Last Friday morning about 8 o’clock, Percy Link, age 20, an employee of the Dixie Café in Lincolnton, was found dead in the Edwards woods in the edge of town at a point a short distance off the Lithia Inn road.
Sheriff Abernethy and Chief Fairies were notified and they visited the spot in company with a number of citizens, the news of the finding of the lifeless body having spread rapidly. Coroner Warlick was called, and an inquest held. The coroner’s jury was composed of W.H. Childs, H.A. Jonas, J.L. Thompson, R.J. Sifford, G.L. Heavner, and J.L. Harve. The premises were examined by the jury and coroner and the dead body was also examined by County physician Saine, and Dr. J.R. Gamble, following which the body was removed to the Warlick undertaking establishment where the inquest was continued. The coroner’s jury at 1 o’clock returned this verdict: “We find no evidence of foul play in connection with the death of Percy Lin; that his death was caused by congestion of the lungs.” The witnesses appearing before the coroner’s jury in connection with the death of this young man were C.H. Huffsteller, John A. Caldwell, Summey Bynum and Lee & Lawing, proprietors of the Dixie Café in whose employ Link was engaged.
The evidence of Bynum and Caldwell was that the unfortunate young man was drinking the night before death. He worked at the Café until 7:30 Thursday night and left the café in company with Summey Bynum. Later in the evening about 11 o’clock Link, who had gotten drunker than anticipated, engaged the service car of Huffsteller to carry him to the woods where the police could not get him, and in company with Bynum and Caldwell the driver went to the Edwards woods Inn section and near midnight at Link’s request put Link out of the car and left him in the woods on the side of the road. Caldwell stayed with Link until a late hour, and as he did not recover from his drunken stupor Caldwell left him and went home. Caldwell returned to Link early Friday morning and found him still in what was thought a drunken stupor. That was about 6 o’clock and he was breathing alright, Caldwell related. Caldwell, seeing that Link was in plain view of the public road, called another man who assisted him in moving Link further from the road, into an open field. About 8 o’clock Caldwell returned to the spot with others to look after Link and with intention of moving him in out of the rain and was horrified to find that he was not breathing, and was apparently dead.
Percy Link was a quiet, unassuming young man. Those who knew him best say they had not known of his drinking before and his untimely death brought sorrow to a host of friends and acquaintances. He had been employed at the Dixie Café for about three months, and was formerly with Charlotte Cafes, in which city he had made his home for a number of years.
The untimely death of this splendid young fellow is another terrible tragedy as a result of strong drink, and whether it does nor not, should serve as a warning to others.
Link was a son of Mr. Bob Link, who lives just over the Lincoln county line in Catawba Count, and who was in town Friday, broken hearted and dejected. Mr. Link said he had heard nothing but good reports from the conduct of his son in Lincolnton until his death was reported to him Friday at 9 o’clock. The father and other relatives and friends accompanied the body to the home of the parents Friday afternoon.
The funeral and burial services were conducted last Saturday at Centerview church in Catawba County, by Rev. J.A. Snow, his pastor, and the remains laid to rest in the church cemetery. One of the largest crowds ever attending a funeral at that church was present for the last said rites.
The deceased is survived by his grief stricken parents and four brothers, one of his brothers living in Michigan and did not reach home until Sunday, and two sisters, and a large number of other relatives and friends. He had a large number of friends in Lincolnton who frequented the Café where he was employed, and various patrons of the Café who had made his acquaintance during his short residence here, were impressed with the courteous, gentlemanly bearing of young Link, and with the manner in which he rendered service to Dixie patrons, and they could hardly realize it was he who was the principal in the tragedy.
The sympathy of this community goes out to the sadly bereaved mother, father, and sisters and brothers, all of whom are among our most highly respected citizens.
From the front page of the Lincoln County News, Lincolnton, N.C., Aug. 28, 1922.
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