Friday, October 16, 2015

One of the Four Men Who Robbed J.D. Covington's Ellerby Store Has Been Captured, 1922

“Man Hunt” from the Rockingham Post-Dispatch, October 19, 1922

On Thursday night of last week the store or commissary of J.D. Covington near Ellerby was entered and a quantity of goods hauled away. It is understood that two Smith boys and a man named John Ward were recognized. At any rate a warrant has been sent to Robeson county for the arrest of Watt Smith, and he was placed under $500 bond for his appearance at Rockingham for trial October 20th. The other two Smith boys, Eugene and Clay, and John Ward were not located.

Tuesday morning word came to Sheriff McDonald that the men were near Long’s store, on the Montgomery county line. Officers went there and finally traced the car to a point in Beaver Dam near Naked creek; the men were located, and upon their refusal to halt were fired upon. They had partially dismantled their car in the woods. The officers brought it to town.

Tuesday night the Sheriff received a message saying that the men had held up Dr. Caddell near Hoffman and had tried to get his car. This, however, later proved to be a mistake. The Sheriff Wednesday morning secured bloodhounds from Raeford, but the dogs could not strike a trail. And so up to today (Thursday) neither of the three had been caught. As to whether they are guilty as charged remains to be seen.

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