Jack McClure Draws Knife When Upperclassmen Attempt to Haze Him, March 1, 1921

Trinity College, Durham, March 1—E.C. Brooks Jr., a member of the sophomore class at Trinity college is in Watts hospital here suffering from a knife thrust in the chest inflicted by Jack McClure of Canton, a member of the freshman class. Doctors declare that the wound itself is not serious and that recovery should be rapid if no complications develop. The chest cavity was slightly pierced by the knife.

Sunday night about 11:30, according to the story told by McClure to college authorities, four or five members of the sophomore class entered McClure’s room and told them they had come after him. McClure told college authorities that he rose from his bed, turned on the light, and then took a seat on the side of the bed. According to his story Brooks advanced and took hold of his right arm. It was then, he says that he pulled the knife from under his bed clothes and made a side stroke at Brooks. The blade entered the chest, slightly piercing the cavity.

From other sources the college authorities have been told that the blow was delivered with McClure was still in is bed as Brooks bent over as if to take hold of him.

A follow-up to the affair came yesterday afternoon when John Small Jr., a member of the law school, went to McClure’s room, it is said, to tell the latter what he thought of last night’s affair. McClure states that Small cursed him, and that when this happened he struck him in the face. The skin on Small’s right cheek was broken and McClure’s hand bruised to such an extent by the blow that he required the attention of a doctor.

This affair is the first indication that there has been any hazing at the college since Christmas, and students declare that the college has been exceedingly free from this practice since the sophomore class a short time after the opening of the fall term met and voluntarily drew up regulations condemning hazing, the members pledging themselves to refrain from it. College authorities are carefully investigating the affair.

From the Hickory Daily Record, Tuesday evening, March 1, 1921