THE INDEPENDENT
(Elizabeth City, North
Carolina weekly newspaper)
|
1919 - 1921 |
Friday - January 10, 1919; pg. 6
Wm. H. SNOWDEN died at his residence
near Currituck Courthouse Friday, December 13, 1918 in the 68th year of his age
after a long illness. Mr. SNOWDEN was a prosperous
farmer and noble citizen and will be greatly missed by all who know him. He is
survived by his wife, Mrs. Annie Forbes SNOWDEN;
four daughters: Miss Alice, Mrs. O.L. HALL of
Currituck, N.C., Mrs. E.E. HETTRICK of Elizabeth
City and Mrs. W.B. LINDSAY of Norfolk, Va.; and
four sons: Wm. E., B.H., W.H. and J.L. SNOWDEN of
Norfolk, Va. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Mr.
WALDROP of Powells Point Saturday afternoon at the residence of the
deceased and was largely attended. Burial took place in the family burying
ground near the residence. The floral tribute was beautiful, showing the high
esteem in which the deceased was held.
Friday - January 17, 1919; pg. 3
MOYOCK BOYS RETURN - Dudley W. BAGLEY,
2nd Lieut. of the staff of the Machine Gun School at Cam Hancock, Ga., was
discharged from service Dec. 28th. William W. RITTER,
Yeoman of Naval Auxiliary Reserve, was discharged from service Dec. 16th.
Rupert E. WEST, Sergeant of Quartermaster Corps,
was discharged from service Dec. 27th.
Friday - February 14, 1919; pg. 2
Mrs. Laura BALLANCE, wife of Frank
BALLANCE and daughter of G.A. and Laura
GRIGGS, born May 28, 1878, died at her home at
Maple, Currituck County, January 18, 1919 as a result of influenza which
developed into pneumonia. She was 41 years old. We all realize that God moves
in a mysterious way. His wonders to perform and though we cannot understand it,
yet some day we shall know. Truly it was a loss to her many friends, and a
greater loss to her loved ones, but we know our loss was her eternal gain. It
seems to us that the angels must have been made happier when they enrolled
sister BALLANCE in the realms above. Her last
moments were spent in prayer which revealed to us much more of her Christian
character. we extend our heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved husband and
children.
Friday - February 21, 1919; pg. 1
Friday - March 17, 1919; pg. 10
DEATH OF MRS. MARY L. POWERS - Miss Jean
PAYNE of Snowden, N.C. received the sad news of the
death of her cousin, Mrs. Mary L. POWERS which
occurred at her home in Norfolk, Va. after a few days illness. She is survived
by her husband, C.E. POWERS and also her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Frank DEAL of Fentress, Va.; four
sisters: Misses Sarah and Rosa DEAL, Mrs. E.D.
CULPEPPER and Mrs. Dennis
CULPEPPER; and one brother, Frank DEAL, all
of Fentress, Va.; several cousins at Snowden, N.C. and Mrs. R.B.
FLORA of Moyock, N.C. The funeral services were
held at Central Baptist Church in Fentress, Va. and interment was in the family
burying ground.
Friday - May 2, 1919; pg. 8
CHARLTON-COX - A quiet but pretty wedding was solemnized at
noon Thursday, April 24th at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. David A.
COX, of Moyock, N.C. when their daughter, Miss Jane
Grey COX became the bride of Mr. Harry F.
CHARLTON of Norfolk. Va. The ceremony was
performed by Rev. Ambrose BURFOOT of Fentress, Va.
and Miss Jennie CHARLTON, sister of the groom,
played the wedding music. Immediately after the luncheon Mr. and Mrs.
CHARLTON left for a trip to northern cities after
which they will make their home in Norfolk. The out-of-town guests were Miss
Margaret FREEMAN of Washington, D.C. and Miss
Jennie and Mr. Percy CHARLTON of Northwest, Va.
Friday - May 30, 1919; pg. 1
COL. SAM ANSELL HERE NEXT WEEK - Lieut. Col. Sam T.
ANSELL, whose sensational arraignment of the Army
court-martial system promises to result in a complete revision of the antiquated
and barbaric penalties imposed for minor offenses, who is to deliver the
commencement address at the Elizabeth City Graded Schools June 5, is a native of
Currituck County and a graduate of Prof. SHEEP's
old Atlantic Collegiate Institute in this city. Currituck County, where sweet
potatoes and big, juicy watermelons thrive as nowhere else on earth, is the
native home of many men who have achieved national and statewide fame. Among
these are the late Thomas JARVIS, formerly Governor
of North Carolina, Nathan B. WALKER, director of
summer schools at the University of North Carolina, and Lieut. Col.
ANSELL of the United States Army, who is bringing a
powerful indictment against the present army trial system. His address will be
heard with great interest by the people of this section.
Friday - June 6, 1919; pg. 1
Fleetwood P. SNOWDEN, well-known
resident of Currituck County and for many years postmaster at Snowden and
manager of the Currituck Telephone Company, died at his home at Snowden Saturday
morning at the age of 49 years after a continued illness. He is survived by a
widow and one daughter, Miss Marjorie SNOWDEN. The
funeral services were conducted at the home Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock by
Rev. Rufus BRADLEY and the deceased was buried at
the old Snowden home near Snowden.
pg. 3
A CHILD'S DEATH - Tilmon GREGORY, 3-year old
son of Mr. and Mrs. J.T. GREGORY of Shawboro, died
at the home of his parents May 27.
Friday - June 13, 1919; pg. 3
GRAY - HAMPTON - Mr. Curtis GRAY of
Corolla, N.C. and Mrs. Hettie HAMPTON of Waterlily
were married here last Thursday. The wedding was at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
N.H. O'NEAL on Burgess St. The ceremony was
performed by Rev. J.L. WALDREP of Mamie, N.C.
Friday - June 20, 1919; pg. 2
WEST - GALLOP - Mr. Julian WEST of
Kinston, N.C. and Miss Clara GALLOP of Harbinger,
N.C. were married at the home of the bride's mother, Mrs. S.C.
GALLOP, Wednesday, June 11. Rev. J.L.
WALDREP was the officiating minister.
DOWDY - SMITH - Mr. Willis DOWDY and Miss Ida SMITH of Grandy, Currituck County, were married in this city Tuesday by the Rev. E.F. SAWYER.
Friday - July 11, 1919; pg. 1
FORMER SHAWBORO BOY IN BAD AT HENDERSON - An apparent net shortage
of $45,757 in the accounts of former sheriff J.E.C. BELL
has been reported to the Vance County commissioners by auditors who had been at
work on the books for several weeks. BELL resigned
as sheriff about 10 days ago. When Superior Court convened in Henderson 3 weeks
ago, Sheriff BELL was absent, it being reported
that he was in a northern hospital. The grand jury brought in a true bill
against hi, charging him with gambling. He returned a week later and tendered
his resignation which was accepted by the commissioners and his successor was
elected. BELL immediately left Henderson and has
not been heard from since. Mr. BELL is a native of
Shawboro and from one of the best families of that section.
Friday - July 25, 1919; pg. 1
SHERIFF JOE BELL IN A GREENSBORO HOSPITAL - J.E.C.
BELL, Sheriff of Vance County who disappeared the
other day, has been located in a sanitarium in Greensboro, N.C. and his
whereabouts revealed to the authorities of Vance County by his brothers, Caleb
B. BELL of Washington and Baxter B.
BELL of Shawboro, who are in Greensboro with their
brother. Caleb BELL assures the authorities of
Vance that his brother will return to Henderson prepared to make good the
shortage in his accounts when he leaves the Greensboro Sanitarium. The shortage
in Sheriff BELL's account amounted to $45,457. No
action of any kind has been brought against him in the courts and indications
are that none will be brought since his disappearance has been explained and
restitution assured. The incident is of peculiar interest to the people of this
city and section because of the local prominence of Sheriff
BELL. He is a native of Shawboro and his family
has always been prominent in the social and political life of this section. His
brother, Baxter B. BELL, is Clerk of the Court of
Currituck County. Caleb and Baxter BELL lost no
time in locating their brother when they received reports of his disappearance
from Henderson.
pg. 6
The hearts of an entire community are saddened by the decease of Miss Nettie
SAUNDERS of Poplar Branch on Monday, July 7. She
was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D.W. SAUNDERS and
was only 18 years old, being the youngest of a family of seven. While the other
sisters and brothers were in their different homes and places of business,
Nettie was always at home with her mother and father, and when she fully
realized that her young life would soon be returned to the One who gives and
takes it back again, she said, "Mama, do not grieve for me. I have put my trust
in God and while I want to live, I have surrendered all to Him. I shall find
rest in God and I am just waiting for Him to take me home where I can find ease
from these afflictions." Nettie never murmured or complained but made her
wishes known. In the quiet of her home she said, "Mama, I want them to sing
over my casket that Death is only a dream, and I want to go there, don't you?
Tell Bertie, my dear schoolmate, to sing this at my grave." The four brothers
and two sisters, the father and mother in the dark shadow of their anguish and
grief are missing the gentle touch of her little hand which had so fondly
caressed them all. She was tenderly carried to her grave by her loving
schoolmates, Johnnie NEWBERN, Merrell
EVANS, Sam MCHARNEY,
Grady PARKER, Alvert PARKER,
and Clyde WALKER. Her funeral was conducted by
Rev. WALDROP in the absence of her pastor. /s/ A
Friend
Friday - September 5, 1919; pg. 1
CURRITUCK LOSES A TOWNSHIP TO DARE - As a result of a special
election in Atlantic Township, Currituck County, that township now becomes a
part of Dare County. The election was provided by a special act of the
Legislature. Atlantic Township is on the North Carolina banks to the north of
Nags Head. It is physically a part of Dare and physically separate from the
mainland of Currituck County by the interposition of Currituck Sound. Its
pursuits and interests are more nearly the pursuits and interests of the
fisherman of Dare.
Friday - September 19, 1919; pg. 2
CURRITUCK NOTES - Cupid is getting gay in these parts. Mr. Jessie
SIMPSON of Knotts Island and Mrs. Annie
SMITH of Currituck were married here Sunday. Mr.
Wm. W. WARD and Miss Lorina
HADGES of Norfolk were married Saturday by Rev. T.J.
FOLGER at Moyock. Mr. Edward
JOYNER of Dendron, Va. and Miss Pocahontas L. LANE
of Wakefield, Va. were also united in wedlock by Mr.
