Lingerfeldts Wanted for Barbarously Cutting Angus Melvin, Sept. 14, 1925

Negro Barbarously Cut by White Men. . . Angus Melvin of Turnbull Township in Pittman Hospital with Head Almost Severed from Body and Serious Wounds on Back—Cutting Done by J.E. and Will Lingerfeldt—Deep Gash Held Open and Another Laceration Made—Trouble Arouse Over Slander of Woman—County Commissioners Offer Reward for Lingerfeldts

Angus Melvin, colored, of Turnbull Township, is in Pittman’s Hospital, Fayetteville, with his head almost severed from his body as the result of cuts made by knives in the hands of J.E. and Will Lingerfeldts, white. The Lingerfieldts have left the County, and the County commissioners are offering a $50 reward for the arrest and the return to the county of each.

According to information obtained at the sheriff’s office, the trouble arose over a woman which it is alleged that Melvin had slandered. The two Lingefeldts and there more white men, relatives of the woman, went to the neighborhood of Melvin’s house Wednesday night of last week to have an understanding with him. One of the men went to Melvin’s house and got him, claiming that they intended no harm. After the negro came out of the house, the fight started, with Melvin probably passing the first blow, after he had called one of the white men a liar. Melvin, it is alleged, struck James Lingerfeldt on the thumb with his knife, cutting the thumb open. James then cut the negro on both sides of the neck. At this point, Will Lingerfeldt ran up from behind and made deep cuts in Melvin’s back. Melvin fell to the ground, but James Lingerfeldt continued his brutal lacerations, first on the head and then on the face of the negro. A deep wound on the neck was held open by Lingerfeldt while stuck his knife into it for a still deeper wound.

With nothing but the jugular vein holding his head on, Melvin was put into an automobile to be carried to Pittman’s Hospital in Fayetteville. Even then, however, the white men were not satisfied. James Lingerfeldt running up, and with his knife handle wrapped in his handkerchief, stabbed Melvin in the back.

The assault took place in a sparsely settled part of the County a few miles above Amnton, in Turnbull Township.

James Lingerfeldt was not seen any more after the affair. It is reported that he and Will Lingerfeldt left together in a car that night. A $50 reward was offered by the county commissioners in session Monday for the arrest of each.

James Lingerfeldt left a wife and six children.

--Bladen Journal

From page 3 of The Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., Monday, Sept. 14, 1925

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