North Carolina Newspapers

JDon't Forget Mothers' Day, Sunday, May 10 --- Obey That Impulse anch Attend Church Services *■' • / . ; '-' '•» ■ • ' ■■ . L- | EXTRA 1 VOLUME XXVI—NUMBER 23^-b NEEDLEMAN ACCUSES D. GRIFFIN Dramatic Scene When Victim Says "That's The Man" Says He Asked Not to be Brought to P--Williamston Jail; Court May Begin Night Sessions to Finish This Week Needleman Suffers Nervous Shock at First Sight of Griffin In Court Room; Quickly Regains Composure and Is Called to Stand Helped by two strong men, Joseph Needleman the State's star witness against members of the mob which took him from the jail here on March 29th and performed a serious operation on him, made his way to the witness stand, although his step is very unsteady yet. He was composed, de spite the nervous shock he had /suffered when he saw Dennis Griffin this morning. He began to tremble, saying, "there he is,"' and pointing to Griffin. Ammonia was administered, and he seem ed to have regained his composure entirely when he came to the witness chair. • > Mr. A. D. McLan, of the State's counsel, began the examination of the mob's victim. Needleman gave a brief higtory of his life. He said that he was 23 years old, had lived in Kinston for dne yea?, coming there from Salem N. j. That he came there and wen into business with about SSOO capital later worked as a clerk in a Kinston store, and went into business with his brother afterwards. Later he went td work with the P. Lorillard Tobacco Co.. Needleman's Story As salesman for this company he was in Wjlliamston for 10 daya dur ing the latter part of March. During this time he met Misa Griffin. He was later arrested in Edenton, but he did not know there had been any warrant issued against him. The story, as he gave it to Mr. Mc- Lean Tfc substantially as followsr» "Robeit Pratt arrested me Thursday in Edenton ,and 1 was taken from the Edenton jail Friday by Deputy Sheriff Peel and brought to Williamston and placed in jail here about 5 o'clock thai afternoon Sheriff Roberson, R. J. Peel, and a colored man were the firs' to come in the jallf Mr. Peel sail r , "You are the man that came • down here and ruined one of our Mar -1 tin County girls." I asked before 1 came to Williamston if it would not be better for me to remain in the Edenton jail. And when fhe time foi a hearing came on Saturday the young lady said she was sick and could Uct come, but she was not too sick to get *IA marr ' e '^^ o next day." nL "Sheriff Robersgn came in the jai ' frftjuenfTy during the day Saturday ;and several •others came in, too. Recognised Sparrow "While I slept Saturday night a pe culiar noise awakeUfld me, about tv o'clock, I think. Wnen I turned on the light I saw several men around my cell, and some were cutting the lock. 1 said, "Sparrow, what in the hell are you di.ing here"? They told me that they were going to take me where my father's money could not do me any good. "After I was dressed Spsrfofr, 'Jr., and Dennis Griffin took me to a big car, Strand Theatre TONIGHT Ramon Navarro and Alice Terry in > "THE ARAB" One of the most entertaining pic tures to be presented Show Starts 8 P. M. i Special Music 25c and 50c THE ENTERPRISE one man on each side. We got in and they drove down Main Street aiul turned at the Atlantic Hotel. Griffin said to me, "We have come after your sexual organs," and asked which ( preferred to give up, them or m& head. I answered, 'Do as you please. "We went past a churoh and thenj stopped the car. Griffin and v.young ' Sparrow took me out. There were | two men on the front seat. 1 only i recognized young Sparrow, however." The witness continued his testimony ' Accuses Griffin in a calm manner. He said, "Young Sparrow fas on me, and two other.