FOLGER.
pg. 4
SANDERLIN - STEVENS - One of the prettiest weddings witnessed in
this community was solemnized last Thursday evening, September 4th at the home
of Mr. and Mrs. Ben STEVENS of Indiantown, N.C.
when their daughter, Annie Leary became the bride of Mr. Percy McPherson
SANDERLIN. The bride, accompanied by her father
who gave her away, met the groom and his best man, D.H.
TILLITT, and proceeded to the candle lighted altar to the strains of
Lohengrin's Wedding March. The ceremony was performed by Dr. G.W.
CLARKE of Elizabeth City. The bride is the
youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. STEVENS and a
descendant of one of the oldest and most aristocratic families of the county.
The groom was educated at Trinity College and saw service overseas. He is a
successful farmer and has a host of friends who wish he and his bride many years
of happiness and prosperity.
Friday - October 3, 1919; pg. 1
J.W. MACKEY of Moyock, Currituck County, is a gray-headed example of just how independent a North Carolina farmer may be of the labor problem and Mr. MACKEY is 69 years old. When his only son was taken in the draft in 1917 and when war industries had drained his section of common labor, Mr. MACKEY was left with a farm of 140 cleared acres and only himself to work it. But with a four-horse gang plow and other labor saving machinery he set to work to make a crop by himself. He got 30 acres of corn, 60 acres of soy beans, 8 acres of wheat and 7 1/2 acres of rye. He made good on every acre. Only once did he find himself in a cramp: that was when he came to harvest his wheat. He had to have help then and he got a woman. He and the one woman saved the wheat. He repeated the experience again this year and single-handed has carried on his farming successfully, having paid out only $4.25 for labor to date. Recently his son has been discharged from the Army and Mr. MACKEY will have help in harvesting his crops this fall. He is none the worse off for his experience and, in spite of his 69 years, is pink and frisky. The accompanying photo is from a snapshot by W.O. SAUNDERS.
Friday - October 10, 1919; pg. 1
Friday - October 17, 1919; pg. 1
WILLIS BANKS WILL BE TRIED IN APRIL 1920 - A jury in the Federal
Court in this city this week failed to agree on the case of Willis
BANKS, a white man from Currituck County accused of
illicit distilling and BANKS was bound over to the
April 1920 term of the court, under a bond of $400. His bondsman is J.B.
FEREBEE of Currituck. Martha
HUGHES, a white woman who lives with BANKS,
and Haywood BANKS, a son of Willis, were also bound
over to the April 1920 term under $400 bond each, their cases being related to
the case against Willis. BANKS acted as bondsman
for Mrs. HUGHES and for his son, swearing that he
was worth so much over and above his homestead exemption. Lawrence
PHELPS, a Negro accused of illicit distilling was
fined $100 and sentenced to one year in the Federal Prison at Atlanta. S.C.
JARVIS, a white man accused of illicit traffic in
liquor, submitted and got off with the payment of costs.
pg. 3
Mrs. Annie Norcom ROBERTSON died at the home
of her daughter, Mrs. W.H. BRAY in Coinjock, N.C.
on Oct. 6, 1919 after a lingering illness at the age of 74 years and 10 months.
She was the widow of the late W.G. ROBERTSON of
Currituck County. She united with the Bethel Baptist Church in Perquimans
County, the home of her girlhood, and lived a consistent Christian life, bearing
her afflictions calmly, ever putting her trust in the Lord. At the time of her
death she was a member of the Providence Baptist Church at Shawboro, N.C. Her
funeral was conducted by her pastor, Rev. E.C. HARRELL
and she was buried in the family burying ground at Shawboro by the side of her
husband. She leaves to mourn her loss, one son, W.G.
ROBERTSON of New York; and one daughter, Mrs. W.H.
BRAY of Coinjock, N.C.; three grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Harriet D.
SPENCER of Gregory, N.C.; several nieces, nephews
and other relatives.
Friday - November 14, 1919; pg. 3
KNOTT'S ISLAND NOTES - Walter T. CAPPS,
formerly of Knott's Island, died of tuberculosis Monday, November 3 at his home
in Norfolk. A widow and two children survive him. He had been ill for several
months and his death came not unexpectedly.
Friday - December 19, 1919; pg. 14
CURRITUCK COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT - John
HUMPHRIES vs. Ella HUMPHRIES -- The
defendant above named will take notice that an action has been commenced in said
court and county for the purpose of obtaining a divorce from said defendant;
that said action is returnable to the undersigned Clerk of said court on Monday,
January 25, 1920 at which time and place said defendant is required to appear
and answer or demur to the complaint field in said court, or defendant will
apply for the relief demanded in complaint. This 15th day of December 1919.
/s/ B.B. BELL, Clerk Superior Court
Friday - January 2, 1920; pg. 5
WALKER - FLORA - The Baptist Church at Shawboro was the scene of a
very pretty wedding Saturday noon, December 27, 1919 when Miss Katie
Friday - January 9, 1920; pg. 5
SIMPSON - GRAY - On Wednesday afternoon, December 31, Richard H.
pg. 6
POPLAR BRANCH NOTES -
Miss Estelle
HAMPTON
and Mr. Louis
ROSS
of Waterlily were quietly married at the Methodist parsonage by Rev. J.J.
LEWIS
Sunday at 3 o'clock p.m.
The hearts of the little children as well as the old people of Poplar Branch
were saddened at the news of the death of Miss Inez
REID's
mother. Miss
REID
has written herself so indelibly here that we all as one wish to express our
sympathy to her in her sorrow.
Mr. N.N.
HAMPTON
died at the home of his daughter Saturday evening. He will be buried at
Waterlily, N.C. where his grave has been made ready for his body about 30
years. He was one of the oldest Masons of Currituck County and will be buried
by that order which he so liberally supported so many years.
Friday - February 6, 1920; pg. 5
AYDLETT NEWS -
The remains of Mr. Noah
McHORNEY
who died at Norfolk January 31st were brought out to Aydlette on the steamer
Currituck and buried at his family burying ground.
ELIZABETH BRITTON - Mrs. Elizabeth BRITTON, wife of W.A. BRITTON, a well known negro businessman of this city, died Wednesday morning, Feb. 4, following a long illness.
Friday - February 13, 1920; pg. 5
IN MEMORIAM - In loving remembrance of our dear loving mother &
grandmother, Frances
OWENS,
who died February 8, 1919 at the age of 66 years; and in loving remembrance of
our loving father, Norris B.
OWENS,
who died Feb. 8, 1920 at the age of 76 years. /signed/ His loving daughter,
Nannie
FORBES,
and two grand sons, Dewey & Granville
FORBES.
pg. 10
LIVED ONE YEAR TO A
DAY AFTER HIS WIFE'S DEATH - Norris B. OWENS,
age 76, an old and highly respected resident of Currituck County, died at his
home in the county Sunday, Feb. 8, just one year after the death of his wife,
Mrs. Frances OWENS, who died Feb. 8, 1919.
Friday - February 20, 1920; pg. 7
CARD OF THANKS - We wish to express our appreciation of the many
acts of kindness and words of sympathy which we received during the sickness and
death of our dear husband and father, Mr.
Elihu HARRIS.
/s/ Mrs.
Elihu HARRIS
and Daughter
Friday - March 5, 1920; pg. 1
PROMINENT WOMAN DIED AS RESULT OF BURNS - Standing in front of an
open grate in her home at Shawboro, Mrs. Sam
FEREBEE's
clothing caught fire and she died from her burns Friday afternoon, Feb. 27, just
24 hours after the horrible accident. Not having the presence of mind to
smother the flames, Mrs.
FEREBEE
ran from the house into the yard. The flames enveloped her and inflicted vital
injuries before those at hand could extinguish them with buckets of water. Mrs.
FEREBEE
was 50 years old and is survived by nine children and 25 grandchildren.
Friday - March 19, 1920; pg. 3
MAKCEY-WESTER - A marriage of much interest to friends in North
Carolina and Georgia took place in Norfolk, Va. on the afternoon of February
28th when Miss Ruth F.
WESTER
of Elberton, Georgia, and Cecil L.
MACKEY
of Moyock, N.C., were married. Immediately after the ceremony Mr. and Mrs.
MACKEY
left by boat for Washington, D.C and other points. They will make Moyock their
home. Mrs.
MACKEY
is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John M.
WESTER
of Elberton, Georgia, and has made many friends here while visiting her sister,
Mrs. W.D.
COX.
Mr.
MACKEY
is one of Moyock's successful young business men. He served with the 81st
Division of the A.E.F. in France.
Friday - March 26, 1920; pg. 16
HENRY B. ANSELL DEAD - Currituck County lost one of its oldest and
best known citizens last week in the death of Henry B.
ANSELL,
age 88 years, at his home at Barco. His death followed an attack of influenza.
Mr.
ANSELL
was a native of Currituck County, born on Knotts Island, and had lived in
Currituck all his life. In his earlier days he was a prominent, influential and
active figure in the county's affairs and served as Clerk of Superior Court on
his county for several years. He is survived by his wife and several children
including the distinguished Lt. Colonel Samuel T.
ANSELL
of Washington, D.C.
Friday - April 2, 1920; pg. 5
A NEW POSTMASTER - Elisha W.
TRUITT
has been appointed Postmaster at Snowden, Currituck County, to succeed F.P.
SNOWDEN,
deceased.
Friday - May 14, 1920; pg. 4
CURRITUCK BOY HEAD RALEIGH'S PUBLIC WORKS - News of interest to
this section of the State is the fact that John B.
BRAY
has been elected Commissioner of Public Works of the City of Raleigh. His
election was unanimous. Mr.
BRAY
is a Currituck County boy. His father, P.N.
BRAY,
was for a number of years Register of deeds of that county and his wife, who was
Miss Mamie
DeCORMIS,
is the daughter of J.L.
DeCORMIS
of Shawboro. Mr.
BRAY
was educated at the A. & M. College in Raleigh and after leaving school made his
home in that town. His first work was done for the Norfolk-Southern Railroad in
construction work between Raleigh and Charlotte. He is considered the best cent
that ever attended school at his alma mater, captaining his team in his junior
year and holding South Atlantic honors for two years.
Friday - May 21, 1920; pg. 1
WOODARD - TATE - Cards are out announcing the marriage of Miss
Pauline
TATE,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
TATE
of Coinjock, N.C. to Elmer Raymond
WOODARD
of Norfolk, Va. at the Baptist Church at Coinjock, N.C. Sunday, June 6th 2 p.m.
