A police campaign against negro bootleggers operating on the outskirts of the city was launched Tuesday morning as the outcome of a hearing in recorder’s court in which Manley Spellman colored, was fined $5 and costs for participation in an allege affray.
James Burnett, also colored, the other participant in the encounter, was let off upon payment of the court costs, it appearing that Spellman had been the aggressor.
Burnett admitted freely that he had become very drunk before the fracas began. Called to the stand under the prohibition statute, he told in response to questioning by Prosecuting Attorney Leroy that he had obtained his liquor from a small store operated by one Murray, having bought two pints from a girl named Sarah, who worked in the store. He testified that he had bought liquor also from Murray himself, about two weeks before.
A colored girl, who also had been arrested on the charge of being drunk, but who was dismissed by Trial Justice Sawyer on the basis of evidence that she had not been out of doors while in that condition, told under threat of jail that she had bought liquor form one Alphonso Small, grandson of “Aunt” Cynthia Smith, who is employed as scrubwoman in many downtown stores and offices.
Thus it was that police went out after court, bent on arresting Murray, the girl Sarah, Small and other bootlegging suspects.
From the front page of the Daily Advance, Elizabeth City, N.C., Tuesday evening, Sept. 28, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92074042/1926-09-28/ed-1/seq-1/
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