On Dying Man's Statement Maggie Bell Peay, 17, Released from Jail, June 28, 1926

Negro in Jail Blamed for Daniel Killing. . . Maggie Bell Peay, 17, Released After Jury Finds Accidental Death

A verdict of guilty and one of not guilty were returned by two coroner’s juries impaneled yesterday by Coroner Frank Hovis, to probe two recent deaths in Charlotte in which negroes were accused. After hearing the evidence of two eye-witnesses to the shooting of J.W. Daniel, First Street grocer, Charlie Johnson, alleged slayer, was held responsible for the shooting and subsequent death yesterday by Coroner Hovis’ jury.

Eyewitnesses

George Withers’ and Lynot Davis, negro youths, were the eyewitnesses to the Daneil shooting on the night of June 5. Withers saw the shooting form a short distance, he said, while Davis said he was approaching the scene of the tragedy when the shot was fired.

Both said they knew Charlie Johnson and swore that Johnson was the negro they saw fire one pistol shot into the face of Daniel and run to disappear in the darkness of the street.

Daniel fell face-forward, Withers said, throwing his hand in front of his face as if to break the fall. Daniel’s son, J.W. Daniel Jr., who was with his father when he was attacked, cried, “Somebody’s shot papa,” he added.

Slayer Fled

With the son’s cry, Johnson fled, Withers told the jury. No One pursued him, all attention was paid to the suffering man, it being evident that he was mortally wounded, the negro said.

Not a word was spoken by Johnson or Daniel prior to or after the shooting, Withers said.

Davis went before the jury’s probe and literally corroborated with Withers said. Davis said he saw the negro approach Daniel from an alley beside Kelly’s meat market, which Daniel was leaving when he was shot. Davis is the employe of Kelly’s market.

The Davis case, attracting attention because of its mystery, came to an abrupt end when the coroner’s jury held the shooting accidental.

Doctor a Witness

The testimony of Dr. Edson E. Blackmon, physician to Davis until his death from the bullet which entered the right thigh and came out at the chest, boring through the negro’s body , proved to the jury’s satisfaction the action it took

Dr. Blackmon said Davis confessed before he died that the Peay negress shot him accidentally as he was leaning over a table. The physician was the only witness to go before the jury.

Davis’ story, as told by Dr. Blackman, corroborated the story told police by the accused negress.

Davis’ death several days after the shooting was the first report of the affair to police. The Peay negress was arrested and held, pending the coroner’s inquest. She had admitted to firing the shot, but contended that the pistol went off accidentally.

From page 6 of The Concord Times, June 28, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn91068271/1926-06-28/ed-1/seq-6/

A Very Hungry Roy Morgan, 14, Found in Laurinburg, June 28, 1926

Runaway Youth Found in State

Salisbury Post

Roy Morgan, Gold Hill lad of 14, who ran away from his home last week, has been located in Laurinburg, N.C., and returned here yesterday. His father states that the boy who went away in a Ford truck belonging to his father, had eaten nothing for two days and was delighted to return home. At the time he left, the boy had no money to speak of, the father said, and he was not surprised that he had been forced to go without food for two days.

It was thought at first that the boy had probably gone to Alabama to visit an uncle.

From page 3 of the Concord Times, June 28, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn91068271/1926-06-28/ed-1/seq-3/

Mystery of J. H. Condon's Disappearance Continues, June 28, 1926

Hunt for Lost Man Futile. . . Police Dragnet and Private Inquiry of Distressed Wife Fail to find Trace of J.L. Condon

Charlotte Observer

The search for J.L. Condon, missing Derita road paint shop owner, gone since Wednesday of last week, was unfailing yesterday.

One clue, reported to the city police, failed to bring any results. A man, said to have been somewhat similar to Condon in appearance and of a very nervous temperament, was seen in a neighborhood of lower South Tryon Street.

The address given, however, proved to be spurious. Thought the police were told that the man had stayed at 1410 South Tryon Street, investigation shoed that there was no home at this address.

Search Futile

Welfare officers also aided in the search but found nothing to aid them and they were of the opinion that the man had gone north, possibly to his old home at Rochester, N.Y.

Mrs. Condon, herself worried to the point of exhaustion, not only from the distress of having her husband disappear but also from the financial difficulties now confronting her, she spent almost the entire day in Charlotte, hoping to get some clue that would solve the mystery.

Today, she said, she will remain at her home and try to rest. It may be, she thinks, that she will somehow hear from her husband there.

No Warning

Mr. Condon disappeared without a word of warning on Wednesday of last week. He bade his wife a casual goodbye on leaving her that morning, came to his paint shop on the Dowd road and worked part of the day.

Later, he was seen to go in their old home on Bland street and change his clothes. A friend saw him late that afternoon.

Mrs. Condon fears he may have met with foul play. He had $350 on his person when he left. Mrs. Condon is left penniless in the Derita road home.

From page 2 of the Concord Times, June 28, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn91068271/1926-06-28/ed-1/seq-2/

G.H. Hudnell, 24, Claude Coley, 19, Die in Plane Crash, June 23, 1926

Tar Heel Youths Aviation Martyrs. . . Sons of North Carolina Sent Home to Rest Through Eternity

Norfolk, Va., June 23—Two youthful sons of North Carolina went home last night to rest there through eternity, two more martyrs to the cause of aviation that science might advance.