Friday - May 28, 1920; pg. 1
MRS. C.H. BROCK - Mrs. Belle
BROCK,
wife of C.H.
BROCK,
a prominent merchant of Powells Point, died at her home in this city Monday,
June 24
[see note],
following a long illness. Mrs.
BROCK
had made her residence in this city for the past three years on account of her
health. Mrs.
BROCK
is a daughter of the late W.S.
NEWBERN, SR.
She was 44 years old and is survived by her husband and two children, Malvern
BROCK
18 years old, and Maude
BROCK
17
years old. The remains of Mrs.
BROCK
were carried to the old home at Powells Point Tuesday afternoon for interment in
the family burying ground. [Note:
The June 24 date can not be correct since this obituary was published in a May
issue. Currituck Co. cemetery records reflect that Belle Brock died on May 25,
1920 and is buried in the Olds-Newbern Cemetery south of Jarvisburg, N.C.]
Friday - June 18, 1920; pg. 5
WAS OLDEST RESIDENT OF CURRITUCK COUNTY - Samuel B.
HUGHES
who died recently at his home near Currituck C.H., was the oldest resident of
that county, having passed his 93rd birthday at the time of his death. Until
the fall of 1918 he was still active and in good health and could plant his feet
in a horse cart and drive about the country as briskly as a youngster. In the
fall of 1918 he climbed to a load of cotton piled high on a cart, some of the
bags of cotton worked loose and fell off and he went to the ground with them.
The fall of several feet so crippled him that he kept to his bed until the time
of his death. The immediate cause of his death was complications following an
attack of influenza.
BELL-ETHERIDGE - A wedding of much interest to the people of Pasquotank County took place at the home of Mrs. Mary E. ETHERIDGE, widow of the late W.K. ETHERIDGE, Wednesday, June 16, when her daughter, Agnes Louisa, became the bride of Mr. Wilson Haywood BELL of Oceana, Va. Dr. Geo. W. CLARK, pastor of Blackwell Memorial Church performed the ceremony. Only the family of Miss ETHERIDGE and a few friends were present. The bride is one of the best known young ladies in rural Pasquotank. For three years she has made an excellent record as a teacher in Newland High School. The groom is from a well know Currituck County family and is now a promising business man connected with the Norfolk Southern Railroad. After a wedding trip to Washington, D.C. and other points, the young couple will be at home at Oceana, Va.
Friday - July 2, 1920; pg. 11
ONEAL-MIDGETT - Patrick Henry
O'NEAL, road foreman of Currituck, and Miss
Madeline MIDGETT, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.S.
MIDGETT of Coinjock, were married at the home of
the bride's parents Thursday, June 24 by Rev. Z.N.
DeSHIELDS of the Christian Church. Worth GUARD
was best man and Miss Elizabeth BRUMSEY was maid of
honor. A large number of relatives and friends were present. Mr. and Mrs.
O'NEAL will be at home after a ten day honeymoon at
Virginia Beach.
Friday - July 16, 1920; pg. 4
MELSON -
BRINSON - A marriage of much
interest was that of Miss Menusenn MELSON, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. John MELSON of Harbinger, N.C., to
Mr. John Willis BRINSON, son of the late Caleb
BRINSON of Mamie, N.C., on Wednesday of last week.
Rev. J.L. WALDREP performed the marriage ceremony.
pg. 9
NOTICE OF SUMMONS
- Josie Marie HUGHES vs. Chas. E.
HUGHES - The defendant above named will take notice
that an action entitled as above has been commenced in the Superior Court of
Currituck County, N.C. and the same being for a divorce, and said defendant will
further take notice that he is required to appear at the term of Superior Court
of said county to be held on the 6th day of September 1920 at the Courthouse and
answer or demur to the complaint. This 6th day of July 1920. /s/ B.B.
BELL, Clerk, Superior Court
Friday - Sept. 10, 1920; pg. 1
MUST FACE
NEXT FEDERAL COURT - Charged
with violating the Federal prohibition laws, Willis BANKS
of Tulls, Currituck County, was given a hearing before U.S. Commissioner T.B.
WILSON here Saturday morning and was bound over to
the next term of Federal court for trial. BANKS
was placed under $500 bond, in default of which he was sent to jail for safe
keeping. BANKS was sentenced to four months
imprisonment at a recent term of court but was pardoned before the expiration of
his sentence. The hearing Saturday was the outcome of a recent raid in
Currituck County by prohibition agents, in the course of which several gallons
of liquor were found in his possession.
Friday - Sept. 17, 1920; pg. 1
BEGIN
SERVING TIME FOR CURRITUCK CRIME
- J. Pope MIXON and Tommie
SAUNDERS were convicted of burglary in the Superior Court at Currituck
last week. MIXON was given a sentence of two years
in the State Prison and SAUNDERS a sentence of nine
months. The verdict was not rendered and sentence passed until Saturday night
and they were taken to the State Prison Sunday morning where they are now
serving their sentences. The cases against their companions, L.W.
PENNINGTON and Edward PARR,
were not disposed of and each of these is bound over to the March 1921 term of
Superior Court of Currituck. There were several cases against the four and they
were tried only in one case, the burglary of the home of a Negro named George
HUGHES near Snowden.
PENNINGTON and PARR were acquitted in this
case. But there remains the case of the robbery of A.B.
SNOWDEN at Maple. They will be tried on this charge in March.
MIXON, the elder of the four boys assumed full
responsibility for the sensational doings of the quartet in Currituck in
December 1919 but SAUNDERS upon cross examination
failed to sustain MIXON's well contrived statement
and became hopelessly involved. His contradictory statements and previous bad
record convicted him.
Friday - Oct. 8, 1920; pg. 7
THE STORY
OF A MAN AND A COMMUNITY -
When the village of Moyock, in the extreme northeastern corner of N.C., is
mention to those acquainted with the section, it immediately suggests the name
of R.O. BAGLEY who has been intimately connected
with the development and growth of northern Currituck County for the past 40
years. Mr. BAGLEY is half owner and manager of the
firm of C.R. VAN de CARR & Co. which operated a saw mill, cotton gin, grist mill
and general store at Moyock, and which is vitally interested in the advancement
of the growing village. Mr. BAGLEY was born at
Louisburg, N.C. some 60 years ago. His mother died when he was but 4 years of
age and he was raised by an aunt in Camden County, Mrs. Mary A.
TAYLOR, to whose excellent training he attributes
much of his later success. At the age of 15 and with but 50 cents in his
pocket, the boy went to New York to seek his fortune and there became associated
with C.R. VAN de CARR whom he had previously known
in Camden. Mr. BAGLEY, a few years late in 1882,
came back to N.C. as the partner of Mr. VAN de CARR
and started a factory at Moyock for the preparation of corn shucks to be used in
mattress making. The business prospered, the partners used their profits to
enlarge the business, and everything was moving along successfully until one
December midnight in 1887 when the partners awoke to find their entire plant
enveloped in flames. They had not a dollar of insurance and the entire
destruction of their mill found the two in desperate circumstances. However,
with energy and persistence they rebuilt their plant, only to find that
considerable inroads had been made in their business in the meantime, by
Tennessee firms which bought corn, shucks and all, and could therefore undersell
them on the market. In spite of their handicaps, BAGLEY
and VAN de CARR continued their shuck factory for a
time and branched out by buying cotton and corn for export on as big a scale as
their finances would permit. At that time there was so little real money in
Currituck County that the farmers frequently were compelled to send special
cargoes of produce to Norfolk to get money with which to pay their taxes. The
local country stores traded their merchandise for the farm products of the
section, and practically no money figured in their business dealings.
BAGLEY and VAN de CARR
established the new precedent of paying cash for all the cotton and corn which
they bought, and thus made some active enemies among the old line merchants.
Nevertheless they prospered and today the firm is perhaps the biggest single
business at Moyock.
Friday - Oct. 22, 1920; pg. 3
SNOW-BRIGHT - On Tuesday
evening, October 12th, a very interesting wedding was solemnized at the home of
Mr. and Mrs. Alveston SAWYER of Harbinger when Miss
BRIGHT [no first name mentioned] became the bride
of Mr. Jordan SNOW. The bride is an attractive
young lady of Harbinger and the groom is a prosperous farmer of that place
also. Rev. J.L. WALDREP was the officiating
minister.
GRIGGS-LEWARK - A wedding in which much interest is centered occurred Tuesday morning, Oct. 1th? at the home of Capt. and Mrs. Humphrey LEWARK of Corolla, N.C., when their accomplished and attractive daughter, Odessa LEWARK, became the bride of Mr. William Irvin GRIGGS. Immediately after the ceremony Mr. and Mrs. GRIGGS left for an extended trip to Washington, DC, New York and other northern cities, after which they will make their home in Victoria, Va.
Friday - Nov. 26, 1920; pg. 3
GALLOP-PARKER -
A wedding of interest in Currituck was that of Miss Edith
GALLOP of Harbinger, N.C. to Mr. Charlie H. PARKER
of Mamie, N.C. They were married in the Baptist Pastorium by Rev. J.L.
WALDREP of Mamie on November 18th.
Friday - Dec. 3, 1920; pg. 1
MYSTERY SURROUNDS THE KILLING OF GALLOP
Conflicting Testimony Promises to Make Late Currituck Tragedy a Hard Fought Legal Battle--Dead Man Said Lewark Shot Him
There is more
or less mystery surrounding the death of Derwood S. GALLOP
of Powell's Point, Currituck County, who was shot near the marshes of the Pine
Island Club in Currituck Sound on Thursday evening Nov. 25 and who died in St.
Vincent's Hospital Saturday morning, Nov. 27. Gallop, in the throes of death,
said he was shot by St. Clair LEWARK, a guard in
the employ of the Pine Island Club, His story is substantiated by James
SHANNON, a companion who was with him at the time
of the shooting. The bullet that killed him was of the type used in the
Winchester Automatics carried by guards who patrol the marshes owned by northern
businessmen in Currituck Sound.
The
shooting seems to have occurred between sunset and dark and
SHANNON says the shots were fired by guards of the
Pine Island Club from the Pine Island Club property. He says he recognized the
voice of LEWARK but in the semi-darkness he could
not positively identify him except for his voice. Others say they saw
LEWARK near the scene of the crime, going in an
opposite direction a few minutes after the fatal shot was fired.
