Pages

Friday, May 3, 2019

Daniel Elkinson Found Innocent of Murder, May 1919

From The Daily Times, Wilson, N.C., May 3, 1919

Negro Acquitted of Murder Charge

Rocky Mount, May 2—The jury in the case of Daniel Elkinson, the negro charged with the murder of Charles J. Devine, required about 10 minutes to reach a verdict of not guilty yesterday afternoon. 

Judge Bond began his charge at 2 p.m., and talked to the jury until 3 o’clock. The 12 men then retired and before 3:15 they returned and announced they had found Elkinson not guilty of the crime.

The trial of the Elkinson case began Teusday morning and continued for two days. Messrs. T.T. Thorne and R.G. Allsbrook handled the case for the State and Messrs. John W. Hester of Oxford and Fincy and Vaughan of Nashville were attorneys for the negro.

The defense built up a strong alibi which seems to have proven a success with the jury. A number of witnesses were put on the stand, who testified Elkinson was home on the night of the shooting, and also he was at home on the Sunday night following.

The chief strength of the State’s case was the testimony of Officer C.S. Henry, who was shot by the negro who killed young Devine who positively identified Elkinson as the negro who did the shooting. The tragedy occurred when Officer Henry was attempting to arrest a colored man for carrying a concealed weapon, and young Devine came to his death when he attempted to answer Officer Henry’s appeal to help in effecting the negro’s arrest.

The local department is at a loss to know what procedure to take. Unless by some chance the guilty party comes forward or is discovered, administering justice to the man who killed the young man and shot the officer will seem remote.

Elkinson was arrested by Officer J.O. Dudley after a clever piece of detective work. Officer Dudley’s story was also a strong point in the State’s case. The defense’s alibi was overwhelming, however. The testimony presented by the defense was similar to that heard in the preliminary hearing held here several weeks ago, when probable cause for guilt was found, and the negro was bound over to Nash Superior court.

No comments:

Post a Comment