered held yesterday.

Coroner G.W. Jones this morning announced that additional evidence had been secured during the night and that the investigation would probably be opened next week.

Attorneys for the boys held in jail stated today that unless an agreement is reached early next week for bonds, they would seek to release the defendants under habeas corpus proceedings.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Saturday, July 31, 1926

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Newspaper Takes Hard Look at Acquittal of Former Convict Boss, July 31, 1926

Cranford Is Acquitted

There was no element of surprise in the acquittal of Nevin C. Cranford, former convict boss in Stanly county. Charged with murder in connection with the deaths of two former prisoners under him, Cranford offered a defense that promised freedom for him from the beginning. In the first place the prisoners who died were negroes, a fact that worked in Cranford’s favor. And in the second place the State had of necessity to rely for the most part on former prisoners for their testimony. That fact undoubtedly was taken into consideration by the jurors, counsel for the defense in arguments making much of the fact that these witnesses might be expected to “have it in for” their former overseer.

Already we have heard several people say Cranford should be given his job back to prove that his system was right. That system is one that admits the use of the lash, although it is maintained that cruelty was not characteristic of the treatment. Cranford has no business overseeing prisoners, regardless of the fact that he was freed. While the jurors were convinced that he did not murder the two negroes, they must have been convinced that he was cruel on more than one occasion. Chain gangs are not maintained as pleasure resorts, to be sure, but neither are they maintained for torture.

Editorial in the Concord Daily Tribune, Saturday, July 31, 1926

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Thousands of N.C. Farm Families at 24th Annual Farmers' Convention, July 31, 1926

Farmers Favor 8-Months School Term. . . Also Want the Short Ballot and Equality in Taxes

Raleigh, July 30—Thousands of farmers and their wives and members of their families are back at home today talking of what they saw and heard at the 24th annual farmer’s convention which closed Thursday afternoon at State College here, after they had formally gone on record as favoring an eight months school term and had endorsed the principal of co-operative marketing, as well as favoring the short form ballot, as well as equality in taxes, public health and education. At the same session at which the resolutions were adopted, a constitution and by-laws were formally adopted, making the convention a permanent organization.

C.F. Cates of Mebane, Alamance county, was elected president; T.D. Bagley of Moyock, Currituck count, was elected first vice president; James C.K. McClure of Asheville, second vice president; and James M. Gray of State College, secretary. Thus virtually all sections of the state are represented in the personnel of the new officers.

In the women’s organization, Mrs. J.S. Turner of Rockingham count was elected president of the State Federation of Home Demonstration Clubs; Mrs. R.R. McCullen of Sampson county was elected vice president; Miss Belba Bennett of Beaufort county was named treasurer; and Mrs. Cornelia C. Morris of State College was elected treasurer. The attendance cup, offered for the largest attendance on the basis of the most miles travelled, was won by the Hyde county delegation with 122 farmers present. Forsyth county was section with 145 farmers present.

The winners in the run-off hog calling contents, in which 71 were entered, 54 actually calling, were first, J.C. Nicols, Durham county, who won the prize of $25 for his vocal prowess in enticing swine. Second prize of $15 was won by J.H. Sprinkle, Forsyth, and third prize of $10 was won by H.G. Bundy of Pasquotank. Those who heard and witnessed the contest say that never before have such a variety of “come hither” yodels reverberated across the State College campus as during this vocal and facial contest.

From page 3 of the Concord Daily Tribune, Saturday, July 31, 1926

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Gov. McLean Says Coverage of Cranford Case Has Damaged State's Reputation, July 31, 1926

Governor Discusses Cranford Case

Raleigh, July 31 (AP)—Governor McLean deplores as “one of the most unfortunate results” of the Cranford trial “the effort made by a few people in the state and by some newspapers outside of the state to create the impression that the charges made by the convicts as to wholesale killings by Cranford were not only true but typical of general conditions prevailing throughout the state under a system fostered by the state itself.”

Serious damage has been done the reputation of the state by these efforts, declared McLean.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Saturday, July 31, 1926

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