SHANNON says he and
GALLOP were in a small boat hunting geese with decoys, having their
decoys in the sound, away from the marshes; the the guards hailed them and
opened fire on them. He says 12 or 16 shot in all were fired. When the first
shots were fired he and GALLOP dropped below the
gunwales of the boat. The fourth or fifth shot passed through the side of the
boat, struck young GALLOP and he (SHANNON)
called to the man on the marsh to quit firing, saying, "My God, you have killed
a man." SHANNON says the man on the marsh kept
firing till he had emptied his rifle. SHANNON
rowed and poled his boat to Powell's Point, a distance of nearly seven miles and
carried young GALLOP to his home in a dying
condition. The shot that killed GALLOP entered his
lower abdomen and plowed its way an upward course thru his intestines,
indicating that he was lying down when shot.
Lynching Feared
St. Clair
LEWARK and John WICKER,
guards of the Pine Island Clubs, were not indicted for the shooting until the
Saturday afternoon following. News of GALLOP's
death in Norfolk had not been received and they were released under bonds of
$250 each. They came to Elizabeth City Saturday night to consult a lawyer and
while they were in the office of attorney E.F. AYDLETT
the Chief of Police of Elizabeth City received a phone message from Sheriff
FLORA of Currituck to apprehend both men and hold
them for murder. They were arrested Sunday morning and placed in jail here.
From Thursday night until Saturday last week neither
LEWARK nor WICKER gave any indication of any
knowledge that anything had occurred. LEWARK and
WICKER, in jail here in Elizabeth City, proclaim
their innocence and declare they knew nothing about the shooting until they were
served with warrants last Saturday. And there is at least one reliable man who
is expected to swear that he was in conversation with
LEWARK at some other place at the very time the shooting is said to have
occurred.
Gallop's Neighbors Aroused
In endeavoring to get the facts concerning what may prove
the most sensational murder in this vicinity in a decade, I drove the length of
Currituck County this week interviewing many people. I found the people of
Powell's Point and immediate vicinity in an ugly mood and every one convinced
that LEWARK was the murderer off Derwood
GALLOP. In other parts of the county there was
little interest in the case and no one seemed to know the facts about it. There
were all sorts of rumors as to how it had happened.
Of one thing I am convinced: if LEWARK had
killed GALLOP it wasn't thru any prearrangement or
standing ill will. The men apparently did not know each other.
LEWARK says he never knew him.
GALLOP's mother says her son did know
LEWARK.
Lewark's Reputation
LEWARK bears a bad
reputation around Powell's Point, his old home, and a good reputation around
Poplar Branch where he has lived for several years past. He used to be a heavy
drinker and when drinking he was a bad man to mix with. He could hit hard and
shoot straight and had the reputation of being not afraid of anything or any
number of things walking on two legs. And when he wanted to beat up a man, he
never bothered about using his gun; he went after him with his compact fists.
It is told of him that on one occasion two men barricaded themselves behind a
boat upturned on a marsh and aiming their guns at him defied him to approach
them. He laid his gun aside and made for them thru the marsh, telling them they
didn't have the guts to shoot and he would clean up the pair of them if they
would stay where they were. The two men rushed their boat into the water and
got out of his way. No one ever called him a coward.
But at Poplar Branch they say that LEWARK quit
drinking several months ago, joined the church and has been leading a quiet
upright life. Men in daily contact with him say they have not heard him use an
oath in several months. He has a nice home at Poplar Branch, an attractive wife
to whom he has been married for 17 years, and three small children. He had been
employed as a guard by the Pine Island Club for the past six years and stands in
well with his employers. He was at one time in the U.S. Life Saving Service,
has at other times hunted and fished in Currituck Sound and is a typical
athletic, sinewy, fearless product of the coast country.
Derwood Gallop
Derwood GALLOP, the young man who was killed, was 24 years old, unmarried, and lived with his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Peter G. GALLOP, between Powell's Point and Mamie post offices in Currituck. He was a sturdy, steady, hard working boy according to all reports. C.H. BROCK, postmaster at Powell's Point, says he knew him well and that he was a boy who bore a good reputation in the neighborhood. He worked on his father's rented farm in the summer and, like most boys in that country, hunted and fished at other seasons.
Fuel to an Ancient Flame
The most deplorable side of the tragedy, aside from the
killing itself, is the fact that it has added fuel to the flames of resentment
against the northern sportsmen in the breasts of the natives. Four of five
clubs of northern sportsmen have acquired practically all of the marsh lands in
Currituck Sound and turned them into great game preserves where they bait the
wild ducks and other fowl for which the waters and marshes of Currituck are
famous. Their hunting on the marshes interferes but little with the hunting of
the natives, the latter doing their shooting from blinds and batteries in the
water. Shooting a duck at a time from the marshes doesn't appeal to the native;
he wants the open sound where ducks come not singly but in rafts and where a
keen eye and a nimble trigger can bag six birds or more a minutes as they fly.
The millionaire from Boston who comes down for a few days or a few weeks in
the winter couldn't shoot ducks as the natives do and is content to plod about
the marshes and pick off any old duck that comes along. The natives admit that
his shooting doesn't interfere with them in any way. But they believe that his
influence with legislators has interfered with them to the extent that whereas a
bag of 250 to 500 ducks a day was once common, the native is now permitted to
shoot only 25 birds a day and for only five days a week.
A few years ago commercial gunning brought thousands of dollars to the
people of Currituck at a season when they had no other source of revenue. The
markets of Philadelphia, New York and other cities paid fabulous prices for Red
Head and Canvassback ducks and thousands of ducks and geese were shipped from
Currituck to New York alone.
Blaming the Clubmen
And then legislation began to interfere. Market after
market was closed to them until only the home markets were left and the home
markets did not pay fancy prices for fancy birds. And then one day the gunners
were informed that, by some sort of treaty with Canada, the Federal Government
had undertaken the conservation of wild fowl and no more ducks or geese could be
killed for market. Any one person might kill so many as 25 ducks and eight
geese for himself on certain days, but he must not under penalty of a heavy fine
and imprisonment, kill more or offer any of his kill for sale.
The natives can not or do not want to understand what a treaty with Canada
has to do with cutting off their great sport and source of revenue. They will
only believe that the rich men from up north who are satisfied to kill a dozen
birds a day and who have invested thousands in club properties for their sport,
are responsible for this legislation. There has never been any love in the
heart of the native for the northern clubmen or for those employed by him.
Clashes between native hunters and the guardsmen of the clubs have been
frequent. The club owners have always insisted that they did not want violence
used to keep the natives off their property. But while they did not want
violence, they armed their guards with Winchester rifles carrying sixteen deadly
bullets at a time. Guards have been shot at and guards have threatened to shoot
native hunters, but this is the first time a guard had been arrested of shooting
to kill and killing. And that is the portentous thing about this late tragedy
in Currituck. Will it increase the hostility of the natives to a degree
dangerous to the clubmen and their property? That is a question which is
causing some folk to sleep uneasily in Currituck these dark November nights.
pg. 3
SAW MILL BURNED AT
COINJOCK LAST WEEK - The big saw mill and barrel factory at Coinjock
belonging to the Farmer's Manufacturing Co. burned down last Thursday night and
threw about 100 men out of employment, besides entailing a loss of about $6,000
and stopping a monthly payroll of $5,000 or more. This mill was the largest in
Currituck County and was a useful asset to the community in furnishing
employment to many men of both races, besides keeping a great many Currituck
farmers supplied with barrels for the shipments of their crops. It will hardly
be in operation again before the summer since it will have to be rebuilt
outright. The fire was of undetermined origin.
Friday - Dec. 10, 1920; pg. 1
GUARDS
HELD FOR THE MURDER
Lewark and
Wicker Sent On To March Term of Superior Court
St. Clair LEWARK and John
WICKER, guards of the Pine Island Club charged with
the murder of Derwood GALLOP of Powell's Point,
N.C. on Thursday, Nov. 25, were taken from the jail in Elizabeth City last
Saturday and carried to Currituck C.H. in their own county for a preliminary
hearing. Upon the evidence developed at the hearing Trial Justice
DeCORMIS of Currituck sent the case to the March
1921 term of the Superior Court of that county, remanding the men to jail
without bond. Sheriff FLORA of Currituck returned
the prisoners to the jail in this city immediately after the hearing, deeming it
advisable to hold the men here because of the intensity of feeling in their own
county.
A great crowd attended the preliminary hearing at Currituck Saturday and the
crowd was made up largely of friends of the man that was killed, but the crowd
was orderly and there was no demonstration toward the prisoners.
The leading witness for the state is James SHANNON,
the young man who was with GALLOP when he was
killed. SHANNON under oath testified that he knew
St. Clair LEWARK; that he and
GALLOP had words with LEWARK in the vicinity
of the Pine Island Club property; that LEWARK
threatened them and without provocation or warning opened fire on them with a
Winchester repeating rifle; and that LEWARK
continued firing upon them after the fatal shot had penetrated
GALLOP's vitals. John WICKER
was with LEWARK and is held as an accessory in the
crime.
LEWARK and WICKER
hold to their original declaration that they knew nothing about the killing and
never head of it until after it happened. A full account of the tragedy was
published in this newspaper last week.
pg. 3
PAYNE-PRITCHARD
- On Thursday evening last, at seven thirty, Mrs. Susan
PRITCHARD of this city and Captain Samuel PAYNE
of Powells Point, were quietly married at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. T.M.
WALKER on Burgess Street. The ceremony was
performed by Rev. J.W. BRADLEY in the presence of a
number of immediate friends and relatives. After December 7th Capt. and Mrs.
PAYNE will be at home in Powells Point.
pg. 8
FUNERAL OF EDWARD PAYNE - The
funeral services of Edward PAYNE of Powells Point
were held last Wednesday afternoon at Powells Point Baptist Church at 2 o'clock
by his pastor, Rev. J.L. WALDREP. The choir sang
the favorite hymns of the deceased, "Lead Kindly Light", "Leaning on the
Everlasting Arms", "Home of the Soul", and "He Knows It All". The funeral was
largely attended and many handsome floral offerings attested the respect and
esteem in which the deceased was held in his community.
