Drunken Sailors Stole S.M. Griggs' Ford, September 1920

Paul Hume and Sam Rodman, wearing the uniform of the United States navy and declaring that they were stationed at the Naval Operating Base at Hampton Roads, were brought here from Edenton Wednesday and hauled before Judge Calvert in Superior court on a charge of stealing a Ford automobile from S.M. Griggs of Poplar Branch while Mr. Griggs was in this city Tuesday. The two boys admitted ot taking the car, but said that they somewhat under the influence of intoxicants at the time. In response to a question from thejudge, the two stated that they had no money, and Judge Calvert freed them with a severe warning not to repeate the offense. Mr. Griggs left his car at noon in front of McCabe & Grice's store, at the intersection of Main and Poindexter streets, the busiest corner in Elizabeth City. the noon hour, with people on their way to dinner, is probably the weekday hour on which more peop;le are on the streets here than at any other time. Yet when Mr. Griggs returned at 1 o'clock to put some bundles in his car, it was disquietingly absent. A hasty search of the neighborhood failed to bring it to light, and, for the reason that Fords on Tuesday had not yet fallen in price to just a fraction above the market cost of the first rate sardine can, Mr. Griggs was mukch worried by the absence of his car. He notified hte police. In giving a description of his Ford, Mr. Griggs could not remember his license number. A wire was dispatched in haste to the secretary of state J. Bryan Grimes, which brought the desired information later in the afternoon. A telegram from Edenton Tuesday night announced the recovery of the car and the capture of the two sailors. (From The Independent, Elizabeth City, N.C., September 24, 1920.)