Sheriff Johnson Calls National Guard Company to Nashville, July 29, 1924

Mob After Negro Held for Murder. . . Negro Tells of Killing of Taxi Driver Joyner Company “H” Called. . . Local Company Called to Nashville Quell Disturbance. . . A.J. Joyner, White, Failed to Return From a 15-Mile Trip, Search Followed, No Trace of Man or Automobile Found; Mat Belonging in Car Found in Creek; Negro Arrested; Follow Description of One last Seen With White Man; Trouble Is Brewing at Cross Road Where Sheriff Is Holding Prisoner Awaiting Troops

At 1:45 o’clock this afternoon word was received by Captain J.C. Dempsey, in charge of Machine Gun Company M, of the North Carolina National Guard, from Adjutant J.B. Van Metz, ordering the local company to Nashville to quell a riot which is said to be underway, as a result of the arrest of Cheatham Evans, colored, charged with the murder of A.J. Joyner, a jitney driver of Hollister.

The negro was placed under arrest about nine miles above Nashville this afternoon and taken to Taylor’s store where Sheriff Johnson of Nash county stated he had him in custody at 2 o’clock this afternoon. Sheriff Johnson would give no statement in regard to the arrest of the negro, saying there was a mob in and around the place and feeling was running high. According to the Nash county sheriff, Bissette is one of the three negroes seen with Joyner, who has since disappeared along with his car, of which no trace has been found.

According to advice from Hollister, the entire community around Hollister was thrown into a feverish state of excitement Sunday morning when it was learned that Joyner failed to return from a 15-mile trip Saturday night. He was called by a passenger, said to have been a negro, who wanted to go to a point over 15 miles away.

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Raleigh, July 28—At 2:30 this afternoon Taylor’s Store, 10 miles north of Nashville, was still surrounded by a threatening mob where officers have in custody a negro arrested in connection with he disappearance of A.J. Joyner, taxi-driver, according to Sheriff Johnson, who has charge of the negro.

The negro, according to Sheriff Johnson, told the officers where Joyner’s body could be found. the negro denied that he killed Joyner but claims the killing was done by another negro.

Sheriff Johnson said about 100 members of the mob had left the store to go to the spot where the negro said the body could be found. He said he was hopeful that he could keep the negro from the crowd until the arrival of troops hastening here by automobile from Wilson.

When the sheriff was asked how large a crowd was about the store, he paused a moment, looked out the window and said there were only about 200 men, many having left to hunt for the body of Joyner.

The body is in a creek, the negro told the sheriff, about five miles from Hollister, Halifax county. The negro was arrested in Halifax county early today and was being brought to Nash county for safe-keeping when the officers were overtaken by several car loads of men. the officers took the negro into Taylor’s store and telephoned in Sheriff Johnson at Nashville for aid. Nash county officers went to the scene. The mob was made up of men from Halifax and Nash counties, the sheriff said.

From the front page of The Wilson Times, Tuesday, July 29, 1924

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073953/1924-07-29/ed-1/seq-1/#words=July+29%2C+1924