- whom I did not know were by me. Griffin said to Sparrow, sr., "Old man,j you do it." He would not and Grif- J fin proceeded. He had q dull knife and the operation was extremely pain ful." ' " . Needleman told the details' about the sane as they had been Told before. After fhey were through with him he said thWT he started to get in the car when some one said, "Get off that car, or I'll shoot you off." Upoi *his he states he said, "If you will Take me back to town, I" will tell none of yoi r names," but they would not. "1 then starteiLwalking to town and reached here ping once to try to get someone to bring me to town. When I got here I saw a lady in front of Nassef's, stopped, and told her who I was, and i asked her to send a doctor to the Br'.t Hotel at once. Doctors Warren, Rhodes and York came." '"Hie sheriff came in shortly after and asked me il I knew any of the mob, to which I replied that 1 did not." Told He Had An Hour to Live Doctor Warren then foid me that had only about an hour to live, and | wanted to knpw if I had any state-1 mcnt to mak*}. I dictated a letter to; my mother and then jtold the doctors those 1 knew who had been in the mob. I knew T\ TV. "Sparrow, jr., and a man answering the description ofj Dennis Griffin was there. I also told j them that I had lied to the sheriff cbout knowing sny of the because I had lost confidence in him. "The Doctors Tayloe came and operated on both sides, making tho two incisions at once." At this point the judge asked the witness if he wanted to get dinner 'or go on through his examination. On account of weakness Needleman asked for a recess for lunch. The court was then adjourned for an hour. - At the afternoon session Needleman was again placed on the stand, bu nothing was added of importance he fore he was dismissed. Morning Session Johnny Gurkin, who was grilled yes terday by attorneys for the State and defense for two hours, was called t the stand- this morning and asked if he had disclosed any of the facts in the case before he made full eonfeesion in Washington. He said that he had told, the solicitor only, before that time. Dr. W. E. Warren, county health'of ficer and physician, and the first dor tor to reach Needleman after he was injured and had returned to the Britt Hotel, was next called up for exun ination. He said the outward bleeding had nearly stopped when he reached Needleman, but that man/ symptoms Willianiston, Martin County, North Carolina, Thursday evening-, May 7th, 1925 Weil-Known Weather Prophet V isitor Here Mr. J. K. Monarch, who lived in Wil liam. on several years ago, now a resi dent of Lynchburg, Va., has been in town this, week exhibiting two strange animals, a ground hog and an arma dillo. J 0 The armadillo, a native of 'Mexico and northern South America, is a-pe culiar-looking animal, having nelthet hair nor hide, but is covered with shell from the end of his tail to the end of his nose, and being from two to three feet in length. It is said that the little animal can travel 20 miles an hour. * '* The ground hog is a native of North America, and is far famed as a weather prophet. were evident that he was having in ternal hemorrhages. He said that he and Doctors Rhodes and York, who nad feached the bedside, gave him the propel stimulants and then called Dr. 1) T. Tayloe. After Dr. Warren had left the , stand Dr. H. B. York was called. His | testimony was that he had not been , awakened the night of the mob until I SI eriff Roberson came to his home in a car and asked him to go to Needle | man. When he reached the hotel Drs. Warren and Rhodes were there; and from then his statement was identical with I hat of Dr. Warren. He said he found the patient in a critical condi tion, his vitality very low, and life I uncertain. I Dr. Rhodet, Inutile lo Testify Dr. Rhodes, who was -to have ap peared as a witnesses ill in the Washington with Dr. Tayloe's statements yesterday and 1 Drs. Warren and York's today the testimony of the attending physicians all in. Albert Gurkin, of Griffins Townshi; , a brother of Johnny Gurkin, was the next State wit ness lo be called. —After stating that he was HI years old and unmarried his statement was that Elder Stone had told him in Wil liamston late Saturday afternoon a hunch of men were going to take I Needleman out of jail that night. He consented to join the crowd, i According to the witness he came to the Skewarkee Ghurch at the ap pointed hour. He said, "I tjhink I was the first to arrive and drove on a lit .le way. Upon my return I found two or three cars, and others kept cdm iiig] 1 recognized no one at that time. In a short while 25 or 80 men we.e [ .tsent, and Delink Griffin lined them lup and counted 26, exactly. 