Adventurers of the air, victims of a crash, George Howard Hudnell, 24, and Claude J. Coley, 19, were en route, the one to the old home at Oriental and the other to Rockwell, the home of his forebearers.

With solemn services, surrounded by chums of childhood days, funeral rites will be said and the bodies, broken by the terrific force of their fall in East Camp Monday, will be laid to rest this afternoon. Two mothers’ hearts ae grieving, two sweethearts are nearly prostrated, and hundreds of friends of the youthful popular here and at home, are sorrowing.

Hudnell died shortly after the crash Monday, but Coley lingered long enough for his mother, Mrs. Sally B. Coley, to come from Charlotte and to reach Norfolk in time to sit a few brief moments beside her only son, to hold his hand, to kiss him tenderly, and to watch death steal over his unconscious form.

It was a long, wearisome race that the mother had with death, and she barely outran the dread spectre, arriving at Protestant Hospital less than an hour before her son died. She is a widow and no other children survive.

Hudnell’s father and mother arrived late Monday night and accompanied the body of their son home. Mrs. Coley took the body of her son home and was accompanied by several of his friends from Norfolk.

Coley, who owned and piloted the plane in which Hudnell was a passenger when it crashed to earth, died from the effects of a punctured lung and did not regain consciousness long enough to give a lucid explanation of the crash. He had said something about his engine going bad, and it is believed that this, with a broken strut, was responsible for the fall.

Coley and Hudnell, both employees of the Virginian-Pilot composing room, were air enthusiasts and started a pleasure trip to Elizabeth City. They had hardly taken off when the crash ended forever their flying activities. Coley had resigned his position as linotype operator to take up and continue in commercial aviation. Hudnell would have completed his apprenticeship as linotype machinist next September.

Disregarded Pleas of Friends

The young men had failed to listen to the entreaties of friends, relatives and sweethearts, and continued their flying activities, undaunted by the crash that only eight days before, on Sunday, June 13th, claimed the lives of Lieut. Harold B. Stiles and Herbert S. Fentress. The earlier accident occurred only a few hundred yards from where the bruised and battered forms of the flying printers were pulled from the wreckage of their plane Monday.

Both ill-fated machines were of the JN or “Jennie” type, old model army training planes. The one piloted by Lieutenant Stiles belonged to the national advisory committee, and the craft owned by Coley had been purchased from a commercial aviator who in turn had purchased it from the government.

From page 2 of the Concord Times, June 28, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn91068271/1926-06-28/ed-1/seq-2/

Mrs. Feiker Hurt in Three-Car Accident, June 26, 1926

Woman Badly Cut in Mix-Up of Autos. . . Mrs. J. Feiker of Raleigh Sustains Bad Cuts When Three Cars Tie Up

Albemarle, N.C., June 26—A very serious accident occurred here this afternoon about 3 o’clock on the Albemarle-Raleigh highway, about four miles east of the city, when a Studebaker coupe, driven by H.L. Tucker of Charlotte ran into a Ford truck of the Albemarle Plumbing Company, and then hitting a Chevrolet coupe driven by J. Feiker of Raleigh.

Mrs. Feiker was the most seriously injured. She was brought to the Talley Brunson hospital, where she was found to be seriously cut about the face. Four stitches were taken in her forehead; four in her right cheek; and she received several minor injuries.

A young boy, who was riding with Luke Cook, the driver of the truck, received several cuts and bruises but he was allowed to go home after receiving medical attention at the hospital.

The accident happened on a sharp curve out from this city. The truck was going east and the Chevrolet coupe following some 150 yards behind both cars, being on their right side of the road. When the Studebaker car driven by Tucker came around the curve, it hit the truck with such a force as to stand it straight up in the road. Feiker, seeing that he was going to hit the two cars, cut to the left and Tucker hit him.

The truck was completely demolished while the Chevrolet was being broken out and the right front wheel torn off. The Studebaker car was turned completely over. Neither Feiker nor Tucker were injured.

Tucker was arrested by Officer Lowder and put under bond for his appearance in recorder’s court here Monday morning, it being charged that some liquor had been thrown from the Tucker car.

From the front page of the Concord Times, June 28, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn91068271/1926-06-28/ed-1/seq-1/

Rev. Blackwelder to Marry Miss Geneva Loanberger, June 28, 1926

Rev. Oscar F. Blackwelder to be Married

Mr. and Mrs. John A. Blackwelder and daughter, Miss Mary Elizabeth Blackwelder, left this morning for Roanoke, Va., to attend the marriage of Rev. Oscar F. Blackwelder to Miss Geneva Loanberger, which will take place at sunrise Tuesday morning.

From page 2 of the Concord Times, June 28, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn91068271/1926-06-28/ed-1/seq-2/

Personal Notes from the Concord Times, June 28, 1926

Personal

Mr. and Mrs. E.N. Brower and son of Rocky Mount arrived Friday night to spend the week-end with Mr. Brower’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. R.A. Brower.

