Newspapers / Daily Herald (Roanoke Rapids, … / May 15, 1941, edition 1 / Page 13
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,___ THE ROANOKE RAPIDS ___ SECTION "B" DIAL K-336 ALL DEP’TS THURSDAY, MAY 15, 1941 SECTION B—PAGE 1 WOUNDS PRISONER WHO ATTEMPTS TO FLEE INTO SWAMP Man Is Charged Intent To Rape Local White Girl Herbert Johnson, Negro of near the city, was shot and seriously wounded by Police Chief H. E. Dobbins last Friday about 11 o’ clock. The wounded man's condi tion was considered grave early this week. The Negro was shot as he at tempted to escape into a swamp south of Highway 158 a few hun dred yards west of Tilghman’s Cross Roads. He had opened the door of the car in which Chief Dobbins was bringing him to jail here. Having escaped the grasp of Chief Dobbins and of John Black, who was in the car with the Negro and Mr. Dobbins, the prisoner darted across the field toward the swamp and in the gen eral direction of the colored homes about a quarter of a mile away. Mr. Dobbins said this week that he called to the Negro to stop but he kept going. The officer then fired a couple of shots at the man’s feet When this failed to scare the Negro into stopping, Mr. Dobbins said he fired at his legs. The Negro gave way momentarily after the shot but did not stop. Then it was that the officer fir ed at the Negro’s hip. Just as he fired, the Negro stepped into a slight depression apparently, Mr. Dobbins stated, causing the bul let to take effect in the side. However, the fleeing man did not stop even then, but made it into the edge of the swamp and disappeared from sight. The officer then drove his car into the territory where the Ne gro went into the swamp. There he sent word for assistance while he kept watch to keep the Ne gro from escaping further into the swamp or to the colored homes nearby. After several minutes other or ficers arrived on the scene and a search was started. The Negro was found within a few feet of where he had gone into the bush es. He had fallen in mud and was covered when found. Mr. Dob bins had been within a few feet of the wounded man all the time but had not heard any outcry. The Negro was then brought to the hospital here where it was discovered that the last shot of the officer had taken effect in the side, the bullet passing through his upper intestines and lodging in his ribs. Another bullet had passed through his leg just below the knee. The shooting was an outgrowth of an alleged assault with the in tention to committ rape on a young white woman Sunday night, May 4. Alta Mae Hatfield, whose home is on the Weldon Road east of the city, was the victim of the assault. Miss Hatfield and Sallie Hat field told officers that they were walking down the railroad from the Junction toward their home on the night of May 4 when the Negro approached them and grab bed Alta Mae by the arm. She i said that she and the other wo man screamed and the Negro ran. Monday morning, May 5, the father of the two women describ ed the Negro to John Black, who operates a service station near the Junction. Black stated that he believed from the description the man gave that the alleged attack er was the same man who had been loitering around his place for several nights. The Negro had told Black at one time that he was waiting for his wife to get off the bus there. Black had never learn ed the man’s name. Black is said to have watched for the Negro, planning to notify the police if he saw the Negro a gain. On Thursday night Black saw the Negro again and notified Po liceman W. M. Erwin. Mr. Er win picked up J. W. Walker, dep uty, and went to that vicinity to investigate the matter. Black told the officers that he believed the Negro worked at the Mitchell Sawmill. They found a Negro walking a (Continued on Page 12, Sec. B) HALIFAX COUNTY HEALTH KING i Above is a Herald photograph of Theodore Ray, son of Mr. and Mrs. Otis Ray of 40 Madison Street, City. Theodore recently was judged the healthiest boy among the 4-H boys in the county, receiving a grade of approximately 99 per cent. He will compete in the district health con test to be held soon at Tarboro. If he wins there, he will go to Raleigh for the State Contest. Complete details in this issue of the Herald. BOTTLED UNDER AUTHORITY OF THE COCA-COLA COMPANY BY WELIMI \ . t. . H o l l i i N W U K H * i * « 1 . 1 ' -—j Covington Receives Promotion Dr. J. M. C. Covington, former Roanoke Rapids physician who was called to service in the Navy last Fall, has been notified recently of his promotion to the rank of Lieu tenant Commander, Naval Aviation Cadet Selection Board. He is now stationed at the U. S. Customs House in Philadelphia, Penn. In a communication received here last week, Lieutenant Commander Covington said that the promotion had been made on December 30, but that he had only recently been in formed of the action. Before going to Philadelphia, he and his family were at Norfolk, where he had been stationed for some time. After leaving here last Fall, the young officer was sent to Pensacola, Fla., where he remained for several weeks. When called to the services, he ranked as a Lieu tenant Senior Grade. Lt. Com. Covington went into the service as an eye, nose, ear, and throat specialist.
Daily Herald (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.)
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May 15, 1941, edition 1
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