1 was next to the last, and I saw no one as sisting liim." Part of Mob Was Masked | "Some were masked," ae continued "and 1 was in., self. At the church recognized John G. Corey, Clarence Griffin, Allen Griffin, Ben Lillcy, John H. Collrain, Juhn Smithwick,. Wilson ►Griffin, Hubert Griffin, Alfred Griffin, Dennis Griffin, Julian Bullock, F. W. Sparrow, sr., F. W. Sparrow, jr., E. C. Stone, Claro Heath, John Gurkin, and Tommie Lilley. As for Roy Gray, I can not say, as I do not know him." It was discussed by those present whether to mutilate or kill Needleman, but the witness did not know those talking, so he said. It was agreed to go to the sheriff's home and demand the keys and as he knew whertf ' he lived and many did not he led the way. The witness said he did not go in, but talked to some of the others while 8 or 10 men went to the door. He did not know whether Griffin, Heath, Sparrow, and Bullock were at the sheriff's, but he said that he heard some one ask the sheriff for the keys. "We left the sheriff's," he said, "and went to the jail. From 4 to 7 men wpre in the party that went in the jail. John A. Griffin was with me." Going to. the courthouse a Ford roadster and a Buick six were ahead of me/ .1 ITad a roadster and my brother had one. There was another one-seated Ford in the gang. Those getting out of the car were Young Sparrow, Dennis Grif fin, Julian Bullock, J. A. Griffin, Johnny Gurkin, and Elder Stone. I F. W. Sparrow Jr.. Very | Much Better I onight I'\ W. Sparrow, jr.., who is in h the county jail awauing trial, was acutely sick Tuesday nigh,. ' 'he attending physicians thought it might be scarlet fever or dip theria, but he was very mucn bet ter Wednesday, and they have di agnosed his trouble as an acute attack of tonsilitis. ad not see Sparrow, sr., nor Claro • ettth." •" Tells of Jail Breaking In clear-cut, concise sentences lie .elated .the details of the jail break ing. He said "1 saw Dennis Griffin, i ouhg Sparrow, and Julian Bullock o in the courthouse yard. They went around the right side of the building toward the jail. About the time they reached the jail John A. Griffin and 1 t olio wed. The outside door was being opened by Bullock and Griffin with a pair of bolt clippers. They cut I through quickly, and I was with them | -when they entered the cell. —r- ■— "N'eedleman said," Thin is Mr Sparrow," hut while the cell was being opened he called him' Paul Sparrow Sparrow put a Hash light in Needle man's face and some one else told him to get his shoes out and get away from there. They got away quickly. 1 was at the street when N'eedleman was brought out. There was one man on eit her side of him and possibly one behind him. o He was put in the Huick car." # » Curkin said that he left immediately for his home and did not turn off the highway to go to the scene of the operation on Needleman. Before he was given over »•> counsel for the defense for cross-examination he answered a few more questions of Solicitor Gilliam reiterating more fully some points alreaiiy gone over. Ifpon cross-examination nothing new was developed in his st'ory. The wit ness told how he was masked with a sack, with holes cut in it for the eyes, being tied ove/ - his heud He said that he confessed because others had. He was questioned by attorneys Cooper, H. M. Stubbs, Sutton, and H. W. Stubbs. Roy Grass Next Witneaa ■ Roy Gray was the next witness to lake the stand. Hon. Lindsay Warren! made the examination.. He brought out in his examination that he had been invited to join the mob tiy Dennis Griffin. asked him to go for a ride, and hte, consent