Friday - Dec. 24, 1920; pg. 5
Friday - Jan. 7, 1921; pg. 10
Friday - Jan. 14, 1921; pg. 1
WELL KNOWN MAN
SUDDENLY DIES - After greeting a friend in a grocery store at Powell's Point
Monday afternoon, Samuel M.S. ROLLINSON, a
well-known resident of Elizabeth City, reeled and fell to the floor and died, a
victim of heart failure. Mr. ROLLINSON left here
Monday on the Powell's Point steamer to take orders at that point for the
wholesale grocery firm of E.L. Woodard & Company of Norfolk. In company with
A.S. MANN of Brock & Scott Produce Co. and D.D.
DUDLEY of Sharber & White Hardware Co. of this
city, he had complained of an annoying headache just before going aboard the
boat. While making the trip to Powell's Point he smoked two or three cigars and
talked at length of his younger days and the inconveniences he had undergone
while making trips on boats then, as compared
with
the accommodations now. After arriving at Powell's point he walked all the way
up the pier. He was unburdened as Mr. DUDLEY was
carrying his luggage. The pier is about a quarter of a mile long and Mr.
ROLLINSON remarked that a weak hear had often made
it necessary for him to make two or three stops while walking ashore from the
boat on former trips. Upon reaching the end of the pier the party continued the
trip to the C.H. Brock Store where Mr. ROLLINSON
went to take orders. A few casual remarks had been exchanged with D.A.
MORGAN who was there at the time when Mr.
ROLLINSON suddenly fell between Mr.
MANN and Mr. DUDLEY,
brushing them as he struck the floor. Mr. MANN
instantly stooped and raised the head of the stricken man, unloosing his collar
while Mr. DUDLEY chafed his wrists. Cold water was
brought and Mr. MANN bathed the forehead of Mr.
ROLLINSON without effect. He gave a gasp and lay
still. Mr. ROLLINSON was well known thruout
eastern North Carolina. He was born 56 years ago at Cape Hatteras where he
entered in business as a young man. While at Hatteras he was an active Sunday
School worker and bore the name of being the organizer and superintendent of the
best Sunday School in the Methodist Conference at that time. He moved to
Elizabeth City 23 years ago, took a position as salesman for J.B. Flora &
Company, later going in business for himself. He conducted a wholesale grocery
business here for several years until he lost the greater part of his stock by
fire. He afterwards worked for W.H. Weatherly Company. He spent several years
in Florida where he conducted a fruit farm. He came back to Elizabeth City five
or six years ago and has been a commercial traveler ever since. Because of his
genial manner and cosmopolitan disposition he was one of the most successful
salesmen this city has known. The deceased was a graduate of Trinity College,
was formerly a member of the Board of Aldermen of this city, was a Royal Arch
Mason, a member of the Junior Order and of the Red Men. He is survived by his
wife who was Miss Elizabeth FULCHER of Cape
Hatteras. He is also survived by one daughter, Mrs. Harry G.
KRAMER of this city; four sons: John
ROLLINSON of Savannah, Ga., Ronald G.
ROLLINSON of Norfolk, Harry G.
ROLLINSON and Alonza
ROLLINSON of this city; one brother, W.H. ROLLINSON
of Cape Hatteras; and one sister, Mrs. M.W. WILLIS
of Morehead City. The funeral was conducted from the First Methodist Church
Wednesday afternoon by the pastor, Rev. J.M. ORMOND.
The church choir sang "Grace, 'Tis a Charming Sound", "Beautiful Isle of
Somewhere", and "Face to Face". Eureka Lodge of Masons, of which Mr.
ROLLINSON was a member, turned out in body and
marched to Hollywood Cemetery where interment followed.
DOXEY-HAMPDEN - The marriage of Miss Minnie HAMPDEN to Mr. Leon DOXEY was solemnized at the Asbury M.E. Church at Coinjock last Wednesday evening by the pastor, Rev. J.J. LEWIS. The ceremony was witnessed by a large number of personal friends of the couple. Mr. DOXEY is a prosperous young farmer of the community and the bride is the young daughter of Mrs. Lavinia HAMPDEN of Coinjock. The couple is one of the most popular in that section. They will make their home in Coinjock.
pg. 5
HUNTING TRIP ENDED IN TRAGEDY LAST
WEEK - Oliver L. KEETER of South Norfolk was
drowned and Rev. E. Clyde SAWYER, pastor of the
South Norfolk Baptist Church, narrowly escaped when the rowboat which they were
rowing to a blind between Bell's Island and Long Point capsized last Thursday in
Currituck Sound. The party was on a ducking trip and had started to the blind.
Mr. KEETER was rowing the boat and Rev.
SAWYER was sitting down. When the cranky craft
upset, Mr. KEETER went overboard without an
opportunity to grasp anything. Rev. SAWYER
followed after. KEETER was dead when his body was
recovered and considerable time was required to resuscitate Rev.
SAWYER. The deceased was 31 years old and had a
wife and one child who survive him.
Friday - Jan. 28, 1921; pg. 6
ROBANNA GRIGGS - In the death
of Mrs. Robanna GRIGGS Powells Point loses a much
loved citizen. Born February 22, 1844 and for forty years a member of the
Christian Church which she attended regularly, she lived a life of conscientious
usefulness, a good neighbor, a faithful wife and a loving mother. She was the
widow of the late D.L. GRIGGS and the mother of
eight children: Dr. W.T. GRIGGS, ex-sheriff R.L.
GRIGGS, A.S. GRIGGS,
S.D. GRIGGS, D.L. GRIGGS,
J.W. GRIGGS, Mrs. J.F.
SUMMERILL and Mrs. J.B. OWENS. She leaves
35 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The funeral services were
conducted by Rev. J.N. DeSHIELDS and she was laid
to rest in the family burying ground.
Friday - Feb 11, 1921; pg. 10
Mrs. Bettie Gregory
BARNARD passed to her eternal reward January 20,
1921 in her seventieth year. She had been nursing Mrs. Caroline
TATUM at Aydlett, N.C. and late Tuesday evening
January 18th she left the house in good health and in less than an hour was
carried in unconscious. Her children and friends were called to her bedside at
one, who remained until her death which was from apoplexy of the brain. She is
survived by three sons and two daughters: J.L. GREGORY
and Henry GREGORY of Poplar Branch, C.W.
BARNARD of South Norfolk, Mrs. Adelia
TUTTLE of South Mills, N.C., and Mrs. Lindsey
DOWDY of Harbinger, N.C. She also leaves grief
stricken fourteen grandchildren and a host of friends to mourn their loss. May
God help us to live as she live, and many we meet in heaven.
Friday - Feb 25, 1921; pg. 3
pg. 4
HAYMAN-BELL - A pretty home
wedding was solemnized in this city Wednesday morning at 6:45 when Miss Ellen C.
BELL was married to Mr. Allan Hall
HAYMAN at the home of the bride on North Road
Street by Rev. George F. HILL, rector of Christ
Church, in the presence of a few intimate friends. The bride is a daughter of
Mrs. J.K. PARKER and the groom is a son of Mr. &
Mrs. T.B. HAYMAN.
pg. 8
MRS. MARTHA H. OWENS - The
funeral of Mrs. Martha H. OWENS, widow of the late
Alexander OWENS of Point Harbor, was held at her
old home last Saturday, Feb. 19th, 1921, services being conducted by Rev. Wm.
WALDORF of the Missionary Baptist Church and
interment was made in the family burial ground. Mrs.
OWENS is survived by her two sons, Alexander and Zachariah
OWENS of Point Harbor, and two daughters, Mrs. E.C.
GIBBS of Point Harbor and Mrs. R.W.
DEBNAM of Norfolk, Va., as well as several
grandchildren. In passing to the great beyond of Mrs. Martha H.
OWENS, the community loses a good Christian and a
woman whom everyone loved and respected. All her life was a shining light of
goodness.
Friday - March 4, 1921; pg. 1
LEWARK MURDER CASE AT CURRITUCK TUESDAY
Guards Held for the Murder of Durwood Gallop Near Poplar Branch on Nov. 25 Will Be Tried Next Week
A hard fought legal battle will be aged at Currituck C.H.
next week when St. Clair LEWARK and John
WICKER, late guards of the Pine Island Shooting
Club of that county, go on trial for the murder of Derwood
GALLOP, a young Currituckian who was shot to death while in the vicinity
of the Pine Island Club grounds on the evening of Thursday, Nov. 25, 1920.
The men who are being held for the murder are in jail here in Elizabeth
City, having been brought here for safe-keeping when they were arrested shortly
after the murder. Sentiment was strong against them in Currituck at the time of
their arrest and to forestall any possibility of violence the sheriff of
Currituck has kept his prisoners in the Pasquotank County jail in this city.
St. Clair LEWARK is 44 years old and is a man
of family. John WICKER is 37 years old and has a
wife and five children. At least one witness has declared that
LEWARK shot and killed Derwood
GALLOP. But both LEWARK
and WICKER are held for the murder since both are
alleged to have been together at the time of the shooting: both guards were in
the employ of the club.
The Pine Island Club, located near Poplar Branch on Currituck Sound, is a
domain of thousands of acres owned by northern sportsmen who use it during the
open season for wild ducks and geese. The property is one of seven similar
clubs in that county and is always under the protection of guardsmen who carry
Winchester rifles and who know how to use them. Clashes between armed guards in
the employ of the northern clubmen and natives who resent the private ownership
of hunting grounds have been frequent and in the past many shots have been
exchanged between these hostile groups.
Derwood GALLOP, age 24 years, was a son of Mr.
and Mrs. Peter GALLOP living near Powells Point
several miles from the Pine Island Club grounds. On Thursday, Nov. 25, young
GALLOP left his home in company with a young man
named John SHANNON for the purpose of hunting
geese. They carried a complete equipment including decoys.
After their day's sport and night approaching, they found themselves off
against the property of the Pine Island Club. One version of the story says
they were trespassing on the property. John SHANNON
has said that he and GALLOP were hailed by the Pine
Island guards and that one of these guards instantly opened fire with an
automatic rife, firing 12 or 16 shots into the boat.
GALLOP and SHANNON dropped below the
gunwales of their little craft but one of the bullets plowing its way thru the
thin planking of the boat buried itself in GALLOP's
abdomen. He died a few hours later. SHANNON is
positive LEWARK did the shooting.
LEWARK stoutly proclaims his innocence and will endeavor to prove that he
was not in the vicinity of the shooting at the time it occurred.
Able counsel will appear on both sides of the case when it comes up for
trial Tuesday. The defendants will be represented by Aydlett & Simpson and
Meekins & McMullan of Elizabeth City. Solicitor J.C.B.
