Chicago Defender, 30 August 1924.

“He is said to have been drinking,” but was “an unknown white man.”

Per his death certificate, the murdered man was named Sam Jackson. His employer, George Dew, knew little else about him. A coroner’s inquest ruled his death a homicide.

Two weeks later, Joe Cockerell was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in Jackson’s death. He was convicted in December and sentenced to ten years in prison.

Wilson Daily Times, 19 December 1924.

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On 9 December 1918, Sam Jackson, 19, of Wilson, son of Turner and Nellie Jackson of South Carolina, married Victoria Watson, 18, of Wilson, daughter of Will and Alice Watson, in Wilson.

Victoria Watson Jackson died 19 December 1918 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 14 April 1900 to William Watson and Alice Dew; lived at 423 Railroad Street; was married to Samuel Jackson; worked as a tobacco factory stemmer; and was buried in Clayton, N.C.

On 4 January 1919, Sam Jackson, 20, of Wilson, son of Simon and Nellie Jackson of Conway, S.C., married Mary Carroll, 19, of Wilson, daughter of Major and Dollie Carroll. Free Will Baptist minister A.A.J. Davis performed the ceremony.

In the 1920 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: Sam Jackson, 22, and wife Mary, 23, both farm laborers.