ed. When they got in the For(| road-j v ster Julian Bullock joined them. They came toward Williamston and while en route here Griffin told him wha. they were going to do. t When they reached Skewarkee he saw about the same number of men the other wit nesses had testified to, but recognized only the ones he was with in the car Tom Harrell, Lester Edmondson, Low ery of Gold Point, and Edgar Johnson, Sherwood Roberson Grady Smith, Jim. Grpy, I-ouis Johnson. His statement in regard to the proceedings •of the affair from the church to the sheriff's, to the jail and back to the place where the yoUng so horribly mutilated was practically the same & that of the Gurkins. He! | said he moyed far enough from the 'spot where the deed was committed! in plenty of time not to know what [ took place, and as Griffin and Bullpck i did not offer to jell him what had hap pened and he did -not ask he never i learned what had been done to Needle man until the next day. Gray and Julian Bullock marrrld sisters and are close friends. Elder Mtone Next Witnewi Elder Stone, stepfather of Mrs F. W. Sparrow, jr., was called after the examination of Roy Gray had been completed. ' "Hfe is a native of England and a Prim itive Baptist minister. In his testi mony. he was disconcerting to some of the defense attorneys, especially when he quoted the Bible anil used Biblical illustrations in answering their ques tions. His story goes: "1 am 48 years old, and un ordained minister in the Prim itive Baptist CHUrch since 1913. I have been in this county for three and one half years. I married Mrs. Griffin, - the mother of Effie Griffin. I first heard of Needleman's arrest through - • , (Continued on page 4) TOWN ELECIION UUltl AS USUAL • t> ■ \V omen \ o.ers Show Two Hundred ) Per Cent Increase in Number, Three Voting This 4 ear The tow 11 Heci ion yesteffh»y. , vas ] *'us very quiet. After tne exciUiffient ol' the convention of some] weeks ago was over little attention I lias been turned to tlie election. _ There was a quiet whispering in the air sev eral days ago that there would bo an independent ti kt-t brought out. hut it never materialized, so Ihe re was only the ticket indorsed by the convention ' o vote on. \ K. L. Cobrun was elected mayor, and W. T. Meadows, C. O. M oore, 11, li. Harrison, K. I'. Cunningham, and C. 11. Hasseli were- duly elected town commissioners. Fifty-six votes were cast, a net "bain of five votes over the'election of 11123. ; Tike percentage of women voters in* | creased 200 per cent at this election ! In 192!! one lone vole was cast by a woman; yesterday three visited the polls and voted. Thi.s'b'ritigs the per ' cei\tage of inicrewse of women voters! this year overymxt quite ft bit over ' that of the mm. J. S. Cook and T. W. Thomas were . poll holders for the day. Uobt&rs (iet $5,000 From Sheriff Harri? ■ r > ■ ' J Washington, May '4. l'hp'office of I James 11. Harris, she rill' of Be'aul'ort County, was entered and the ~-;afe rob-1 l>ed last night of $6,000 in cash, iu-1 eluding S2OO in gold, the latter the I property of the sheriff's wife.. The | balance was lax money. There was! no clue lo the robbers. It wa.v discovered this morning that | the looters used no explosives, but worked the combination of the sa^e. Modern Woodmen Meet ! Held in" Elizabeth City j i. I Messrs. M. L. Tremiiin, of Winston- j Salem, , M. Brown, of Greensboro, j K. S. Owens, of Lexington, and 11. V. Rees, of Oakland, Calif. were in town this week en route to Elizabeth City, where they will attend Ihe State council of the Modern Woodmen of America. M+s - i». • Xtate deputy ■ Messrs. Brown and Owens are district deputies and Mr. Rees is nutional deputy of the Modern Woodmen. Mr. Rees .slated he found North Carolioa ranks among the great Kiates of the" Union. In road building, schools, puhlic r trtiHtling, anil many other things it a|>parenily out classes any of "4 he many States-he has visited. * . Benjamin S. Clark Dies in Chester, Va Mi\ J. li. Clark,' of Belhaven, passed 1 