13-Year-Old Girl Charges 45-Year-Old Man with Sexual Assault, Aug. 4, 1924

Grave Charges Brought By Girl Against Arelia Smith. . . Prosecutrix Less Than 14 Years Old Says Man 45 Assaulted Her—Smith Waived Examination and Furnished $1,000 Bond for Appearance at September Term of Superior Court—Defendant’s Wife in Hospital When Assault Is Alleged to Have Taken Place. . . Smith Says He Is Innocent

Arelia Smith, a white man 45 years old, waved examination Saturday and gave bond in the sum of $1,000 for his appearance at the September term of Superior court following his arrest on a warrant charging criminal assault and having carnal knowledge of a female under 14 years of age.

Allie Mae Bornes, who says she is not 14 years of age and will not be in several months, swore out the warrant charging Smith with the grave offense. In commenting on the case before officers she stated that the assault took place June 5th at the home of the defendant, where she had been staying and to whom she is slightly related. According to her story, she was staying at the home helping with the housework while Smith’s wife was sick, and that it was after Smith’s wife was taken to a hospital that the assault took place.

Rural Policeman R.C. Miller made the arrest Saturday while Smith was at his home in Wishart township. He did not comment on the charge, except to state that he was innocent and that he would make bond for appearance in Superior court.

From the front page of The Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., Monday, August 4, 1924

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn84026483/1924-08-04/ed-1/seq-1/#words=AUGUST+4%2C+1924