After Many Attempts, Simon Blount Kills Himself, August 1920

 From the Williamston Enterprise, as reprinted on the front page of The Commonwealth, Scotland, N.C., Aug. 10, 1920

Negro Convict Hangs Himself

Tuesday afternoon about 6 o'clock Simon Blount, a colored prisoner at the camp at Williamston, committed suicide by hanging himself by tying a sheet around his neck and to the joist, then jumping down from the upper bunks in the camp, breaking his neck when he fell. He had about two hours before that time tied some cords to one of the same joists and jumped but did not have room enough to get a good fall and was rescued by attendants before he strangled to death. He was treated by the camp physicians and was thought to be getting along alright and no indications were seen of another attempt to try the thing over again, though all rope and other material that might be used for such purpose were removed and he was only left a few minutes with the attendants when he succeeded in ending his life.

Blount had only been in camp since July 22. He was sent to the penitentiary from Columbus county for a term of from six to 10 years and was taken from Raleigh on July 16. He killed his wife sometime ago, for which crime he was serving. It is said that after he killed his wife he attempted to kill himself by shooting himself in the jaw and mouth and that while in jail he attempted to commit suicide on several occasions.