Smith Sufferes Fractured Skull But HIs Daughter and Her Married Boyfriend Are in Jail, Feb. 9, 1921

Reidsville, Feb. 8—Elder J.H. Smith, a Primitive Baptist from near Martinsville, Va., was assaulted and robbed a short distance north of town by two negroes Saturday afternoon. Mr. Smith was on his way to Reidsville to locate his runaway daughter and had spent the night at the home of John Lovelace near town. He was overtaken by two negroes and was struck on the head with a heavy stick and knocked unconscious. He was robbed of what money he had, about $3.

The injured man was found lying in the road a short while later by parties passing in an automobile and brought to town. He was taken to a local physician’s office where his head was dressed. His skull was cracked as a result of the heavy blow.

After regaining consciousness, Elder Smith told of the assault and described one of the assailants as a slim black man wearing a striped cap and a red sweater. However, no trace of the robbers has been found.

Mr. Smith was removed to a Martinsville hospital Saturday afternoon and latest reports are that he stands a good chance of recovering.

As stated Mr. Smith came to Reidsville looking for his daughter, Mary Edwards, a widow with three children, who had eloped with a young married man of Mt. Airy, and were living together as man and wife on Burton street in Reidsville. They had been working in the Edna Cotton Mills. Chief Jackson arrested the couple Sunday and put them in the town jail. The man was charged with white slavery and the couple was turned over to Federal Deputy Roane and taken to Greensboro where they will stand trial for white slavery.

From the Winston-Salem Journal, Feb. 9, 1921