through town Tuesday morning on j his way to Chester, Va., to attend the I fdiierkl and be at the burial of hitj j brother, Benjamin S. Clark, who died j early Tuesday mornjng. He was buried at Petersburg on Wednesday, at 2 p. m. ' . Mr. Clark, for many years cashier of the Hank of Roper, became ill about four years ago and has since been an invalid. His wife, who was Miss Lee Roberson, of Martin County, survives] him. Elm City Physicians Visit Doctor Warrer Dr. W. K. Moore ami Dr. S. Putuej and wife, of Elm City, vi«i ed Dr. and Mrs. W. E. Warrfen here Tuesday. Dr. Moore is not only a practicing physician but is a real orator and stands high in the political councils of the Stat«. Dr. Khode« Taken to Hospital Dr. J. 8. Rhodes was taken to the Washington Hospital yesterday after noon and operated upon immediately after his arrival. The latest news from hie bedside Is that he is getting along very well. He was accompanied to Washington by Drs. D. T. Tayloe, D. T. Tayloe, jr., and J. H. Saunders. Oak Ctiy High School Is Host To Many Distinguished Guests Gathered for Commencement Highlights lroiii ( hiei Justice Faville, of iam lo wa, Also I'resent and . j flakes fthort Address 11)0 Jori.owiiiß me a few lnfcli Lij;Wts aim otnsc valine..'- liom Governor McLeans- audio.s at .Oak fits Wednesday:. , "I have plowed in it W giHiiid . behind an ox; hu. Lhe days uf tin! ox call an' gone, and l'te d lys i|f good' I o;»iI-> ii.C i u'.'itl hit.' ■ have come," ' ' I wa 1:11 -.«•t nn a farm apil raised to \vor|c; I am preud »1 it.' ' I'rue cduca on consi. t.-i tn-ex ~ '• per IIIU»JUJII .1 • .vutl :«> AI-adertuc lealning. 1 ' ' "\o nran can fie u tli eesi-i'u+.. faimor wrihaut keefnnt! books, I! is necessary Mi know 111■ » of |il'irdu' roll; th-rri —of r':irk M Itii re \ 'in e,in t•• I! « i hei \,JC "■'li.ive a |iri.|U or -ImW ' I:A t rj' county needs a farm .(H'llionst-ratoi"." 'My griindfnth wa? one of ilie I;: MI who bulieved in education foi I' iloCtol, 1 11. ■ law;, el. * lie firea.'ll er, lint not for the firmer, lie • IIMIVUU'II fin the (tlucistnn A • F I! lee of le -ell.- In HI In ■" he lieved would ent I tne p. uTe : iunal life, but th" I'out.h,. All. i,. '■ who was lo li • a farmer, h' s.tid medtrd no education. UuUJmt. fanner needs education' in to ,ako. advarttajje of tlje lie t; ill order to learn to produce ;i crop at the least- expei\-.o and to . markc that crop to the . . vantage; in order to u " the'hi' eft . ami lies', modern nu thi d o' farming. f "I Want t i see a bioaih Station at i e State college ill Kideigh, ami a leceivjng vet in every'rural ■ vhoolhouse in North ('arolina. the people InaU over —-lie radio -Htt— bt--l lecture — ami ins'tructiiiits from the depart ment of agriculture; economic fioyi • he department of rev.•nut." Chief Justice of S'ale o'f lowa, the Hon. I' F. Faville, in- * cum par in Nortil* (Carolina and lowa, said: "North'('arolina hiif.-1• >0 coun ties and lowu has prac l lenity the same. We have 1»1 > . • "North Carolina ha. two anil a half million people; so hsu lowa "North CarolLiui proh lems in rural life and so has lowa. Nor'h Carolina has if wonderful * system (if hard"-surface road: ntwl —lowa hopes to have some das " Will Not Serve Meal* At Shrine ( erenionial (Special lo ihe Knterprise) Vyilsou, May G. Vile 1 Shrine Club wautM to inform .*■ i> Sudan Temple that the n..outlay hrnrt eon, alt-o the hanir has Imeu a (■lit, aiul tli.it' no i al : tMll to l veiv t at the Hjfring ceremoi ial o hle Id i ■ Wilson May HO' a. 11l accordance wi.h'what it y ht'« lieved to lie the vp WL of, the I'tvaii, the Wilson Shrink Club extotuM-tiui!. invitation for ll.is year's .cwernonial ■with Aha I In.' tnmii day niesu would be-elimintf oil as part of the official program; . . The inembershii 'of "Sft dii.i. I' nii fe has inct eased to such ]»iOpor i'on.s tiiaij the!