Two negroes who have been here with the street paving force got into a dispute early Saturday night over some clothes, and now one of them is dead, and the other is in jail charged with his murder.
Ernest Rodford is the negro who is dead, and the man who shot him gives his name as Robert Chaplin. The altercation took place on Market Street near the station, and in the course of the fuss Chaplin is said to have produced a .38 pistol, firing shots that passed through the lungs and liver of Rodford. Rodford, who was not killed instantly, was taken to the colored doctor, Dr. Furlong, and then to Johnston Conty Hospital, where he died Sunday morning about 11 o’clock.
Chaplin was arrested soon after the shooting took place and placed in jail to await the outcome of Rodford’s injuries.
Yesterday afternoon Chaplin was tried in mayor’s court and turned loose, the court having found no probable cause. In short time the chief of police had sworn out another warrant before the solicitor of recorder’s court and Chaplin was rearrested and remanded to jail where he now awaits trial in recorder’s court.
Editor’s Note: The newspaper headline spelled the victim’s last name as “Radford,” but it consistently spelled “Rodford” in the article. Also, what was called a trial in Recorder’s Court was actually a hearing to determine if there was sufficient evidence. There wasn’t at the time, so charges were dismissed. The Sheriff then filed a new warrant, Chaplin was arrested again and a new hearing will be held in Recorder’s Court to see if there is now sufficient evidence to hold Chaplin for killing Rodford.
From the front page of the Smithfield Herald, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073982/1926-09-28/ed-1/seq-1/
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