The remains of Clyde Cook, young white man, which were found floating down Lumber River Saturday afternoon, were carried yesterday to the home of the deceased’s mother in Concord where interment will be made today.
A coroner’s jury held an inquest over the remains yesterday morning, finding that the deceased came to his death as the result of drowning by suicidal intent. There were no signs of foul play. Left Dinner Party
It was in evidence at the inquest that Cook passed through Lumberton early Sunday morning, September 21st, in company with Mr. L.D. Guy, Mr. Guy’s son, Mr. Ed. Guy and wife and child, and went to the home of Mr. J.B. Pittman, father of Mrs. Ed. Guy, near Bellamy. Arriving there about noon, and just before dinner was served, Cook and Ed. Guy went to the grapevine, and Guy stated that Cook ate only a few grapes and walked off. There was a large crowd at dinner, and Cook’s absence was not thought much of until after dinner. Thinking that he had wandered off, and laid down to sleep, a search was made for him. Nothing could be found. Later the missing man was traced to a home near by, where he had asked for something to eat and left, going down the highway toward Lumberton.
Thought He Had Gone Home
The Concord party took it for granted that their companion had gone back to Concord on the train without notifying them. They got in their car and returned to Concord Wednesday. Failing to find him there, they had some cards issued and sent to police throughout the state asking for information. Then they returned to Lumberton Saturday, and asked local officers if they had seen or heard of the man. They were told at the National cotton mill that a man answering the description of cook had been seen going through the mill Monday afternoon, and later seen on the highway acting as if he was trying to catch a ride back to Lumberton.
Saw Man Jump from Bridge
Lula McNeill, a colored woman, testified that last Monday night as she and her son were approaching the river bridge, coming toward the court house, she saw a man jump off the railing of the bridge into the river. She could not tell whether it was a white or colored man. She heard the water splash when he struck it. A white man was standing on the opposite side of the bridge. She went to him, and asked him if he saw that man jump into the river? He replied that he did not see him, but that he heard something, and thought perhaps it was a boat. She stated that she told everybody she saw about it, but that no one seemed to want to believe it. The officers were told that a colored woman had seen a man jump in the river. They went to the scene, which is only a few hundred feet from The Robesonian office, but found nothing that would justify further investigation.
Body Discovered
There seemed to be conflicting reports as to who first saw the body floating down the river Saturday. It was reported that it was first seen by some one on Water street near the highway bridge, but a later report was that a colored man crossing the river on the railroad bridge saw the body pass under, and gave the alarm. Another colored man jumped into a boat and overtook the body as it was near the cove where the river makes a right angle turn, near the electric substation. A wire was fastened in the dead man’s clothing and the body dragged ashore, where a large crowd of people gathered before Coroner D.W. Biggs arrived and removed the remains to his undertaking establishment on Elm street.
Identified Body
A jury was chosen, and a search made of the clothing for some means of identification. A dollar bill, 80 cents in silver and an automobile dust cap was all that was found, except a label in one of his shoes, with the name of J.E. Love, Concord, on it. This, with the description given on the card of inquiry, was sufficient to make the officers believe that it was the body of Clyde Cook. Messrs. Guy and Pittman had left Lumberton only 30 minutes before the find. Sheriff R.E. Lewis went for them, finding them at Mr. Pittman’s home. As soon as they saw the body they identified it as Cook.
Coroner Biggs got in touch with a brother of the dead man, and postponed hearing evidence until yesterday morning.
Though it was not in evidence at the hearing, it is reported that the messenger boy for the Western Union saw a white man near the river bridge late Monday afternoon acting in a very strange manner, pulling his hair and rolling in the grass.
Mr. Guy and others that knew the deceased stated that he had been in ill health, and very despondent at times, although they never noticed that he was mentally deranged.
From The Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., Monday, September 29, 1924
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn84026483/1924-09-29/ed-1/seq-1/#words=SEPTEMBER+29%2C+1924
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