Wilson Daily Times, 29 March 1948.

Within two weeks, the renowned Pittsburgh Courier picked up the story, and news of Otis Newsome‘s murder went national.

The Pittsburgh Courier, 10 April 1948.

The Kansas City Plain Dealer ran the story on April 16 — lifted verbatim from the Courier, but without attribution.

The Plain Dealer (Kansas City, Kans.), 16 April 1948.

On 10 May 1948, a jury deliberated two hours before acquitting Ulric C. Strickland of Newsome’s murder.

Otis Newsome’s case was one of three Wilson County homicides recently explored by Northeastern University’s Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project.

——

In the 1930 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer James J. Newsome, 36; wife Dolly, 26; and children William, 16, Ed L., 14, Odis, 8, and Dan, 5; and lodger Ben Clifton, 26.

Odies Newsome registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 22 February 1921 in Greene County, N.C.; lived at 110 South Reid Street, Wilson; his contact was James Newsome; and he was unemployed.

Otis Newsome died 27 March 1948 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 22 February 1921 in Greene County, N.C., to James Newsome and Dollie Ward; was married to Cleo Newsome; and was buried in Community Cemetery [Saint Delight Cemetery], Greene County. His cause of death: “Intra abdominal hemorrhage (aortic) damage resulting in death due to 38 cal. special revolver shot wound of right abdomen causing of severance of abdominal aorta.”

Howard Fitts applied for a military headstone for Newsome. The application contains an erroneous death date for Newsome, which was carved into his grave marker.