It looks as if Edenton won’t have an opportunity to forget its celebrated “Toddy Case” of several weeks ago. Certain phases of the incident are to be aired in Superior Court convening at Edenton Monday, when Capt. J. M. Miller’s appeal from the road sentence is due for a hearing.
From all appearances, Edenton, like most other towns, has its usual quota of fun loving citizens, who believe the home should never be without the proper amount of toddy. Capt. J. M. Miller, according to rumor, was commissioned by a number of these to make a trip to the famous East Lake region where liquor could be secured for $2.50 to $3 a gallon, a better figure than paying the bootleggers $8 a gallon.
Capt. Miller, it was alleged and rumored, came back to Edenton with his liquor, stored it in a warehouse, and went up town to collect from his customers. While he was up town, somebody stole the liquor. One customer had paid Capt. Miller by check, and when the liquor came up missing, he held up payment on the check.
Capt. Miller got mad, and didn’t hesitate to tell things about town. Rumors got out that some of the Aldermen and members of the police force were among the customers.
The police heard about it. The town Aldermen held a hearing. The police were down behind Capt. Miller, and so Capt. Miller made affidavit that no policeman of Edenton had ever tried to influence him to secure whiskey. But he didn’t say a thing or a word to clear up things for the Aldermen.
The police were all clear. First they arrested Capt. Miller for transporting liquor, and arrested his negro assistant, Terrapin Jordan. Both were found guilty, and Terrapin Jordan with to the Washington County roads, where he is now serving a 60-day sentence. Capt. Miller was found guilty of transporting, and sentenced to a total of 90 days in jail, to be assigned to work the roads. This was on August 14. Capt. Miller appealed, and is free on $500 bond.
Capt. Miller then got sore and spilled the beans, naming one member of the Board of Aldermen and the County Treasurer as having aided and abetted in the purchase of liquor. Warrants were sworn out for some of the town’s most prominent and highly respected citizens: W. H. Ward, Chowan County Treasurer, J. H. Conger of the Town Council, R. W. Sessoms and R. E. Forehand. These men didn’t see the advisability of making any further stir, and entered a plea of nolo contender, and on August 24, paid a fine of $25 each, and costs, in Recorder’s court.
From the front page of The Independent, Elizabeth City, N.C., Friday, Sept. 10, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn83025812/1926-09-10/ed-1/seq-1/
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