Joe Needleman In Serious Condition After Mob Performs "Operation" on Him, March 30, 1925

Condition of Joe Needleman Is Said to be Serious Now. . . Man Was Taken from Jail by Mob and Serious Operation Performed by Them on Him. . . Mob Cut Way into the Jail. . . Needleman Was Charged with Assault on a Young Woman After He Had Taken Her for Ride

By the Associated Press

Washington, N.C., March 30—Joseph A. Needleman, traveling salesman for a tobacco company, was in a serious condition at a local hospital this morning as a result of a serious operation upon him yesterday. The man was taken from the Martin county jail by a band of men. He had been imprisoned charged with an attack on a young girl near Williamston. The operation was performed in a nearby woods, after which he was freed by the men. He was found by Sheriff H.T. Robeson and a posse, and taken to the hospital.

The salesman was accused of committing a crime against the girl last week at the point of a pistol after he had taken her for a ride in an automobile. He was arrested Saturday and placed in Martin county jail, which has no jailor or other person to remain at the jail all night.

Early Sunday morning, stated Sheriff Robeson last night, a band of men came to his residence and demanded the keys to the jail. He refused and they left, while he summoned a posse of men to assist him. Before the posse assembled, the men broke into the jail and carried off the prisoner, on whom they carried out their designs.

Everything was reported quiet in Williamson today. Sheriff Robeson, though without clues as to the identity of the men, was making a thorough investigation.

From the front page the Concord Daily Tribune, March 30, 1925

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1925-03-30/ed-1/seq-1/#words=March+30%2C+1925