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Thursday, August 22, 2019

Adolphus Hopkins Shoots HIs Employer, M.L. Walker, Aug. 22, 1919

From Roanoke Rapids Herald, Aug. 22, 1919

Mr. M.L. Walker Shot by A. Hopkins. . . Hopkins Fired Five Times, Three Taking Effect, Two Going Wild. . . Mr. Walker’s Condition Encouraging. . . Hopkins Held Without Bail

Monday at noon about one minute after a quarrel with M.L. Walker, Adolphus Hopkins, a man in Mr. Walker’s employ, let go an oath, stating he was going to get his gun and kill Walker. He went to his room and secured his pistol and went immediately to Walker’s place of business on Second Street, between Hamilton and Roanoke Avenues, where he met Mr. Walker coming out of his door. Hopkins immediately opened fire, emptying his gun, three shots hitting Mr. Walker and two going wild. After emptying his gun, Hopkins walked down the street to the Avenue with the gun in his hand, where he was met by Messrs. Ben Hastings and Collins Fitts, who placed him under arrest and took him to the Mayor’s office where he was given a hearing before Recorder Clark. After examining several eye witnesses, Mr. Clark ordered Hopkins held without bail.

Mr. Walker never fell after being shot, bystanders placed him in an auto and rushed him to the hospital Dr. Long examined the wounded man and found that only one wound appeared to be of a serious nature, that penetrating one of his lungs. Dr. Long stated at the trial that Mr. Walker’s chances of recovery were about fifty-fifty.

Many eye witnesses were dumbfounded by the cold-blooded manner in which the shooting was done, none of whom had ever witnessed such an act before. Much sympathy is felt for Mr. Walker, who came to our town last fall and opened up a tin shop. He attended strictly to his business and was meeting with success. Mr. Hopkins came to our town last November to work for Mr. Walker. So far as we have been able to learn, the quarrel Monday was the first trouble between the men.


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