Frank M. Bond, a prominent fisherman, and Harry Smith, an electrical supply dealer, both of Edenton, are under bonds in the sum of $2,500 each for appearance at the next term of Superior Court in Chowan County, charged with criminal assault with attempt to commit rape. The particulars of the case which were partially aired in the Recorder’s Court in Edenton Saturday afternoon have shocked the town of Edenton and surrounding country and given stolid respectability of glimpse of the backside of Main Street in a country town. Frank M. Bond has always been considered one of the most successful, most prominent and most influential young business men in the town of Edenton. Harry Smith, not so well known as Mr. Bond, has also been regarded as one of the town’s most promising young business men. But here’s what happened, according to the records of the Recorder’s Court.
In an isolated warehouse owned by F.M. Bond on the Edenton waterfront, at midnight, Arthur Edwards, a 17-year-old youth was doped or made drunk; Edwards’ 17-year-old wife and a 16-year-old girl companion named Viola White were given strong drink and the men attempted criminal assault upon both women.
The story told by the young woman was an eye opener for the town of Edenton. They related that on Thursday night, Oct. 19, they were on the Edenton Fair grounds playing for dolls at one of the baby racks when Messrs. Bond and Smith came along and offered to take them home.
Young Edwards, his wife and Viola White are employes of the Edenton Cotton Mills and not accustomed to traveling in fast company. They knew Frank Bond and Harry Smith only as young men of an upper social strata and probably considered themselves highly honored by being offered an automobile ride in such company.
But, according to the plaintiffs’ story told in court, instead of taking them home, the two young men took them to the fish house down on the water and invited them to come in and have a drink. They said they protested, but were assured that it was perfectly alright and that independent society women of the town had done as much. Young Edwards, his wife Mary and the girl Viola White entered the fish house and were taken into a small room used as an office. Three jugs were produced. From one of these young Edwards was given about two-thirds of a glass of white liquor. The two girls were given a drink from another jug. In a few moments the Edwards boy was unconscious, and the women were feeling the effects of their drink.
At this stage the women were told to follow the men into an upper room where they would be shown “something pretty.” They climbed a ladder by the light of a lantern and found themselves in a furnished bedroom. Instead of being shown “something pretty” they were subjected to improper proposals.
Mrs. Edwards says she got out of the room and descended the ladder with the other girl. When they reached the lower floor the light went out. Bond put his arms around her and otherwise tried to violate her person, while Smith seized the White girl. Mrs. Edwards testified that she repulsed Bond and refused to submit to him, and he released her. From the darkness in the end of the house she heard a cry from the White girl and going to her found her on the floor in the embrace of Smith. She says she kicked Smith off the girl, dragged her out of the place, dragged her husband out of the place and somehow managed to get them home at 3 o’clock in the morning.
The prosecutrix testified that she called of the police and that a third party appeared who claimed to be a policeman offered her no assistance, but attacked her husband.
Friends of the defendants in the case are trying to make light of the whole matter and say that Edwards, his wife and their girl friend went to the fish house of their own free will and accord and all drank of their own free will and accord. But that doesn’t explain why two prominent young men of good families with wives of their own, should raid a cotton factory settlement for young female companions for a midnight orgy. And it hardly explains a bed room over a fish house, tho Mr. Bond explains that by saying that it isn’t a bed room at all, but some furniture left in the attic by a Mr. J.K. Rea, a former resident of the place. A surgical examination of Viola White disclosed no bruises, no lacerations, no evidence of Smith having accomplished his alleged design.
Edenton, like most other small towns, has had a lot of rotten scandals in its day, but this late case puts all previous scandals in eclipse. It is now common report in Edenton that the same fish house has been the scene of many a wild orgy in recent months and has been used by certain society people in Edenton as an assignation house. On the streets and in barber shops one hears of this married man and that married woman who had been seen in the place at night and Edenton is learning a lot of things about the backside of Main Street.
It's hard on Frank Bond, hard on Harry Smith, hard on their families and hard on a town that has always been proud; but men who forsake their own firesides at night for a jug of corn liquor and its associate vices sooner or later pay the price. Some pay it in premature death, victims of diabetes, Bright’s disease, apoplexy—or broken necks in motor accidents. Others get caught up red-handed and suffer the ignominy of exposure and prosecution. But sooner or later, they all pay.
In endeavoring to get the essential facts of this story this newspaper made diligent inquiry into the character of the Edwards couple and Viola White. The three young people have been employes in the cotton mill in Edenton for several years. Edwards is a doffing boy, his wife and Viola White are spinners. They are simple, hard working, inexperienced young bread winners of good reputation, neither above nor below the average of people of their walk in life.
Frank M. Bond is a nephew of Judge Wm. M. Bond and otherwise prominently connected.
No evidence was put on by either of the defendants in the preliminary hearing before Recorder W.S. Privott last Saturday. Attorneys for the defendants are Herbert Leary and W.D. Pruden.
From the front page of The Independent, Elizabeth City, N.C., Oct. 26, 1922
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