EHRINGHAUS for the State will be assisted by Congressman-elect H.S.
WARD of Washington, N.C. The resources of the
clubmen are on the side of the defendants. The prejudices of native gunners are
against the guards. It may be hard to pick a jury of unbiased mortals in
Currituck.
Friday - March 11, 1921; pg. 1
COAST GUARD LOCATED
HIS FLYING DAUGHTER - Having had no word in seven days from his daughter,
Mrs. B.D. SEVERN, who left Miami, Fla. on Feb. 29
in an airplane to visit her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.J.
TATE at Coinjock, Mr. TATE called on the U.S. Coast Guard offices in this
city Monday of this week to help him locate his daughter. The Coast Guard
office flashed a wireless message down the coast, located the lost plane at
Tybee Beach near Savannah, Ga., and in a few hours Mr.
TATE was assured that all was well with his children. Mrs.
SEVERN and her husband left Miami on Feb. 20
expecting to arrive at Currituck a few days later. They encountered bad weather
and laid up on Tybee Beach but failed to notify their parents of their
whereabouts. Mr. SEVERN is a professional aviator
and owns a passenger carrying machine which he flies at Atlantic City during the
summer season and at Florida coast resorts in winter. Mr.
TATE knew to call the Coast Guard for information because his father was
captain of Kitty Hawk Life Saving Station as far back as 1875 and Mr.
TATE knew how well the Coast Guard keeps an eagle
eye on every foot of the coast, every minute of every hour, night or day. It is
also a fact that Mr. TATE helped build the first
heavier than air flying machine, Wilbur and Orville WRIGHT
having conducted their original experiments at Mr. TATE's
old home at Kill Devil Hill. Having had a hand in building the first machine
that ever flew and having lived to see one of his daughters married and carried
away by an aviator, Mr. TATE doesn't want the
history of his finger in aviation to be marred by a tragedy at his late date.
pg. 1 (cont. on pg. 10)
ASKS FOR A 2nd DEGREE VERDICT
Trial of Lewark and Wicker Under Way at Currituck Court House
Currituck C.H., N.C., Mar. 10, 1921 - After exhausting a
special venire of 150 names and calling another venire of 25 a jury of twelve
was secured in the case of State against St. Clair LEWARK
and John WICKER at Currituck C.H. at 1:15 o'clock
this afternoon. The jury was immediately empanelled and the taking of testimony
had begun as this newspaper went to press.
The jurors are: T.W. JONES, G.C.
JONES, W.U. BALLANCE,
H.E. MORRISETTE, C.M. CAYTON,
C.H. MEADS, Frank BALLANCE,
A.P. BARCO, Wm. POYNER,
B.L. GRAY, Sidney HARTLEY
and Luther SCAFF.
The State asks for a second degree murder verdict and the sentiment in
Currituck which at one time foreshadowed a trial for murder in the first degree
seems to have reacted in favor of the defendants.
Hon. T.C. BOWIE of Ashe County is assistant to
Solicitor EHRINGHAUS in the prosecution. The
defense is represented by Aydlett & Simpson and Meekins & McMullan of Elizabeth
City.
Judge ALLEN convened court at 10 o'clock
Tuesday morning. The crowds began to flock inside the building immediately upon
response to the notice from the crier. In ten minutes the crowd had filled
every usable seat, had overrun into the aisles, had packed the room from the
entrance to the bar and occupied every obtainable chair inside the rail.
Eighteen men, comprising the grand jury, was quickly empanelled and the notable
quietness of the room attested the deep interest shown in the charge of the
Judge.
"A notable thing it is," said Judge ALLEN,
"that nobody has asked to be excused and I thing we have begun the day well."
After opening his charge with these words, his honor charged the jury at length
regarding the grave responsibility accruing from its position. "I feel no
hesitancy in saying that in spite of all averred to the contrary, that crime is
on the increase and evils abroad in the country grow more rampant daily. It is
doubtful that education and enlightenment have materially contributed to the
decrease of crime in the state, for with all the enlargement and advancement of
the educational facilities, it is obvious that crime is on the increase daily
and manifests itself in many forms unknown a short time ago."
Judge ALLEN was of the opinion that the
increase in crime cannot be attributed to a lowering of morals or a lessening
sense of responsibility in the public mind, but held that new conditions and new
reforms new at work have not had sufficient time to work the constructive
influences necessary to take the place of the evil ones now being discarded.
Any place left vacant is soon occupied and unless good influences may work,
there is much opportunity for evil to enter in. Judge
ALLEN's charge struck a responsive note in the hearts of his hearers for
he was heard with rapt attention.
After the grand jury retired, the disposal of several small cases occupied
an hour and during that time the crown of spectators thinned considerably.
About 12 o'clock LEWARK and
WICKER were brought into the court room and the crowd returned
immediately behind the prisoners and jammed the room as before. The crowd
filled the open windows, hung upon the rail, stood on the seats and made use of
every point of vantage in the building. The crowds on the rail cut off the view
of those in the rear, and the aisles were packed so dense as to hinder court
officers from passing in and out of the building. The audience was repeatedly
requested to clear the aisles, but it was to no avail. As soon as one clear,
newcomers entered the room and filled them tight again.
Finding a Jury
Finding a jury for this important case was no easy task.
A special venire of 150 names of men living in the several townships was drawn
and summons were sent these men thru neighbors who were at court. Many men
stayed away from court as no one was anxious to get on this jury, but the
special venire caught them anyway. Those men whose names were drawn were
summoned to appear at the courthouse Wednesday at 2:30.
At 2:30 on Wednesday the press of unfinished business postponed the trial
and the special venire was dismissed for the day with orders to be on hand on
Thursday morning.
Much Interest Manifested
More interest has been manifested in the
LEWARK trial this week than has been shown in
northeastern North Carolina in any case in many a year. Visitors flocked from
five counties and before noon, fully 500 people had gathered on the grounds.
Every available fence post was utilized for hitching and cars were parked in the
vicinity on every convenient foot of space. Hundreds came by water and many
small boats were anchored in the sound abreast of [pg. 10]
the courthouse. The day was an unusually warm one for March and the still air
magnified the humming of many voices emanating from groups in the courthouse
area where the case was being discussed.
The automobile which brought the prisoners from Elizabeth City arrived at the
Currituck courthouse at 9:30. Sheriff FLORA
accompanied the prisoners fully armed in anticipation of any violence, but none
developed and none seemed imminent or impending. Those who were excitedly
discussing the affair didn't allow the situation to get the better of their
judgment. The Currituck people conducted themselves soberly and sensibly and
little notice was shown in either the arrival of the car or its occupants other
than a lull in the conversation when some of the crowd turned their gaze toward
the jail where the automobile stopped 20 feet away. A few friends moved forward
to greet the prisoners, but no hostile jeers were heard and no crowds advanced
around or toward the car.
LEWARK and WICKER,
the men charged with the crime, stepped to the ground without any sign of
emotion other than a grim smile or two at the few greeting friends. The two
seemed evidently none the worse for their long stay in the Pasquotank County
jail, but signs of sleeplessness were evident and accentuated the pallor
occasioned by long incarceration. Upon a motion from the sheriff, they quietly
entered the jail and court was immediately convened.
Derwood Gallop
Derwood GALLOP, the victim
of the tragedy, would have been 23 years old on February last. His life had
been an uneventful one. After finishing the common school at Powell's Point, he
removed with the family to Portsmouth, Va. where his father, Peter G.
GALLOP, was employed in Shop 68 of the Norfolk Navy
Yard as a boat builder. Young GALLOP spent four
years in Portsmouth, during which time he was first employed as a painter's
helper in the Navy Yard and later he worked with the Anheuser-Busch Cold Storage
plant on Boush Street. He moved back to Powell's Point about the first of last
September with the family. After coming back he entered into partnership with a
neighbor and rented a farm which he had planned to cultivate this year. During
the Fall he hunted and fished with other young men of the neighborhood and it
was on a hunting trip with a relative of his mother's, Jim
SHANNON, that he met his death.
The parents of Derwood GALLOP found itself in
straightened circumstances under the press of the hospital, undertaker's and
other bills occasioned by the tragedy, with little money on hand to pay these
bills and prosecute the suspect, it was found necessary to appeal to friends and
from many sections of Currituck and adjacent counties, subscriptions were made
up to fight the case.
Friday - March 18, 1921; pg. 1
YOUNG AVIATOR
PURSUED ON CHARGE OF THEFT - The pleasures of an airplane flight from Miami,
Fla. to Coinjock, N.C. were rudely interrupted for Bennett D.
SEVERN last week when a warrant was sworn out for
his arrest charging him with the theft of the very airplane in which he was make
the flight. But the states not having perfected an aerial police service, young
SEVERN wasn't captured even when he landed at
Coinjock last Friday and lingered a while in the bosom of the family of his
father-in-law, W.J. TATE, of that place.
SEVERN left Coinjock for parts unknown and his
father-in-law insisted that he is not guilty of stealing the plane, but is the
victim of a spite warrant. Mr. TATE says the
airplane belongs to Howard F. HILLYARD of Camden,
N.J. and that his son-in-law is delivering the plane to Mr.
HILLYARD. The warrant charging the theft was sworn
out by one E.K. JACQUITH at Miami, Fla. Mr.
TATE says the case will be fought out in the courts
of New Jersey. SEVERN wired Mr.
TATE from Miami on March 31 stating that he and his
wife were leaving there for Coinjock. Mr. TATE was
advised of the progress of the flight from day to day and then no word came for
a week. Mr. TATE called on the U.S. Coast Guard
with its vigilant wireless located Mr. and Mrs. SEVERN
in Tybee Beach near Savannah, Ga. where it is said they had put in on account of
bad weather. But the officers with warrants never thought of using the Coast
Guard to locate their man.
pg. 1 (cont. on pg. 8)
VERDICT
MEANT MUCH TO CLUBS
Conviction
of Lewark and Wicker Would Have Hurt Every Shooting Club in Currituck County
St. Clair
LEWARK and John WICKER,
charged with the murder of Derwood GALLOP on the
marshes of Pine Island Club on Nov. 25, 1920, were acquitted of the charge by a
jury in the Superior Court of Currituck County on Saturday evening, Mar. 13,
after a trial of three days.
