Williamston, N.C., May 13—Terming it the most brutal crime ever brought to his attention, Judge Sinclair in superior court this afternoon imposed heavy sentences on the man found guilty of participating in the mob which kidnapped and then mutilated Joseph Needleman, young tobacco salesman last March.
Dennis Griffin, convicted as the alleged “ring leader” in the mob, was sentenced to 30 years at hard labor in the state prison; F.W Sparrow Sr. was sentenced to not more than 10 years nor less than six, and the same punishment was meted out to his son, and Julian Bullock.
Sentences of not more than three years nor less than two were imposed on Elder Stone, Primitive Baptist minister, and Claro Heath. Johnnie Gurkin was sentenced to not more than three years nor less than 18 months.
Elder Stone and Gurkin were both given lighter sentences than otherwise would have been the case, because of the assistance they rendered the prosecution by appearing as witnesses for the state. Judge Sinclair declared that if it were not for this, he would have given Elder Stone a sentence as the other principals.
Submission of a plea of guilty by Wilford Sparrow, the fifth defendant in the Joe Needleman mutilation case on trial here during the past week, and the announcement by Solicitor Don Gilliam that the state found itself without sufficient evidence to ask the jury to convince Joseph Needleman of the charges of assault therefore advocating a verdict of not guilty were also features of today’s session of superior court.
Hundreds of people gathered at the court house early in the day to hear Judge Sinclair pronounce sentence against the four defendants who had been found guilty by the jury ate yesterday, following deliberation of three hours.
Griffin Bullock and the senior Sparrow were found guilty of mutilation with malice aforethought, while Heath was found guilty of mutilation without malice.
Attorneys for the defense this forenoon presented feeling appeals for clemency to Judge Sinclair, pleading that none of the men have ever been involved in any trouble before and that a number of witnesses had testified to their good character.
Attorney Dunning announced today that two additional men, Hubert Griffin and Wilson Griffin, would enter a plea of nolo contendre. This plea was accepted by the state.
Roy Gray, another defendant, was ordered confined in state prison not more than two years nor less than one, while eight others were ordered to pay $500 to the county of Martin to help defray the costs of court, besides paying their own individual costs.
They are: John G. Corey; Lester Edmondson, Tom Harrell, J.H. Coltraine, L.A. Croom, Clarence Gurkin, Hubert Griffin and Wilson Griffin.
Alfred Griffin was given not more than two years nor less than one, and Albert Gurkin was given the same sentence and fined $500. The defendants for the most part received their. . . . The Elder Sparrow and Griffin remained sphinx-like.
From the front page of The Durham Sun, May 13,1925
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn84020732/1925-05-13/ed-1/seq-1/#words=MAY+13%2C+1925
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