} expense in connect(■ n with tMej liuiu|Ul-t has becoi.it' so *feat hat 'lie. Divan of Sudan Tempi , d -cideil to eliminate th« b:"li An the future, as I a part of ihe otlicial programs of Shrine Ceremonials. . • * The Wilson Shrine Club ha.; engag ed 0 (lie Wrtman's Club aiul other or ganizations of Wil.Mon, to prepare find serve food at a'nominal cost , in order to take care of the Nobles and their frjendß. The hotelH and res' t«r nhts, of the city will :il o open their tloors and take care of as many, as possible. (All papers with'n jtir=lfcHon of Sudan Temple please publish.) [ EXTRA 1 I Mr i ,h;i; it'iuainiK exercis".s of the Oak ' . ; cln> ■! \ 'stcrduy morning 111 .L'te pit'Kles.'ive town of Oak City. ;t i- ihdt-.l rare that such a xather ■ ul ii -liitji ike tin active part in r i uiTuat iiiu i">\erei.si's of a liitfh .i 'I. ' ~rvrrrr~'~a~ 7TiT>>t« touatx wa.-t being ■ I h\ tli - I irlioto eichestra Gov i v tin, the graduating lion. K, t.t. Kserelt, Itev. C. O. • i", .-sup*. K. \. Pope, Ju«lge F. F. 1 vilie. of luwa, and Col Heneiiam a.v red the auditorium and lie ll~pliict S .111 the sta(fe.. iiiv.h'jjiton was .made by Rev. ■. I u lo piicd in; a chorus by the ' i. ( uhor rlie ..euior class. "F'lfi hoT .. or II M. Ainsley, sup ■ Iml 11. J*.ll * ft .i" Oak City schools, nmnvil -ilou. II o Kverett,.« Mar '.'(f i 'in j -.1 ok City .'itizelt origi li" ■- cfiiidered one of the le.llfin .'it/ee . id* the Stat'', and wRo I'iiit In iie, in hurhani. in ii.uiKes Uovernor --vi jti-u.-iiiig and grand i in in tutiuved Hie jjovernois :l». -i .iik luui well Ay cock, tile r« wuo «av>n tne from 11- . >ct t and eaucaUonal backwards ... lu.'U. iulAaii-woulu tegulate and ,i induce tlUciency in our Siate goy . Ji, t a:., itu: ing aoui.ul busiliess ieeipies in if operation and savo 4ieai coiiinioiivvealtii from tiuan iiuctiou. Continuing he said vi.-110111 of the people was ' r..,v,, v;h. ii uiey liiude A. W. 'hi; business man of the State; pernor, "lie is a national fig- ' » . t..e. iiniiiw pionUii.iKie a; head of * Fitirim-'* Hoard, his work in i \ liav ins;, benn loC salva . count i " • . t.'iviilioi .ii a lew words, which .'' o-• .11 .-.nceiitj, expressed his, j -t o.pie-ini. As he had eat t.ued a I" i.e. 11.. v a/, previously said that he\ t. in-, in. liiake tiny formal address. \ ' ■ la. iii a In oisder than academic \ i ..nsii ~i ii.e l a i. ol hs remarks. * ir>TT- ~'th; —word —WHfh- no mail> —* ' thll it*nt me:iinm;s, ;i development of all the faculties so that they may In in' 1. .- to ll.e individual to thit t ,d hie | iovid.'d o her nivalis i i!uf ii ion other than book team en', '1 he tlirie l\". are no more In '.i t, i>ne of tne most essential phises r f KHtent Uvii he_4iiica.isity for train • in; * it: r-"i*-'til»pv b-n-lmost overlook—"- id. I. iki •11 iffli'« houhl be given all the pei.p'"', i'i|inil oppiiXjuiiitiea pre a. ■ iit... I iOi ci-idtli en, which would give ' tt" i,n",il di 'rids better schools." Healthy I.'VUIK Important 'Amur., i pn7t: ; i—rtr which I in.ul.l he of vital importance," he said, • is training in principles of healthy living Healthy men and women make I he.,11 t ei'izelis." L- Industrial trnirang \'as a third ha.se of na: lion which lie men ioned a capitalize our ma tori" I res ,vi rce brings prosperity antt tidvan.tai'l our ,"ood ryads are a «i" su'l of the' otluflitional crusade mi do hv A > ewk Agriculture .is the ft our section .of the Slate, and jt has not been so jirosperoua as it should have b. 'n. The rem ilv is aaricnl- ' t ui'iil "education. *- * ' Need Good System Ihe Cdv'eriior, siie. sed ihe need of ; a muiketing system by saying that "u the fanners and producers had a I good marketing . jstem, they would |g6t .esultb. . A it -is, the producer I avcrane; onjy per cent of • the dollar that Ilia produce sells for. mark of is ina bih't yto 'produce at a minimum cost. /» , "Farmers murfk be educated. Old"* methods are gone. We must adopt modern methods. The days of the ox cart ere gone. Slip-shod methods are gone. The farm rs must Understand ' btf ineHg methods or 'hey are lost This ia of the prima needs of th« ( Slate today, and education through the (Continued on page feur) > XT