No matter that Judge Oliver H. ALLEN told the
jury that the case against LEWARK was one of the
plainest for the State he had ever seen: no matter that no one else has been
suspected of the murder of GALLOP: no matter that
the acquittal of LEWARK and
WICKER leaves a mystery yet unsolved: the jury brought in a verdict of
Not Guilty.
Derwood GALLOP on his death bed declared that
the man who did the fatal shooting was St. Clair LEWARK.
James SHANNON, a young man who was with
GALLOP at the time of the shooting says that
LEWARK fired the shots that killed. But
LEWARK swore that he didn't and Dr. J.C.
BAUM, superintendent of Pine Island Club, helped to
make out an alibi for both LEWARK and
WICKER.
When the murder was first committed it was felt necessary to bring the
accused men to Elizabeth City for safe-keeping, so intense was the feeling
against them in Currituck. But sentiment reacted before the trial.
LEWARK has powerful friends. The club owners too
were interested in the case---intensely interested. If the guards of Pine
Island Club had been convicted of killing a resident gunner, every Club in
Currituck County would have been given a black-eye from which recovery would
have been difficult. The acquittal of LEWARK and
WICKER meant much to the club owners. This
newspaper will not attempt a rehash of all the evidence in the case, but the
testimony of the principal witnesses is here given.
Shannon's Story
James SHANNON, star witness
for the state, told his story frankly and with an air of conviction. He is
about 31 years old and said he had known GALLOP
since babyhood, having lived near him in Currituck County for about 18 years.
The young man had called him Uncle Jim. He had left home at one o'clock on the
day of the shooting, joined GALLOP at Betsey's
Creek near Powell's Point, and set out in a rowboat to hunt geese. Each carried
a gun, SHANNON had 22 shells and
GALLOP eleven. He said they didn't fire a shot
that day.
The quest for geese led them to Pine Island about five miles away where the
club is located. There they went in an indentation known as Ark Cove but did
not go ashore. He said he espied LEWARK and
WICKER poling a rowboat around the marsh toward
them. He said the sun had just gone down behind the trees to the westward of
the sound but the light was sufficient to recognize LEWARK
whom he had known for 10 or 15 years. LEWARK was
pushing the boat and WICKER was sitting in the
bow. When the other boat had come within 30 or 35 years of his boat, he said
LEWARK called to him and
SHANNON, saying "You damn s.o.b's don't come ashore." He said he made no
response [pg. 8] but GALLOP
turned the boat to the southward. When they had gotten 100 or 125 yards away
from the boat of the gunners, he said LEWARK called
"Hey," and immediately opened fire upon them with a high powered rifle. At the
first shot GALLOP pulled the oars across the boat
and slid under the seat. SHANNON said
LEWARK fired five times and the fifth shot plowed
thru the port side of the skiff and entered the abdomen of
GALLOP on the left side, the young man crying out, "Don't shoot no more
LEWARK, you have killed one man."
SHANNON said he then screamed to
LEWARK, saying, "Don't shoot no more, we are going
home." He testified that LEWARK fired eight or ten
more shots while he (SHANNON) was trying to fix a
coat in the bottom of the boat for GALLOP to lay
on. That after the last shots were fired he picked up the oars and rowed three
or four miles to Sower's Camp for help. Finding no one at the camp he took a
rug from the premises and wrapped around Derwood then began rowing home while
the young man kept saying he was going to die. SHANNON
said he told GALLOP he was not going to die. He
also stated that GALLOP said
LEWARK shot him. After rowing about three miles back to the creek, he
then left the boy in the boat and went to the home of a colored man, Eli
SAUNDERS, for help. Then he went after a doctor.
SHANNON said he saw LEWARK
pick up the rifle from the boat and that LEWARK did
all the shooting.
Cross examined by Mr. AYDLETT, one of the
attorney's for the defense, SHANNON said he did not
remember the exact time they reached the island, but got over there before
sundown, their purpose bring to shoot geese that night. He said they had
stopped at Ark Cove Island but had not gone ashore as they were waiting for
geese. He said he and GALLOP were going north when
they saw LEWARK and WICKER,
the former daring them to come ashore. He said they had started back home when
LEWARK shot. He said he felt the wind of the
bullets, one of which it the right side of the boat at an angle. He had known
LEWARK for 12 or 14 years he said, and there was no
ill will between them. Their relations were friendly and
LEWARK had towed him ashore once when he was broken down and at another
time had taken him to a store on the Currituck peninsula. He testified that
when he saw LEWARK the sun was behind the woods.
He said he had seen no hunters but one that day. This man was tired out goosing
and was too far away to be recognized. He had heard no shooting except one
gun. He further testified that he didn't see WICKER
do anything but that LEWARK was shoving the boat
and picked up the gun and did all the shooting.
At this time there was a consultation among counsel for the defense, who
being prompted by Judge ALLEN, told the witness to
stand down. The time was 4:10.
The Father's Testimony
Peter G.
GALLOP, the father of the young man, took the
stand. He said his son was 22 years and eight months old at the time of his
death. The boy was not a regular hunter. Peter GALLOP
said he was building a house not far away and did not see his son leave to go
goosing but saw him when he returned, suffering greatly from one bullet wound in
the left side. The young man lived until Saturday morning, dying in St.
Vincent's Hospital in Norfolk, and that while in the hospital his son stated
that LEWARK did the shooting. (Here the father
burst into tears) Taking his father's hand he told him to feel the wound,
saying he was going to die. GALLOP said he told
his son he was not going to die and the boy replied, "I can't live, I am shot
too bad". He said he questioned his son as to the motive of
LEWARK and the boy replied that the didn't know
unless it was because he laughed at LEWARK.
Cross-examined by Attorney McMULLAN of the
defense, GALLOP said his son got home at seven
minutes after eight that night, and that Dr. NEWBERN
got there about an hour later. He said the boy was in great pain and wished to
be handled carefully and told him that the shooting took place a little after
sunset.
His son knew LEWARK he said, because he had
seen them together at a protracted meeting. He also stated that he questioned
his son after the shooting to make sure of their acquaintance and the young man
replied that he knew LEWARK.
The witness stood down at 4:45 and the state rested. The defense was
granted a few minutes consultation before proceeding. Mr.
GALLOP took the stand again and was questioned about the colored man who
carried the boy home from the boat. The witness said Eli
SAUNDERS, the colored man, hitched his horse to a cart and took the boy
to the house.
Lewark's Examination
LEWARK took the stand at 5 o'clock Thursday
afternoon. He said he was 44 years old, had lived most of his life in the
county, and worked as watchman for the Pine Island Club six months out of the
year for a period of six years. WICKER had been
with him three years and they lived in a camp on the marsh near the club house,
and north of Ark Cove.
He said he had been building some dykes on the morning of Thanksgiving, the
day of the shooting, later carrying the barge ashore that he was using, so as to
remove and engine and carry it ashore to use for sawing wood. He towed the
barge with a big boat he had and then went in the boat to stick a big stake so
that he might tie his boat off shore where the water was deep, afterwards going
back to camp and arriving there about 2:30 p.m. He got his dinner and dropped
his boat out over the shoals and at 3:00 shoved down the shore in a skiff and
took up some eel pots, coming back to camp within about an hour of sundown.
Seeing some geese in the marsh nearby, he took his shotgun and killed three and
came back to camp just as the sun was going down.
During the afternoon he was within sight of a blind where a Mr.
OGDEN and Dr. Julian BAUM,
club member and superintendent respectively, were waiting for geese.
LEWARK testified that two men named
AYDLETT and McHARNEY
were acting as guides for the two hunters. He said when he got back to camp
right at sundown, he found WICKER there standing on
a ladder at the end of the camp. He said he climbed on the ladder with
WICKER and with a pair of glasses, saw Dr.
BAUM and his companions take up the decoys and
start for the clubhouse. This was about 25 minutes after sundown.
He said he saw no others during the day except a boat or two at a distance,
which apparently contained fisherman. During the day he was nowhere near Ark
Cove, carried no rifle and saw neither SHANNON nor
GALLOP, consequently did not speak to them that
day. He said he didn't know GALLOP and had never
seen him that he knew of, but was acquainted with SHANNON
and had towed him in.
LEWARK also testified that corn sedge grew in
varying heights between the point where he was and Ark Cove Island. That he
could not be seen from Ark Cove Island but that there was nothing to prevent Dr.
BAUM from seeing him that afternoon. He said he
could not have reached Ark Cove unobserved by Dr. BAUM
without rowing around the island, a trip which would ordinarily require about
three hours.
The first information that he received of the killing, he said, was at the
club house on Friday night when Dr. BAUM asked if
he had had any trouble the night before and told of the shooting of
GALLOP and that the guards were accused of the
crime. He said he then went back to the camp and told
WICKER. The next morning they went fishing and that afternoon were
arrested and put under bond for their appearance on the following Saturday.
That night they heard GALLOP was dead and Sunday
night they went to Elizabeth City to see Mr. AYDLETT,
Dr. BAUM and Curtis BAUM,
a nephew of the doctor, accompanying them. They were arrested on their way out
of the office of Mr. AYDLETT.
LEWARK said it was five miles from Pine Island
to Betsey's Creek and the trip there via Sower's Camp, with steady rowing,
should require as much as one hour to go two miles; after the first hour he
intimated that the progress would be slower as the rower would be more
fatigued. The trip, he said, would take four hours or more.
He said he had not been drinking that day and had not taken a drink since
September the first. LEWARK's lawyer concluded his
examination at 4:55.
The cross-examination for the state was led by Hallet S.
WARD. WARD brought
out the distinction between marsh guard and watchman.
LEWARK said they were all the same. In response to the examination he
state that he had three rifles at the camp, one of them being of 44 caliber. He
said he carried the rifles there for protection against anything that might
bother him, as marsh guards was assumed a dangerous occupation due to the ill
will between native hunters and the club men. He said he had shot nothing with
the rifles except a wild hog some time back which charged on him. Questioned
about being a good shot, he said he ought to have been able to kill the hog as
he was only 20 feet away.
He said his camp was about a mile and a half from the club house, that the
island was about three miles long and two miles wide.
Corroborating Lewark
Corroborating
LEWARK's testimony on direct examination, John D.
WICKER, second defendant on trial for the murder of
Durwood GALLOP, testified that he did not leave
camp after half past three o'clock on Thanksgiving afternoon and neither he nor
LEWARK saw GALLOP or
SHANNON during the day, nor were either of them at
any time during the entire day in sight of the cove where the shooting is
alleged to have occurred.
