Stacy Gamble, who killed M.C. Spry in Greensboro on May 29, was given a hearing in city court in Greensboro Friday and was ordered held without bond. The following story of the hearing was given by the Greensboro News:
Stacy Gamble, who shot down M.C. Spry on Buchanan street on the afternoon of May 29, pouring five .32 caliber German Mauser bullets into his body so that he died before he reached a hospital, was bound over to Superior court yesterday morning by Judge D.H. Collins in city court and ordered held without bond. The charge is murder.
No testimony was offered by the defense. Gamble did not go on the stand, and his lawyers contented themselves with a close examination of the witnesses offered by the state.
In the main, little testimony was developed beyond the stories told at the time of the shooting. All the witnesses who knew about the situation testified that there had been bad blood between Gamble and Spry and that they had been quarreling for half an hour, off and on, prior to the shooting. The quarrel seemed to be about Spry’s statement that Gamble had “turned him up” for the chain gang in a charge of automobile stealing in Virginia, but none of the witnesses spoke definitely on this point.
James M. Simpson, former health officer who was a bystander within a few feet of the shooting, Roy Spry, brother of the dead man, G.C. Cranford, friend of Roy Spry, and others all said they saw no actual move made by Mac Spry to attack Gamble.
After the quarrels in the street and in the Huffine barber shop, they said, Gamble followed Spry along the sidewalk. Then Spry turned and started walking toward Gamble, his hands at his sides. The two passed each other, Spry looking closely at Gamble and keeping is head turned as he passed. Then, the witnesses said, just after Spry had passed and while his head was still turned toward Gamble, the latter pulled his pistol and pumped five bullets into Spry. The first bullet ploughed through one side of his jaw and out the other. A second tore through his throat and severed the jugular vein; it was this bullet, Dr. W. M. Jones said, which probably killed him.
As Spry fell to the ground his back was toward Gamble, and the last three bullets entered the back. Dr. Jones said any of the bullets, except the one through his jaw, would probably have killed him. The five were fired with great speed.
The only evidence of threats made by Spry against Gamble was a statement heard by Nathan Williams, a negro, who said Spry had a pocket knife in is hand some time before the shooting but put the knife in his pocket with the words to Gamble “I’m not going to use a knife on you or a pistol but I’m going to beat you with my fists,” and again witnesses said that Spry had told Gamble shortly before the shooting, “I’m going to get you either here or in Fayetteville.” Much profanity was used.
E.D. Kuykendall, city solicitor, made much of the fact that Gamble in the barber shop had written down the names of witnesses, calling attention to the fact that Spry was threatening him and pointing out that he himself was unarmed. At this time he had put his pistol in a drawer in the barber shop. Maj. Kuykendall argued that Gamble was deliberately planning the murder and was even at that time arranging his case. On this ground he wanted Gamble held for first degree murder and Judge Collins so held.
No evidence was produced to show Spry had a pistol or had been drinking. A.C. Davis and Sidney Alderman appeared for Spry. Judge W.P. Bynum, also of counsel for the defense, was present part of the time.
From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Saturday, June 10, 1922
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