Atkinson Shoots at John Black, Black Shoots Back, Oct. 28, 1925

Raeford Officer Is Wounded by Negro. . . W.R. Atkinson in Serious Condition as Results of Gunshot Wounds

Fayetteville, N.C., Oct. 28 (AP)—W.R. Atkinson, night policeman at Raeford, is in a hospital here suffering from gunshot wounds said to have been inflicted by John Black, Raeford negro. Hospital authorities say his condition is critical.

Atkinson was called about midnight to arrest three negroes, according to his account, who were said to be drunk in the street. When he reached them, two were cranking a car, and the third black ran off with something under his coat. He ordered the negro to halt, and when he failed, fired at the ground. The man then turned, Atkinson says, and fired four shots, two of them taking effect in the officer’s body.

One of the bullets entered Atkinson’s right lung, the other making a slight flesh wound in the shoulder.

Atkinson, who is about 55 years old, said he presumed the package under the negro’s coat was liquor. The officer’s wife is living at Kings Mountain at present.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Oct. 28, 1925

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1925-10-28/ed-1/seq-1