Misses Adele and Mary Pemberton, who are spending some time in Asheville, arrived in Concord Friday evening to spend the week-end with their parents, Dr. and Mrs. W.D. Pemberton.

Mrs. W.R. Harris of Asheville is spending the week-end in Concord with her sister, Mrs. W.D Pemberton, and her brother, R.A. Brower.

Mrs. John F. Yorke of Charlotte is visiting her mother, Mrs. B.F. Rogers, for several days.

Mr. and Mrs. P.G. Sherbondy and son Dick left here Sunday morning for Pennsylvania for a two weeks’ vacation. They are making the trip in their car.

Miss Minnie Williams, court stenographer of Greensboro, is the latest to sign up for the European tour that is to be conducted by the Concord “Y” this summer.

Louis Eisele, one of the sales directors of the Happy Valley Lake Estates, and A. Roy Blackly, assistant sales director, were visitors in Concord Friday.

Miss Virginia Brittingham, who has been the guest of Miss Donnie Smooth, returned Friday night to her home in Norfolk.

Mrs. W.R. Odell and son, William Branson, have returned from Blowing Rock, where they spent several days.

Mrs. C.M. Isenhour has returned to her home after spending the week in Western North Carolina with Mr. Isenhour.

Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Porter returned Friday night from New York, where they attended the North Carolina Pharmaceutical Society. They left this morning for their home in Black Mountain.

A message from the bedside of Mrs. A.C. Wolff of Orlando, Florida, states that her condition is slightly improved.

Mrs. J. Leonard Brown and children, Jennie, John and Rufus, left this morning for Little Switzerland to spend two weeks.

Mr. and Mrs. A.R. Howard, Mrs. A. Jones Yorke and Miss Alice Yorke left Thursday afternoon for New York City. Mrs. Yorke and Miss Yorke will sail for Europe tomorrow on the steamship Orduna and will spend several months touring the continent. They were joined in New ork by Miss Hazel Hunter of Charlotte, who will be their traveling companion.

Mrs. S.A. Wolff and Mrs. J.M. Cook left Friday morning to attend the Blue Ridge Assembly in Blue Ridge. Mr. and Mrs. John Porter left Saturday for Black Mountain to visit Mr. Porter’s brother, Clifford Porter.

Dick Richards is spending the week-end at his home at Liberty Bell, S.C. He will return to Concord next Thursday.

James Wilkinson, Eugene Bruton, Paul Owensby and George Peck ae spending the week-end at Graystone Inn, Roaring Gap.

Misses Bettie and Lena Leslie and Elizabeth Ross will return Tuesday to Concord from their summer home at Montreat. They will go to New York the following day to sail for Europe on the Leviathan July 3rd. They will be accompanied on their European trip by Miss Frances Jarratt.

T.H. Webb is attending the meeting of the North Carolina Cotton Manufacturers Association in Asheville this week.

Mr. and Mrs. Martin L. Cannon and children Jimmie and Frances Ann, of Charlotte, will spend the month of July at Mayview Manor, Blowing Rock.

Morganton News-Herald: Mr. and Mrs. Archie Foil of Concord, who was married in Maxton last week, spent Monday night at the Caldwell Hotel.

Mrs. G.A. Batte is spending several days with relatives in Emporia, Virginia.

Mr. and Mrs. A.R. Howard left Thursday afternoon for New York City, where they will spend several days. Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Cannon and children and Mrs. J.W. Cannon are in Asheville for several days. While there Mr. Cannon is attending sessions of the cotton manufacturers association.

Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Blanks and daughter, Lorraine, left Concord Sunday afternoon for New York. They will spend several days there before sailing for Europe on the steamship Leviathan July 1st. Mr. Blanks is director of the Concord “Y” tour.

Mr. and Mrs. W. Scott Frieze returned Friday night from New York, where they have spent the past week. Mr. Scott has been attending the meeting of the North Carolina Pharmaceutical Society.

J.M. Newton Jr. of Greensboro was a business visitor in Concord Thursday.

Miss Virginia Reed returned to her home in Concord Friday night after having spent a week at Wrightsville Beach, the guest of Mrs. J.F. Hurley of Salisbury.

Captain and Mrs. Charles M. Walton and children of Fort Benning, Ga., will arrive tomorrow to visit Mr. and Mrs. George G. Allen in Kannapolis.

Friends of Dr. and Mrs. W.D. Pemberton will regret to learn that Dr. Pemberton is confined to his home by illness. His condition is much improved today.

E.F. Carter, executive officer of the State Child Welfare Commission of Raleigh is spending the day with J.G. Brown, Cabarrus County Welfare Officer, on business.

C.T. Miles, manager of the Crystal Damp Laundry, returned Thursday from St. Peters Hospital, Charlotte, where he has been undergoing treatment for several weeks.

Editor’s Note: The newspaper had one group leaving New York City on the Leviathan for Europe on July 1 and another group leaving the same port on the same ship on July 3, which is obviously inaccurate. From page 3 of the Concord Times, June 28, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn91068271/1926-06-28/ed-1/seq-3/