Chief Walter B. Orr, of the city police, and a detachment of men were at the Catwaba river Wednesday at noon, searching for two negroes who were reported to have been hiding there and who went into Belmont during the morning to get something to eat. The search was being made upon the possibility that the negroes might be the men wanted for the slaying of George L. Keller, Johnston street grocer, last Saturday night.
At 2 o’clock the officers were still in search of the men. No reports had been received in the city indicating whether they were on their trail, though the lack of news was taken by police on duty in the city to mean that a trail had either been struck or a search was being made along the Catawba.
It was not known here whether descriptions of the two negroes fitted the ones given of the murderers of Keller or not, as officers telephoning during the morning from Belmont merely gave notice of the presence of the negroes.
Detectives D.B. Bradley and Mack Riley spent the morning in Belmont in search of the negroes, in consequence of reports that they had been hiding near the river for two days and had been seen coming into Belmont during the morning.
The detectives telephoned to Charlotte about 11 o’clock that the negroes had been trailed back towards the river, and were headed down the stream.
The white man, Whitey Hudson, and the negro, Kid Kimbell, brought here from Spartanburg, S.C., Monday, are still being held pending continued investigations into the murder of Mr. Keller. Nothing has been learned by the officers thus far, however, which might result in charges being instituted against the two men.
The coroner’s jury will meet again Thursday afternoon to hear other witnesses in the case. The jury held a session Tuesday but postponed a verdict in order to allow additional time for search by the police in the hope that the slayers might be rounded up.
Police in neighboring cities and towns are co-operating with the Charlotte officers in the search for the murderers.
Mayor J.O. Walker received a telegram from Governor Morrison Wednesday requesting a description of the two negroes in order that notice that they are being sought may be issued by the state in connection with a reward which will be offered.
It is thought that the state will offer a reward of $100. The city and county have united in offering a reward of $400, and the state’s offer would bring the total amount to $500.
From The Charlotte News, May 18, 1921
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