Further corroborating LEWARK, Dr. J.C.
BAUM, superintendent of the Pine Island Club,
testified that on Thanksgiving afternoon he was in a blind between the camp of
the guards and the alleged scene of the shooting and that the guards were under
his observation for practically the entire afternoon and that he did not see
them going toward or coming from the place where the shooting is said to have
occurred during the entire afternoon and that he did not leave the blind until
after sunset.
Friday - March 25, 1921; pg. 4
THREATENS TO SUE
CURRITUCK COUNTY - Declared that he has been outraged by the Associated
Press and the authorities of Currituck County, Bennet
SEVERN, a young Atlantic City, N.J. aviator who was arrested in Currituck
the other day on a charge of stealing a $10,000 airplane from Miami, Fla.,
threatens to bring suit for damages against the Associated Press and the county
of Currituck. The indictment against young SEVERN
has been withdrawn. SEVERN is a son-in-law of W.J.
TATE of Coinjock, and was flying from Miami to
Coinjock when a warrant charging him with the theft of the plane was issued in
Miami and sent to the sheriff of Currituck County. SEVERN
at first eluded the sheriff, in meantime putting out a statement that he was
innocent of the charge. Later he gave himself up to the sheriff and was placed
under bond for appearance at court. The next development in the case was a
telegram from the Miami authorities stating the charge against
SEVERN had been withdrawn and he was promptly
released by Currituck authorities. But SEVERN
isn't satisfied. He say he has been held up before the country as a thief and
he wants redress. He says the warrant was the spite-work of an enemy who sought
to embarrass him.
Friday - April 1, 1921; pg. 5
MRS. CAROLINE TATEM
- Mrs. Caroline TATEM was nearing her 82nd birthday
when the Master came for her to walk with Him and be at rest. It was March 19,
1921 when the Death Angel made its appearance. Sunday afternoon, March 20,
1921, Mrs. TATEM was laid to rest in the family
burial ground, her funeral having been held in Ebenezer Church. The great crowd
at the funeral showed the high esteem in which she was held.
Friday - April 8, 1921; pg. 6
CAROON-VOLKMAN -
Nathan H. CAROON of this county and Mrs. Matilda
VOLKMAN, widow of the late J.T.
VOLKMAN of Powell's Point, were married here
Tuesday morning.
Friday - April 15, 1921; pg. 4
POYNERS NOT GUILTY
- Benjamin and Thomas POYNER charged with the
felonious shooting of Sam CRANE at their home near
Coinjock on the night of Sunday, March 13, were found not guilty when their case
came to trial in the Recorder's Court of Currituck this week. The evidence was
that CRANE, probably under the influence of liquor,
tried to force an entrance to the home of Ben POYNER
and Tom POYNER emptied a load of bird shot into
him. CRANE was ill for several weeks from the
effects of the shot.
Friday - April 22, 1921; pg. 10
STAPLES-KNIGHT -
Curtis Seymore STAPLES and Miss Mabel
KNIGHT, both of Currituck County, were married in
Elizabeth City Monday morning.
Friday - June 10, 1921; pg. 6
Friday - August 5, 1921; pg. 4
RETIRED FROM LIGHT HOUSE SERVICE AFTER OVER 33 YRS. - Capt. Nathan H.
SWAIN, for 16 years keeper of the lighthouse on
Currituck Beach, has been retired from the service. Capt.
SWAIN had been in the lighthouse service over 33 years. For eleven years
he was Keeper of Wade Point Light; for four years he was Keeper of North River
Light and was one of the best known and most popular Keepers in this district.
Capt. SWAIN is succeeded by his first assistant,
W.R. AUSTIN, and G.G. JOHNSON
has been promoted to the rank of first assistant at Currituck Beach. Capt.
SWAIN was 65 years old on June 20, 1921.
Friday - August 26, 1921; pg. 1
MEANS REHASH OF THE LEWARK MURDER CASE - The Pine Island Club, an
organization of Northern sportsmen who own club buildings and several thousand
acres of marsh in Currituck County, are the defendants in a civil action
brought by Peter
GALLOP
of Currituck County. Peter
GALLOP
is the father of Derwood
GALLOP,
a young man who was killed on the property of the Pine Island Club last
Thanksgiving Day. On his death bed young
GALLOP
claimed that he was shot to death by St. Clair
LEWARK,
a guard employed by the Pine Island Club.
LEWARK
and John
WICKER,
another guard, were indicted for the murder and held in the Pasquotank County
jail in this city until the March term of the Superior Count in Currituck. At
this court they were tried and acquitted. The State acquitted the guards but
has never answered the question of who killed Derwood
GALLOP.
To make the defendants, the Pine Island Club, responsible for the death of
GALLOP,
it is necessary to fix the killing of young
GALLOP
upon
LEWARK
or some other connected with the defendant Club. And so Currituck will get a
rehash of this sensational case. But if the Civil Court fixes the murder upon
either
LEWARK
or
WICKER,
it will not affect their present status. They were tried for their lives and
acquitted and that is the end of it so far as they are concerned.
Friday - September 2, 1921; pg. 1
ACCUSED OF TAKING ANOTHER MAN'S WIFE - The fall term of the
Superior Court of Currituck County for the trial of criminal and civil cases
will convene at Currituck C.H. Monday, September 5. The judge residing will be
Hon. J. Lloyd
HORTON
of Farmville, Pitt County, who is the youngest Superior Court Judge in the state
and probably the youngest man to have ever been elected to the Superior Court
judiciary in North Carolina. Judge
HORTON
is 28 years old. The older lawyers were not enthusiastic over Judge HORTON at
first but in the few cases from the bench he has won the respect and admiration
of the older lawyers. There are few cases of importance to come before the
Court next week but one is the case of the State against Tom
EVANS,
a young man charged with the crime of harboring the wife of another man. The
State charges that
EVANS
lured the wife of Mark
GRANDY
to Norfolk and there lived with her and her two children for several weeks.
EVANS was brought to trial at the last term of Court in Currituck but the case
resulted in a mistrial at that time.
Friday - September 9, 1921; pg. 1
PLAYED WITH JUDGE, GOT 30 DAYS IN JAIL - After having been
acquitted of a charge of violating the prohibition laws, Ed.
BEALS,
a young white man of Grandy, got 30 days in jail for contempt of Court.
BEALS
was arraigned in the Superior Court Monday on a charge of having liquor in his
possession but the State's witnesses forgot all they might have known when they
took the stand and
BEALS
was acquitted. Feeling good over his release,
BEALS
left court and celebrated his release by taking several drinks. He appeared as
a witness in another case in the same court later in the day and in the midst of
cross-examination by Solicitor
EHRINGHAUS
he admitted that he had been drinking. Asked how many drinks he had had,
BEALS
said two. Judge
HORTON
wanted to know where he got them.
BEALS
said he got one at home and the other out of an automobile. He didn't remember
whose automobile and laughed about it. He thought he was having fun with the
Court but Judge
HORTON
didn't think it was funny at all and gave Mr.
BEALS
30 days in jail to laugh it off. Reports from Currituck jail are to the effect
that
BEALS
hasn't laughed since.
Friday - September 23, 1921; pg. 1
Friday - September 30, 1921; pg. 1
S.G. SAWYER DEAD - S.G.
SAWYER,
one of the best known farmers and business men of lower Currituck County, died
in Sarah Leigh Hospital in Norfolk, Va. last Friday night following an operation
in that hospital. Mr.
SAWYER's
home was at Harbinger. He was 57 years old and is survived by a wife and ten
children: Grover, Walter, Sam, Robert Lee, James, Julia, Luray, Beatrice,
Louise, and Mrs. Francis Doyle; by one brother and three half-brothers.
Friday - October 7, 1921; pg. 1
Friday - October 7, 1921; pg. 3
BELANGIA-WATERFIELDS - Miss Edith
WATERFIELDS
became the bride of Alveston
BELANGIA
in a quiet wedding Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 28. Friends of this popular
couple were given a mild surprise Wednesday afternoon when it was learned that
they had gone to the Baptist Pastorium in Mamie, N.C. and were married. No
previous announcement had been made. The ceremony was performed by Rev. J.I.
WALDREP
in the presence of a few friends and relatives. Mr.
BELANGIA,
a son of Mr. and Mrs. John
BELANGIA,
is a prosperous farmer at Jarvisburg, N.C. Miss
WATERFIELDS,
a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.M.
WATERFIELDS
of Mamie, is a lovable and talented young woman.
Friday - October 14, 1921; pg. 1
pg. 7
MAPLE COUPLE WED HERE - Mr.
W.A. SNOWDEN, postmaster and merchant at Maple,
N.C., and Miss Mary Anne GRIGGS, a popular school
teacher of that place, were married here Wednesday, Oct. 12. The wedding was at
the home of Rev. Geo. W. CLARKE.
Friday - October 28, 1921; pg. 10
Friday - November 4, 1921; pg. 12
MRS JOB FORBES - Mrs.
Job FORBES, an aged and well-known resident of this
city, died at her home on Main Street Saturday, Oct. 29 following a short
illness. She is survived by two sons, J.L. FORBES
of Norfolk and J.P. FORBES of Currituck; by three
daughters: Mrs. J.L. DUNTON of Waterlily, Mrs. W.T.
HUMPHLETT and Mrs. J.M.
BRINSON of this city; by two sisters, Mrs. Jennie
WOODARD of Currituck and Mrs. Gus TATUM of
Norfolk; by one brother, Holloway TATUM of
Currituck; and by a number of grandchildren.
Friday - November 11, 1921; pg. 3
SAUNDERS-O'NEILL - Mr.
Alonzo Percy SAUNDERS and Miss Sarah
O'NEILL of Aydlett, Currituck County, were married
in Elizabeth City last Saturday. Mr. SAUNDERS is a
popular young farmer of the Narrow Shore neighborhood in Currituck and Miss
O'NEILL is the attractive daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Wallace O'NEILL of Aydlett. Mr. and Mrs.
SAUNDERS will make their home at Aydlett.
Friday - December 2, 1921; pg. 13
Friday - December 16, 1921; pg. 6
Unless otherwise noted, these articles were contributed by Kay Midgett Sheppard. No part of this document may be used for any commercial purposes. However, please feel free to copy any of this material for your own personal use and family research. If you find anything in these records that pertains to your families, it is strongly suggested that you look at the original record on your own to check for errors or possibly other additional and helpful information.
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© 2005 Kay M. Sheppard