Wayne County Mob, Charged with Stabbing, Beheading Man, Conspiring to Lynch, On Trial, Feb. 8, 1921

Wilson, Feb. 7–Will and Howard Bethea, brothers, who a year ago are alleged to have stabbed to death and then severed the head from their victim, will be tried in Superior court here Wednesday, and Solicitor Allsbrook will insist on murder in the first degree.

The alleged Wayne county mob, H.R. Futrelle, C.H. (Red) Langston, C.H. Thompson and Davis Wiggins, charged with conspiracy to lynch, will be heard before Judge Calvert here Tuesday or Wednesday.

In their attempt to seize five negroes who were in custody of the law, Futrelle was badly wounded.

The trial was moved from Goldsboro to Wilson by Judge W.A. Nevins. The witnesses for the state who witnessed the storming of the Wayne courthouse are Judge Oliver H. Allen, Capt. L.D. Giddens, Ross R. Giddens, John D. Langston, H.L. Bizzell and Fred Parker.

The four white men and one negro, who it is alleged conspired to defraud the Imperial Tobacco company out of large sums by reporting fictitious sales, will not be heard at this time, their conspiracy cases being continued to the May term.

After long suffering, Augustus Barnes died at his home in Black Creek this afternoon about 3:30, in the 57th year (87th year?) of his age. He is survived by four children, L.A. Barnes and Mrs. C.L. Perry of this city, Frank Barnes of Goldsboro, and Mrs. B.F. Taylor of Black Creek, and numerous grandchildren.

The deceased was sheriff of Wilson county for six years, from 1874 to 1880, and for many years was postmaster at Black Creek.

He was a valiant Confederate soldier and was wounded in the second day’s fighting at Gettysburg.

From the Greensboro Daily News, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 1921